Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-09-18
The Widow Thorneycroft's exultation

has been blessed with no issue, L am OF
course, as you must be aware, the legit-
innate heiress.at-law, as my deceased hus-
bands nearest blood-relative. / shall,
however, she added, take care to amply
provide for my widowed niecein-law.'
The young woman made profound
rustic courtesy, and tears of unaffected
gratitude, l observed, filled her eyes.
The game was not, however, to be quite
SO easily surrendered as they appeared
to imagine. Tut tut = exclaimed Mr.
Flint bluntly-'this may be mere prac-
tice. Who knows how The portrait has
been obtained ?
The girls eyes flashed with honest an
ger. There was no practice about her !
felt assured. Here are other proofs
My husbands signet-ring, left accident
ally, think, with me, and two letters
which l from curiosity took out of his
coat pocket-tbe day, am pretty sure
it was, after we were married.
IF this cumulative circumstantial evil
dence does not convince you, gentlemen,
added the Rev. Mr.. Wishart, i have di-
rect personal testimony to offer. You
know Mr.. Angerstein of Bath ?
Il do
We'll, Mr.. Henry Thorneycroft or Al
lerton, was at the time this marriage
took place, on a visit to that gentleman ;
and l myself saw the bridegroom, whom
| had united a fortnight previously in
Swindon church, walking arm-and-arm
with Mr.. Angerstein in Sydney Gar
dens, Bath. l was at some little dis
tance, but I recognized both distinctly,
and bowed. Mr.. Angerstein returned
my salutation, and he recollects the cir,
cumstance distinctly. The gentleman
walking with him in the uniform of the
Gloucestershire Yeomanry was, Mr.. Ans
gerstein is prepared to depose, Mr.
Henry Thorneycroft or Allerton.'
You waste time, reverend sir said
Mr.. Flint with an affectation of firmness
and uncoucern he was, knew, far from
feeling. We are the attorneys of Mrs.
Rosamond Allerton, and shall, | dare
say, if you push US to it, be able to tear
this ingeniouslyNcolored cobweb of yours
to shreds. If you determine on going to
law, your solicitor can serve us; we will
enter an appearance, and our client will
be spared unnecessary annoyance
They were about to leave, when, as
ill,luck would have it, one of the clerks
who deceived by the momentary silence,
and from not having been at home when
the unwelcome visitors arrived, believed
we were disengaged, opened the door,
and admitted Mrs. Rosamond Allerton
and her aunt, Miss Stewart. Before we
could uterpose with word, the Widow
burst out with the whole
story in torrent of exultant volubility
that it was impossible to check or restrain.
For awhile contemptuous incrudelity,
indignant scorn, upheld the assailed lady i
but as proof after proof was hurled at
her, reinforced by the grave soberness OF
The clergyman and the weeping sympaN
thy of the young woman, her frmness
gave way, and she swooned in her aunts
arms. We should have more peremp~
iorily interfered but for our unfortunate
clients deprecatory gestures. She seems
ed determined to hear the worst at once.
Now, however, we had the office cleared
Of the intruders without much ceremony
and as soon as the horror stricken lady
was sufficiently recovered, she was con>
lucted to her carriage, and after arrang>
ng for an early interview on the morrow,
was driven off.
found our interesting, and, l feared,
leeply injured client much recovered
rom the shock which on the previous
Law had overwhelmed her and although
exceedingly pale-lustrously SO, as pol
shed Parian marble-and still painfully
lgitated, there was hope, almost conf.
lence, in her eye and tone.
There is some terrible misapprehen-
ion in this frightful affair, Mr.. Sharp,
he began. Henry, my husband, was
Utterly incapable Of a mean or dishonest
lct. much less of such utter baseness as
his of which he is accused. They al
o say, do they not" she continued, with
smile of naughty contempt, that he
obbed the young woman Of her poor
Iowry-some eight hundred pounds
proper storyP
That, / confess, from what little
new of Mr. H Henry ThorneycrofI,
lamps the whole affair as a fabrication
md yet the Reverend Mr.. Wishart-a
Gentleman of high character, | under
tand--is very positiye. Th g young