The national Republican., 1860-11-27
From the London Family Herald.
THE LOST RITA NCE

THE LOST INHERITANCE
The train from Paris to Lyons stopped at
the station Of Joigny, town upon the route,
and after leaving few passengers, again went
on. The station, for moment crowded with
railway porters and lookers-on, was soon de-
serted by all but two individuals. One of them
was an old man, dressed in the garb of well
to-do farmer the other, youth of about Eve
and-tweuty, who seemed to be waiting for some
one 10 come and meet him. To this person
the old man presently addressed himself
"May presume, sir" said he, TO inquire
If you are Clement B.f"
ayes, my good man" replied the youth, with
a haughtness of manner, "and have no doubt
you are Mr.. Martin"
"At your service, sir" replied the other.
"weil, Mr.. Martin" continued Clement, in
the same tone, 81 began to imagine you in
tended to keep me waiting. That would not
have been the best manner in which to have
insinuated yourself in my good graces.'
The old man, instead Of replying, let his head
fall upon his breast as if in deep affiction, and
conducted the newcomer toward a large old.
fashioned carriage, to which very rough
looking horse was harnessed.
"Here is your carriage sir" said Martin.
" Ifyou will be good enough to get in, l will
mitage."
"That my carriage, sir?" cried Clement.
"W6y, shall be taken for travelling ped.
ler"
But few days before, Mr.. Clement B.,
who now put on so many fine airs, was
simple clark in crokery warehouse in Paris,
and possessed the reputation Of being quiet,
unpretending little fellow. What, then, had
brought about this sudden and radical trans.
formation He had become since the previ-
GUS day rich man, and it may be well under.
stood that the possessor of an income Of TWEEN.
ty thousand francs year finds it difficult to
retain the modest demeanor of a poor clerk
On the previous day, while busting the large
piles of crockery under his charge, letter ar
rived for him by the post, conveying to him
the startling intelligence that one Of his uncles
of whom he had often heard as an eccentric
and very wealthy old man, but whom he had
never seen, had just died at his residence in
Burgundy leaving his nephew, Clement, sole
heir to his estates, to the exclusion of many
other heirs.
The letter was from q notary in the province,
who desired him to leave Paris Immediately
for Joigny, the town near which this uncle had
resided, where he would be met by Mr. Martin,
an cid confidential servant of the deceased,
mitage," the name which the deceased had given
to the estate.
Almost driven out of his senses by such an
unexpected stroke of fortune, Clement hsstened
to obey the notary's directions, and, on his ar.
rival at Jogny, Joined Martin, as we have seen.
On jolted the queer vehicle in which our
hero had so contemptuously taken place, until,
after ride of several miles, the occupants ar
rived at their destination. Martin offered the
honors of the Hermitage to the new proprie'
tor, called all the servants and introduced them
to their future master, and then conducted the
latter to his own apartments.
This was the sleeping chamber Of your
uncle" said Martin, as they entered large
apartment, furnished in old-fashioned style
alt was in this room that he died ten days
ago."
But the nephew, instead of evincing any
emotion upon being shown the chamber Of his
benefactor, threw upon all around him a look
of scorn, and cried: "Upon my word, l can,
say l think much of the old boys taste!
never saw anything so very ugly in all my
life."
Notwithstanding, sir" replied Martin, L" i,
is the best we have here; and, if you cannot
content yourself, really don't know where you
will find other lodgings"
"I live here !" exclaimed the young man
"You do not imagine am such a donkey,
hope For us young fellows, do you see, Pari:
is the only place; so shall sell this old crazy
rookery at once, and then be oil"
"Sell the Hermitagel exclaimed Martin
"your uncle's favorite place Of resdencel I'm
possible! And we servants, who hoped to end
our days under this roof, what is to become o.
us?"
"Mr Martini" retorted the young man, de
me have none Of your complaints, beg. Ge
me some dinner, and afterward you will drive
me to the notary's."
After having eaten hearty meal, notwith
standing he found the meats insipid and tn
wines sour, the legatee, still accompanied b.
Martin, re.entered the carriage, and the tw
started of.
"If / am not Mistaken" observed Mr.. Clem
ent, after an hours ride, "we passed this spo
this morning; and that" pointing to build
ing, "is the railroad station. Do we take tn
train there?"
"You alone will do So" responded hi. CON
panion, speaking very gravely, and in mar
ner which caused the young man to tremble i
spite of himself. ~, sir, am your uncle, an
happily am not dead! Having heard goo
accounts of your conduct, l had resolved t
make you heir Of all l possess but befor
doing so, / wished to ascertain if you wer
really deserving Of my generosity, and I ha
recourse to stratagem, which has thorough
exposed your true character to me. Good b.
Mr.. Clement; return to your business, and r.
member that your arrogance and ingratitud
have lost you that which will never again
placed within your reach"
A tailor, while travelling on the lakes, WI
asked by Yankee where he lived, and viii
his business was, DC. to which he replied, thi
he lived in Toledo, and that his profession wi
sitting ON the smooth side of poYeriY and Ter