The Van Buren press., 1861-07-24
S9ggiarellanp.
THE wIFE'S WEIR.
BY A RETIRED ATTORNEY.

Every one who knew John Gordon knew
him to be the meanest and most contempti-
bic man that ever was permitted to walk
on the earth. His brother Peter was not a
whit better, SO it would appear that mean
ness ran in the blood Of the family.
John was pretty well off, SO far as this
worlds goods are concerned. His proper
ty was all invested in buildings which cost
him thirty thousand dollars. He did not
marry till he was forty, probably from the
fear of incurring unnecessary expense, and
when finally he did take wife, it was as
he would haue taken housexeepcr-a SER
want.
Mrs. Gordon was poor woman, and
had been obliged to work very hard for a
living Probably she married from purely
prudential considerations, for she could not
possibly have loved such an abortion of a
man as John Gordon. She took good care
of him, better than he deserved, and was
in every respect an obedient and faithful
AL she received in return, was the meagre
suppoat her husbands home afforded
When they had been married about three
years, John was taken sick, and fingered
along for year, during which time his
| wife was an excellent, devoted wife, Her
whole aim seemed to be to disharge her du-
ty to him with fidelity. She had mado a
bargain with him, and she performed her
part with scrupulous exactness.
| One day heard that John Gordon was
dead. 1t was a small loss to the communi-
nifty, and did not think of pitying his
wife, for her lot certainly would be amelio-
rated by his departure. She would be en-
! titled to onc-third of the income of the
property, which, for poor woman as she
had been, and having no luxurions taste to
CRAFTY, would be princes stipend.
"Mins is a very hard case, Mr. Docket -
said she, seating herself by my side
Indeed, madam. thought you were
very comfortably provided for. You have
one-third of the income of your husband s
estate. or about a thousand dollars a year.
1t seems that l am not to have this, -
she replied gloomily.
| Not to have it ?''
| Peter Gordon has taken possession OF
the estate, declaring it belongs to him. He
says that my husband sold it to him two
weeks before he died.
| i" How could that be 90
Peter showed me the deed he says it
has been recorded"
| IL,
madam. The law gives you one-half his
personal estate
:" But hs sold It for one dollar" inter-
rupted Mrs. Gordon.
He could not sell without your concur
renee. Did you release your right of dow
or in the premises %
"No, sir. Peter said did, though, and
showed me my name duly witnessed on the
deed.
"Did you sign it 90
"No, SIR
Then it is forgery"
II suppose it rs
You a's confident you did not sign your
- | am sure that l did not. for a very
good reason.''
How SO ?''
81 cannot write never wrote nv
name; | was brought up in the country.
where girls don't get SO much schooling as
now. My folks were very poor, and new
er had chance to go to school," said Mrs.
Go:don, with some confusion.
Did your husband know that you could
not write ?''
No; never told him.
l dismissed her with the request that she
should call the next day. went at once
70 the registry OF Deeds. and found that
Mrs Gordon had told a straight story, and
ner miserable. contemplate husband had
given h's property to his brother, in his last
days, to choat his wife, who cared for his
health and nursed him in sickness, of her
Just claims upon his estate.
de was villain. but need not sav I
lel. oeep interest IN the case Of my client,
once. The next day when she called she