Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-08-25

/ that night, awe'vs been very happy all these
years, and yet we've never seen TIE color o his
money; and, after al, we can DO without It. II
he should leave us anything, il wontt be that
we've been seeking for il; nobody can say that.
| We've bad too much pride ever to demean our
selves by counting him for be moneys sake;
and ever since no abused you 90. for marrying
me, nobody can say you have cared to have bis
favor"
you're right there, Hannah Ifany Of Il
should come TO ne, we'll know it's come as IL
ought. Don't be to sure on IT, through. Uncle
Zeb was Just the man to play US trick at the
last. He never forgave, be always said"
1t was well, perhaps, Richard Nalet added
these words; they were some little preparation
TO his wife for the events Of the morrow
When the morrow came, and the miser had
been laid in a grave, hall0wed by no tears nor
tender memories, the viii was opened 10 the
presence Of Richard Mallet and his wife, in one
Of the deserted rooms Of the miser's house
! Through the half open shutters, seant sun
beam streamed on the wig Of the OLD lawyer
reading The will, and made track Of dancing
notes across the dusky air, Mrs. Msllet sat on
wormeaten chest (there was only one chair in
the room, that occupied by the lawJer,) and
Richard, holding his hat in his band, stood by
! bic wiie's side
The old lawyer read the preliminary clauses Of
the will, TO which both his hearers listened at
teatively the one with respect for the big words,
the other with patient endeayor to grasp their
meaning. The executors appointed were two
gentlemen living in a village of Kent where
the deceased was born Though Zsbedee Peck
had drawn up bis will himself, 1t was all in
proper form He had commenced life as pau.
per child in a Kentieh wordhouse, risen through
the progressive stages Of hopJicker and errand
boy, to be clerk in lawyers Office and finally,
billdiscounter aud money. lender in London
Consequently old Peck knew what he was about,
when he made his last will and testament
He had prepared surprise, however, for who
ever should read it.
The old lawyer suddenly stopped, blow his
nose and glanced down the parchment. There
appeared to be something unusual in the joou-
ment.
Gan my real and personal estate. whatsoever
and wheresOever repeated the lawyer with
an uneasy sort OF hem 80 pive aud be
queath toto Jessie Malet the parents
both turned pale" the daughter of my neph-
ew, Richard Mallet Of Little Winkle Street, in
this City, and this -
The lawyer glanced over few words further
| and then came 20 dead stop
"This is quite irregular--quite out of the
course. Really, don't know l think, my
fheud, it would be better your wife should step
into the next room whilet continue"
"No, sir, 60 on she can bear il )" said Rich
ard
The lawyer, with strange look at them both
resumed Aud this ia the revenge have
| long promised myself In leaving my money
thus, may Ibe sowing the seed Of enlargement
between Richard Mallet and his child MAY il
| place bar between them all their lives May
it divide their household May it make the
daughter ashamed Of the father, and the father
jealous Of the daughter !"
Mrs. Mallat put out her hard to her husband
with a terrified face Richard stood quite still,
but his brow grew black as night.
May wealth be the curse to them it has been
to me, and bring dscord between kith aud kin !
| is with the belief that it can and will do this,
that l leave my money to Richard Mallet's
| daughter Ill gotten gains never prosper
| he once told me. Let him remember this-let
| him take it to heart now, when the same gains
have become the legacy Of his own child"
The lawyer stopped, for Mrs. Mallet had
burst out weeping but Richard was standing
as before, though with great drops of sweat up
on his brow, and his wife's hand clenched tight
" in his.
:" Them is words Sir as nobody has a right
to use,' said he, in low, hoarse voice-"them
is words as 'ul rise up in Judgment again hin
one day. Sooner than have one penny o. his
money now, Id-don't pull my hand Hannah
l know what I'm saying-l'd see my wife and
children lay dead in tue streets Look here
! Slr-lOOk here that was Uncle Zeb's work ~
The man had suddenly barred his arm, and
was pointing TO ring of liyid flesh that en-,
crcled it,
"When was a lad, he hung me up by that
arm, and beat me with a rope because wouldn'
do his dirty work forgave him that, though
years ago. for got on in the world without him,
and got married, and was happier than he had
ever been. Butnow that he tries to set my own
children agin me, as he once tried TO set me
again my wife, ! wish the lord may -
Oh, Richard, don't, DON'T His wife pu
her hand upon his mouth, and stayed the ours,
upon his lips. 4" Don't say them bad words
don't Dick, don't Remember what you tell th,
boys always. o my poor man !"
She clung to her husbands shoulder, ant
wept there.
"YOc're right, my lass. Ipreach, but dom
practice"
Richard Mallet drew a deep breath, passet
bis hand over his wet brow, and sat down cr
the chest, with the veins oil swollen in his face
and his limbs trembling with the effect to sub
due himself
I" Is there anything more to read, sir II
know it if there be, il you please"
"No nothing but the usual clause for Civ
ing proper power TO the executors-mere mat.
ter Of detail, replied the old lawyer, apparently
very i'll at ease.
Then, sir" said Richard, slowly and de-
liberatey, I'd like to say once for all, in the
presence Of you and my wife as witness, that
'ereby refuse to have, and renOunce, for me and
for my child, every farthing o this mans mon
ey."
Richard uttered the words as solemnly as
though they had been proper legal oath Of re
nuneiation, and then, with look Of relief got uI
and kissed his wife "Don't cry, my woman
ven be going our way home again"
" Yes better do 50, perhaps-better do 80
Mr.. Mallet," said the lawyer. But l mus
remind you that--ihst the property of the de
ceased is left TO your child and not TO yourself
It is in the hands of trustees You cannot
therefore, renOunce what is not your own --
However, wen talk matters over together to-
morrow, at my office"
The cloud that came over Richard Mallet,
face at these words did not disappear agar
that night lie went home n silence, nor spok,
one word to bis vile all the way.
For the first time in he life, no drove Jessi,
away from him, when she brought her stool anC
knitting to sit at his feet and, for the frs
time since they were born, the boys went +,
bed without their fathers kiss
tTo Be Continued
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