The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-06-27
MISCELLANEOUS.
MY CNCLE'S WILL.

BY EDWARD BRANTHwAYT.
81 give and devise all that messuage or
mansion house called Tremorgan, together
with all and singular my other freehold
messuages, cottages, farms, lands, tene-
ments and hcreditaments, situate and be-
ing in the parish of Llandwllyn, in the
county of Caernarvon. Also, all that my
manor or lordship of Caemawr, in the coun-
,ty of Dcnbigh, with the right, royalties,
members and appurtenances thereto be-
longing, and all and singular my freehold
messuagcs, cottages farms, lands and tene-
ments, hereditaments, situate and being in
the parishes Of Caermawr, Caerlew and
Llandissen, in the county of Denbigh.-
Also, all-&c.
As the long list rolled on with its end
less tautology, my thoughts were more oc-
cupied with the scene before me than with
the weary recital.
We were small but incogruous group,
as we sat in that house of mourning to
hear the last mandates of the dead First
there was the dry, sharp-looking little law
yer, reading in his harsh, unmoved voice.
provisions with which he was well ac-
quainted. Near him sat the jolly, ruddy-
faced doctor, wearing look of real sorrow,
but unable to Danish altogether the express
sion of anxiety with which he listened for
the expected legacy.
BY my side was my old maiden Aunt Sa-
Iah, so angular and upright that it mace
ones bones ache to look at her. And be-
yond her was my Cousin Lucy, a girl Of
fourteen years, of whom little could be
seen but her red hair as she sobbed behind
her handkerchief AS for myself, | could
pretend to no great grief for my almost I'M
known uncle, though, as the present head
of the family, had just attended to see
him laid beneath the cold sod
But now my attention was recalled to
the reading, for the recital of the property
was at an end, and the disposition Of it
followed.
"To John jenkins, Solicitor of Caer-
mawr, and Howell Price, Esquire, of Penc-
wllyn. upon the trusts, uses, intents and
purposes hereinafter mentioned-thati is to
say"
But will be more merciful to the reader
than the worthy solicitor and trustee was
to us, and briefly explain the eccentric ar
rangement, with ut the chaos of words in
which he had buried the meaning They
were to pay five hundred year each to
me and my cousin, and let the remaining
five or six thousand accumulate till was
twenty four Then if | had married my
cousin, or had been rejected by her, the
property was to vest absolutely in his me
phew and heir-at-law." If, on the other
hand, had not proposed, she was to have
the estate; forfeiting it, however, by mar
riage with any other than a Lloyd, when it
pass to our Cousin Gwinne Lilo yd, as it
would also in case Of failure of issue to me
or Lucy, whichever was the owner.
Except the automaton reader, we were
all surprised by these strange conditions
The girl indulged in a giggle, which was
quickly cut short by the sour old maid,
who exclaimed sharply, Lucy, for
shame !" twitching away at the same time
the sheltering handkerchief.
AS gazed upon the charms thus fully
displayed, | felt that if sixty, instead of
six thousand year, were at stake, it could
not induce me to marry her. have men,
toned the delightful hue of her tresses !;
then she had no eyebrows or eyelashes,
unless those whitsh fringes were to be dig
niGed by the name she was as frechled
as toad, her eyes were pink, her lips
puffy, and such gaunt, graceless figure
was surely never seen before. positively
shuddered at the idea of such being as
my wife.
The rest of the will was quickly read. "A
small outlying farm was given to the old
steward, and an estate bought from his ia
ther, was returned to Gwynne Lloyd
There was an unconditional bequest to me
of $4,000, and both the doctor and Sarah
Lloyd were gratitied by hearing their names
in the list of legatees
made little if any response to the con-
gratulatlons which were now offered to me,
and in less than an hour | was on my way
to London.
At first l felt little doubtful about
sticking to my profession. This addition
Of about six hundred year to my income,
made it no longer necessary. But in a
few years this would not be the case, for l
should forfeit the five hundr year.
My father, as younger brother, had
commenced life with mere pittance, and
though he had acquired fame as a surgeon,
dying in his prime, he had left me only
three hundred year, which, with the in
terest of my $4,000 legacy, would be the
whole of my income. Besides, | wanted
SOlnc OCCupalloi', anu ieaily ltneu tlle pio-
fession, so resolved to follow it, and l
worked away at the hospital as industri-
ously as if had hardly penny to bless
myself with.
1 was just twenty at the time of my un-
cle's death, so there were four years to run
before resigned the family estates, for
had never wayered in my resolution
Meanwhile worked hard at my profession,
and had no reason to become discontinued
with my success. did not make myself a
slave, however, but entered freely into soci-
ty, in which had a good footing through
my connections. | was well able to afford
the expense this entailed upon me, and
when the time drew near for me to loose
the five hundred year, found that my
earnings would amply supply its place,
About two months before the important
day, | received communication from Mr..
Jenkins. He SAID that, as trustee and fam
lily adviser, he felt it his duty to call my at
tention to nv own interests, and to point