The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-12-11

she to marry against the advice of hel
friends? What have l to do with her
misfortunes %
"My mind is quite made up" said
Peter Finch "no notice ought to be
taken of her. She made an obstinate
and unworthy match-and let her abide
the consequences.
"Now for your opinion, john" said
Mr. Collett.
"Upon my word, I think l must say
the same" said John Meade, bracing
himself up boldly for the part ola world
ly man. "What right had she to mar
ry ?"-as you observe with great justice,
sir. Let her abide the consequences, as
you very properly remarked, Finch.
Can't she carry on the oilman's busi-
ness I dare say it would support her
very we'll"
"Why. no." said Mr.. Collett =
Briggs died bankrupt, and his widow
and children are destitute"
That does not alter the question, I"
said Peter Finch. Let Briggs family
do something for her.
"To be sure p said Mr.. Collett );
Briggs family are the people to do
something for her. She mustn't expect
anything from us-must she. John ?"
Destitute, is she % said John.
"With children, too !! Why, this is an
other case, sir You surely ought to no.
tce her-to assist her. Confound it,
I'm for letting her have the hundred a
year"
"Oh, John, John What a break
down !''-sad Mr.. Collett. so you
were trying to follow Peter Finch through
Stony Arabia. and turned back at the
second step Here's brave traveller
for you, Peter John, John, keep to
your Arabia Felix, and have sterner ways
to different men. Good bye, both of
you. I've no voice to talk any more.
I'll think over all you have said"
He pressed their hands, and they left
the room. The old man was too weak
to speak the next day, and in three days
after that he calmly breathed his last.
As soon as the funeral was over, the
will was read by the confidential man of
business, who had always attended to
Mr.. Collects affairs. The group that
sat around him preserved decorous ap-
pearance of disinterestedness and the
usual preamble to the will having been
listened to with breathless attention, the
man Of business read the following, iE a
clear voice -
q" bequeath to my niece, Emma
Briggs, notwithstanding that she shock
ed her family by marrying an Gilman,
the sum of four thousand pounds /; being
fully persuaded that her lost dignity, if
she could ever find it again, would do
nothing to provide her with food or cloth
ing or shelter
John Meade smiled, and Peter Finch
ground his teeth-but in a quiet, re-
spectful manner.
The man of business went on with
his reading -
Having always held the opinion that
woman should be rendered rational and
independent being-and having duly
considered the fact that society practi-
cally denies her the right to earn her
own living-I hereby bequeath to Mary
Sutton the only child of my old friend,
Frederick Sutton, the sum of ten thou.
sand pounds, which will enable her to
marry or remain single, as she may pre-
| fer"
John Meade gave prodigious start
upon hearing this, and Peter Finch
ground his teeth again-but in man
ner hardly respectful. Both, however,
by violent effort, kept silent.
| The man of business went on with his
reading -
9" have paid some attention to the
character of my nephew. John Meade
and have been grieved TO find him much
possessed with a feeling of philanthropy.
and with general preference for what
ever is noble and true, over what is base
and false. AS these tendencies are by
no means such as can advance him in
world, bequeath him ten thousand
pounds-hoping that he will thus be
kept out of the workhouse, and be ena-
bled to paint his great historical picture
which as yet he has only talked
about.
9" AS for my other nephew, Peter
Finch, he views all things in 20 sagsc-
ious and selfish a way. and is so certain
to get on in life, that | should only in
suli him by offering an aid which he
does not require yet from his atfec-
tionate uncle, and entirely rs a testmo
ny Of admiration for his mental acute
ness, venture TO hope that he will ac.
cept bequest OF five hunderd pounds
towards tho completion of his extensive
library of law books
How Peter Finch stormed and called
names-how John Meade broke into q
delirium of joy-how Mary Sutton cried
first and then laughed, and then laugh
ed and cried together all these matter,
| shall not attempt 10 describe. Mary
Sutton is now Mrs. John Meade anC
her husband has actually begun th,
great historical picture. Peter Fincl
has taken TO discounting bills, and bring
ing actions on them and drives abou
!, in his brougham already.
: SLEEp-Depriyation of sleep will xii
man as Spralt, a hnlla, tbrAa,Yl a.,