The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-01-23

entire possession or all,WaS the thought tnaC oc
cupied his soul by day and night He had plen
" OF art and roguery, and had contriyed in his
business transactions-for he, too, was a me r
chant, TO feather his own nest in cases equally
difficult but to accomplish this required not
only long head but thorough knowledge Of
certain points of law of which he was ignorant.
But his lawyer, Dixon, was man cunning and
shrewd, and like himself, ready to resort toa ny
means to satisfy his unbeunded love of gain,
and to hm he determined to apply, As he ex-
pected the willy lawyer greedily caught at the
bait bargain was Immediate struck, an ex-
horbiant price was agreed upon to be PAID %
Dixon out of the profits in case he succeeded III
attaining his object and scheme devised. =
What that scheme was has already been unfold
ed.
After his long conversation with Dixon in the
shade, Thomas returned to the house and took
his accustomed seat by the fire, and waited inn
patiently for the time for the family to retire.
IN set up tonight and watch by my fathers
remains he said to the kind hearted neighbors.
He has been a good and tender parent to me,
and it will afford me a melancholy qualification
to watch by his liteless body the last night it re-
mains with u.s.
It's natural, said old grandmother Reed with
sigh. Thomas and his father always did take
to one another amazingly. But you must be
careful and keep the doors shut, and the winr
dows all down, for they say cats banker dread
fully after dead bodies aud I've hearn 'em tell
how they'd break through the windows and
come down the chimney to get at EN-
Half an hour later, Thomas found himseIfsi SIT
ting in the chamber Of death. His fathers eoju,
hfeless remains lay stretched out before him
shrouded and ready for the grave. The room
was cold, cherries. and dismal a lamp burned
dimly on the table, adding still more to the
funeral aspect of the apar tment. Without, the
wind was bowling and whiStling mournfully F,
shaking the easements with every blast the
rain, too, was pouring down in torrents, and
came beating against the windows with tremen-
dous force.
Thomas Elton was man OF tried courage and
daring but somehow, tonight every sound
started him the creaking of the window frames
the barking of the house-dog. even the striking
of the clock, almost made him spring from his
seat. But the hours passed slowly away and
twelve o'clock came the signal from his lamp
to be placed in the win dow to announce that all
was ready. Then followed three quick success
sive laps at the outer door, and he arose, slip
ped quickly and noiselessy down, land cautious
" opened the door, Three men entered, and
with tread light and noiseless, rapidly ascen-
ded the staircase which led to the dead mans
room.
Closing the door carefully after him, Dixon
drew from his pocket will he had previously
prepared, and approaching the bed removed the
sheet which had been spread over the corpse,
and taking one of the hands which was lying
upon the breast, he placed pen in his hand
and guiding its motions, wrote in large, bold
hand the name Gervase Elton. He then re-
placed the sheet and hand III its former position,
and with a satisfied smile and significant nod,
passed thd paper to his clerks TO attest the dead
mans signature.
There, said he in whisper, Il defy all the
experts in London to prove its falsity The old
man writes as well as if his soul was in his
body
A triumphant smile lighted up the grim Wis
age Of Thomas, and his keen eagle eye dilated
with 10Y, as it fell upon the forged signature
so perfect and exact counterfeit that he himself,
if he had not been a witness OF the operation,
would never for moment have had doubt of
its truth Dixon replaced the Will in his peck
ct. and with his two clerks withdrew us silently
and cautiously as they had entered. Thus far
all worked well.
The funeral rites had been solemnzed-all
that remained Of old Gervase Elton had been
consigned to the cold aud narrow grave, and
what was to be done with the gold he had left
behind him. was the question which followed his
decease He had debased his soul to obtain it,
and he had gone now where the vast treasures
he had accumulated here would avail him moth
inr. Who would now be the possesser of his
wealth Had he provided literally for his wild
on? Had he left will Such were the ques-
tions which, during the weeR that his remains
lay unburied, traversed from mouth to mouth,
and both Gossip and Rumor were busy in sow
ing them At last report was in circulation,
that in Dixon's hands the old gentleman had
entrusted his will, and curiosity and expecta-
ton were upon tiptoe to fathom its contents
That worthy gentleman of the legal profession
thought i: eXpedient to present himself at the
house on the morning of the funeral and duly
inform the family of its existence.
Great indeed was the establishment of Mrs.
Z ton and Harry when the fact became known.
The old man had, all through his life, great
horror of will making, and always entertained
the super8titious notion that death invariably
followed ne making of will and although he
had been repeatedly urged by his wife to make
some final disposition Of his property, he had
never as ct yielded to her opportunities. More
over Dixon was man whom he had been fire.
quently known to declare trickish and knavisn
one who, with soft words and petty ,ompli-
ments, stole into the hearts of the ignorant and
unwary, as wolf steals into fold at night to
plumber and devour. These circumstances made
it all the more improbable to the family, that
with his thorough knowledge of the character
and cunning of this man, h should have select
ed him, of all others, to repose confidence III and
make sole executor of his will.
1T is ,false!' exclaimed Harry, in an excited
tone, the moment the vsage of the sleek attor-
ney was fairly outside the door. 1T is shame
full deep laid OF, dyed with fraud and lies, to
get into his own empty pockets few hundreds
of my fathers money. But II defeat his OBJ
iect I'll riddle to the bottom this mystery land
bring the william to justice?
Pretty complimentary = sung out the smooth,
sllvery voice of Dixon, who it seems had not
stirred from the door, where he had been an at
tentive listener We'll, prove it forgery and
bring me to justice if you cam
One o'clock that afternoon was the time ap-
pointed for the reading of the will IN the pres
ence of the Eltons and the two clerks who had
Witnessed it. Dixon read in slow, solemn
tone, what he emphatically asserted to be the
last will and testament Of Gervase Elton.
ITO my dearly beloved wife Mary Elton who
has been willing and able helpmate, and has
for thirty three years shared with me the joys
and sorrows of life, 1 leave one-third of my
whole personal property, which, after her de-
cease, is to descend to my elder son Thomas.
IN view OF the fact that my younger son Har-
ry, has an unce,a worthy and wealthy bachelor
of position and influence, who for years has re-
garded him III the light of son, and has fire.
quently declared his intention of making him
his heir, have deemed it unnecessary to make
further provision for him than to bequeath to
him few mementoes of respect and affection,
namely George the Third guinea-the first l
ever earned-which is to be found in the upper
drawer of my old red chest, sewed up III the
top Of blue stocking, the sword and equip
ments belonging to my deceased brother John,
and worn by him On the field Of Waterloo, the
silver teapot and twelve silver spoons the dy-
ing gift of my grandmother, and the old family
Bible. To bestow upon him these precious rel
les Of the past is the strongest proof Of affection
can give.
To my elder son Thomas, as he has no ex-
pectatioa to rely upon, give aud belleath tbe
remainder Of my personal estate, my ban3 and
ruiroad stock, furniture, Vine, pare, and ali
aud every other cEatLes whatsoever. If my
sons rsquire that ny body shall rest quietly in
the grave, let there be no st.fe or contention in
regard TO the settlement Of my affairs. Let my
wish be executed 10 tie letter; otherwise my
grieved spirit shall haunt and harsss them till
the day of their death.