Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-05-30
dNortester 9ailg SPY.
BY Eugene Scribe.
The Opcnlng of the Will.

us going to be opened here Immediately by
her solicitor"
"ShaIl we inherit anything 2"
at must be supposed SO we have claims"
"WhO is this miserable dressed parsonage
who iutrudes herself here 2"
"Oh, she, " replied the little man sneeringly,
"she won't have much in the wiil-she is sis
ter TO the deceased"
"What! that Anne, who welded in 1872, a
man OF nothing-an officer 60
PRECISELY SO"
"She must have no small amount of impu-
dence to present herself here, before a Tespec'
table family"
"rhe more so, as sister Egrie, of noble
birth, had never forgiven her that misalli-
ance"
Anne moved at this time across the room in
which the family of the deceased were assem-
bled. She was pale; her eyes were filled with
tears, and her face was turrowed By care with
precOclOus wrinkles.
"What do you come here for 2" said NADIA
me de VillebOys, with haughtiness, who,
moment before, had been interrogating the
little man who inherited with her
Madame" the poor lady replied, with hui
mility, 81 do not come here to claim a part of
what does not belong to me l came solely TO
see M. Dubois my sisters solicitor TO inquire
if she spoke OF me at her last hour"
"What do you think people busy them
selves about you 2" arrogantly observed Ma
dame de Vllleboys, "the disgrace of a great
house--you who welded a man OF nothing,
soldier of BOnaparte! z"
MADAME, my husband, although child of
the people, was a brave soldier, and, what is
better, an honest man, replied Anne.
AT This moment, a venerable parsonage, the
notary Dubois, made his appearance.
no stO ,.l, A I'M tritI /,
union which her sister has forgiven her. Ann
loved generous, brave and good man, who
had no other crimes 10 reprOach himself with
than the obscurity of his name, Never theless
had he lived, if his family had known him as l
knew him-l, his old friend-Anne would
nov he happy and respected"
"lSlt why is this woman here 2" said the
nota5y, gravely. II myself, requested her to
be here"
Nj. Dubois then proceeded to open the will.
81, being sound in p'ind and heart, Egrie de
Demfremeg, retired aSSS boarder in the con
vent of the sisters of the Sacred heart of Jesus,
dictate the following wishes as the expression
Of my formal desire and principal clause OF my
testament
cater my deceased there will be found two
hundred thousand francs in money at my no.
tary's beside ewelry, clothes and furniture,
as also chateau worth two hundred thousand
francs.
"In the convent whore l have been residing
will be found my book, tHeureS de la Verge
holy volume, which remains as it was when /
took it with me at the time of emigration. l
l desire that these three objects be divided in
to three lots.
"The first lot, the two hundred thousand
francs in money.
"The second lot, the chateau, furniture and
jewels.
"The third and last lot, my book, 'Heures
de la Verge
81 have pardoned my sister Anne the grief
she has caused us, and would have comfort
ed her sorrows had known sooner her return
TO France. l compromise her in my will.
MADAME de Villeboys, my much beloved
cousin, shall have her first choice.
"M Vatry, my brother-in-law, shall have
the second choice.
"Annje will take the remaining lot"
"Ah, all !" said Vatry, "sistcr Egrie was
very good one and that is rather clever ON
her part."
Came will, then, only have the prayer
book" exclaimed Mad. de VillebOys, laugh
ing aloud.
The notary interrupted her POPULARITY
MADAME" said he, (which OF these lots do
you chose?''
"1be two hundred thousand francs in mon
ey."
"Have you quite made up your mind g"
"Perfectly So"
The man Of the law, addressing himself to
to the good feelings OF the lady, said
MADAME, you are rich, and Anne has
nothing. Could you not leave this and take
the book OF prayers which the eccentrcity OF
the deceased has placed on par with the
other lot 2"
"You must be Joking, M. Dubois" excaim-
ed Madame de Villeboys; yCu must really be
dull not to see the intention ut sister Egrie in
all this. Our honored cousin foresaw full well
that her book of prayers would fall to the lot
of Anne who had the last choice.
"And what do you conclude from that e
inquired the notary.
81 conclude that she intended to intimate
to her sister that repentance and prayer were
the only hope that she had now to expect IN
this world"
AS she finished these words, Madame dc
Villeboys made definite selection OF the
ready money for her share. M Vatry as may
easily imagined, selected the chateau, furniture
and Jewels as his lot.
aMonsieur Yatry," said NJ. Dubois to tina
gentleman "even suppose it had been the i'll
tention of the deceased to punish her sister, i
would be honorable on your part, millionaire
as YOU are, to give at least a portion OF you
hare to Anne, who is in want OF ii.
"Thanks for your kind advice, dear sir,
replied Vatry 'the mansi n is situated OF
the very confines of my woods, and suits ad
mirably, all the more so that it is ready fur
nislled As to the jewels of sister Egrie, the.
are "reminiscences which one ought never
part with
'Since it is So" said the notary, ''my poe
Madame Anne, here is the prayer book whlc
remains to you"
Anne, attended by her son, handson
boy, with blue, took her sisters old praye
book and making her son kiss it after he
said -
Hector, kiss this book, which belongs
your poor aunt who is dead but who wou
have loved you well, had she known yo
When you would have learned TO read, yC
will pray to heaven to make you wise al
good as your father was, and happier ths
your unfortunate mother"
The eyes OF those who were present wei
filled with tears, notwithstanding their etfor
to preserve an appearance OF indit1erence.
The child embraced the old book with DO
ish fervor, and opening it afterward:
"Ob mamma. he exclaimed, "what pref
pictures !"
.Indeed." said the mother, happy in Il
gladness of her boy.
eyes. The good virgin, in red ores
holding the Holy infant in her arms.
why; mamma, has silk paper been put up
the pictures 2" -,
so that they might not be injured
DEAR" she replied.
But, mamma, why are ten papers to ca
engraving 2" :,
The mother looked, and, uttering sudd
shrek, she tell into the arms of M. Dubc
the notary, who, addressing those prese
said =
Leave her alone, it won't much peo
don't die of these shocks. AS tor you, lit
one" addressing Hector, "give me that boo
YOU will tear the engrayings."
The inheritors withdrew, making varic