Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-02-17
aid "a Won that SUNDAY n We went 70

said 70 you that Sunday ~ We went TO
see h,m 7"
"Yes. He asked me if I'd like to
be 4 rich woman, and have . fine
house, and 90 abroad and said no,
because couldn't help mother to sew
or get your tea ready then.
what else did he say!"
HE said when old Uncle Zeb's
dead. nv dear, you'll find be hadn't
forgot you;' and then-then l began
to cry because he grinned at me So"
Yes, it's true enough. That's
what he said, HANNAH" remarked
Richard, turning to his wife. Il new
err said a word about it then, nor since
nor has jess. 1t was better not. But
he told me how as he had made his
will, and hadn't forgot this child"
Mrs. Mallet almost dropped the loaf
of bread in her hand, in her amaze
ment.
"You don't think it is true, do you
Richard ?"
"Can't say, my dear. He was as
cunning as fox, and deceitful as Old
Nick. More likely he's a left it to 'os-
pital Anyhow, the will is found, as
he'll be buried tomorrow, we shall
know afore long"
Richard Malet seemed to take the
matter very cooley. Not so, however,
with his wife. The bare idea Of their
poor lame child inheriting any Of the
hoardings of Old Peck, the owner of
nearly all the houses in the court, and
the reputed possessor of an account at
bank in the city, was too much for
her. The widest hopes were excited
in her mind !; she could think and
talk of nothing else.
Well, Richard" was her conclu-
ding remark that night, "we've been
very happy all these years. and yet
we've never seen the color Of his mon
ey; and after all, VIC can do without it.
If he should leave us anything, 1t
won't be that we've been seeking TO- ;
nobody can say that. We've had too
much pride ever to demean ourselves
by counting him for his moneys sake ;
and ever since he abused you so, for
marrying me, nobody can say you
have cared to have his favor"
"You're right there, Hannah. II
anv of it should come to US, we'll know
it's come as it ought. Don't be too
sure on it, though, Uncle Zeb was
just the man to play us trick at the
last. He never forgave, he always
sald."
1t was well, perhaps, Richard Mallet
added these words; they were some
little preparation to his wife for the
events Of the morrow.
When the morrow came, and the
miser lad been laid in grave hallow'
cd by no tears nor tender memories
the will was opened in one Of the de-
serted rooms Of the misers house.
Through the half open shutters scan'
sunbeam streamed on the wig Of the
old lawyer reading the will, and made
track Of dancing notes across the
dusky air. Mrs. Mallet sat on worm
eaten chest There was only one chair
in the room, that occupied by the
Iawycr,) and Richard, holding his hal
in his hand, stood by his wife's side.
The old lawyer read the prelimina
~ clauses Of the will, to which bott
his hearers listened attentively; thu
one with respect for the big words. tn
other with patient endeavor to grasl
their meaning. The executors appoin
ted were two gentlemen living in
village in Kent, where the deceased
was born. Although Zebedee Peel
had drawn up his will himself, it wa
all in proper form. He had commenc
ed life as pauper-child, in a Kentisl
work house, risen through the progress
sive stages ola hop-picker, and erran'
boy, to be clerk in lawyers office
and, finally, bill discounter and none,
lender in London. Consequently OIL
Peck knew what he was about, whe
he made his last will and testament
He had prepared surprise, however
for whoever should read it.
TIL old lawyer suddenly stopped
blew his nose, and glanced down tn
parchment There
TO DE coNTINUED.)