Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-04-21
THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,

4 =
| ing me to attend at two O'clock that day
at the honse of her late uncle in Hawlcv
street. lor the purpose Of bearing his will
fead.14 had the greatest pleasure in COM
! plying with this invitation. Though Con-
/ stance is the prcttiest and most amiaLle
! girl OF my acquaintance, had -detcrninsd
never to marry her while her uncle lived
he had frequently proclaimed her his
/ heiress, out as frequently took offence a,
| something or at nothing w her behavior.
and bequeathed his wealth to a HOSPITAL
/ prison, or lunatic asylum. | felt quite
! easy on the present occasion, for Mrs.
/ Bates, Mr.. Graham's housekeeper. had
! given me Information that only an hour
before her masters death he had tol9 her
! that be had handsomely provided for Con-
/ stauce. / felt, however, that it was nv
| policy to appear ignorant of that circum
/ stance, Constance being very romantic, and
Constance's mother very suspicious. 4a-
AT the appointed time | walked into the
! drawing room in Hawley street; the ye.y
few relatives of the old gentleman were
assembled. There was Constance. look
! ing as lIebe might haze looked if ever
uebe had worn Grape and BON bazine: Con
starce's mother looked very stiff, cross
and uneasy; an elderly female cousin. and
a stripping nephew of the deceased.
/ feared none,pf them. knew that Mr..
Graham disliked his fine lady sister-in-
| law, despised the servility of his elle1ly
cousin, and dreaded the Irolics Of his
STRIPPING nephew. 1 seated myself by
! Constance. and in soft tone began to pro-
| test my affection and disiuterestedness. .
Knowing the caprice OF your uncle, nv
beloved 1 said, Il have every reaEen 10
! conclude that shall hear you are Olsen
| herited; this, however, will be of little
moment to me, have enough FOR comfort,
though nut for luxury, and az the song
beautifully says:
''still fixed in my heart, be it never forgot .s.
| That the wealth Of the cottage is loyc.7
4 fancy, Mr.. Chiffon said Constance's
mother, locking excessively sneering and
/ shrewiSh, that my daughter is the sole
heIress of her uucle's wealth. 80
Indeed, madam = replied. with start
/ OF surprise, was not aware that any
surmise was hazarded concerning the con,
| tents of Mr.. Graham's will a-is ..t
i have beard surmise hazardej,'
] sharply interrupted the elderly cousin.
! that Mr.. Graham was not il his senses
4 when he made it, srH
! The mind must be both base and weak
retorted Constance's mother, which could
! give credence to such a rumor.' Aud
forthwith sparring dialogue took place
between the two ladies, during which l
whispered to Constance page of Moure's
! poetry done into prose.
Temple now entered the rocm.r the splic-
Hor and intimate friend Of the late Mr.
Graham he was handsome young mar.
| and had presumed at one time to inf; his
I In 4 h.,
VIC all became mutely attentive. On. what
! disappOlntment awaited us! Three
! thousand pounds were beQueathed to Con-
stance this was the cd fellows idea Of
handsome provisiOnC Five hundred hounds
1 to the elderly cousin, ditto to the stripIing
/ nephew, small legacies to the servants. and
| the remainder &C his wealth to found a
| cold-water establishment for the reception
/ of those who we're not rich enragb 10 nav
| gratuity fer being hale drowned. Tenn le
| read the name oisthe attestipg witness. ana
| then refreshed himself with sherry and
| biscuits. As he was friend Of the fami-
ly, his presence was no restraint on con-
| yersation. sF --n ..
That will ought to be Disputed said
! Constance's mother, looking very red; i
| GO not believe Mr.. Graham was in his
senses when he made it.. ---
| Il thought said the elderly cousin. with
sneer, that the mind must be both base
ard weak which could give credence to
| such surmise'
Dear mamma, said Constance, do not
be discomposed; am very we'll eontented
i shall not be portionlsss bride
! Constance here held out her delicate
white band TO mel affected not to see
A.! IT, slT rt st ISL r-.- 3
MY dear Miss Graham said, 'do not
believe me so cruel and selfish as to wish
to plunge you into poverty
Il thought you said that your ircorne
was sufficient for every comfort remarked
the STRIPPING nephew. -.s
| did not c2ndescend to answer him,
| but continued:
No, Constance, thrugh it breaks my
heart to 90 SO. ] give you back your free
/ dom, saying in the pathetic words of
! Haynes Bay ley, May your lot in life be
| happy, undisturIed by thoughts Of mel
was just making for the door, leaving
Constance looking more like Nio5e than
Iiebe. when Temple said .-....f
I think the party had better remain
| until | have read the codicil.
| l re-seatcG myself in amaze, and Temple
forthwith read that the testator, being cen
viuced that be had received no benefit from
the cold water system, revoked aud re-
scinded his legacy to it, bequeathing the
same to his beloved niece, Constance
Graham. .. .... g.. ....t arr
Constance dear Constance ? ex.
claimed, in the softest of tones 8ut Con-
stance looked neither lie nebe or Niobe
but as stern and severe as Medes. / then
attacked 1emple, Is it legal l said
only to read part of a will p ! s,t.s.f..
Il road every word of the WILL he re.
piled, and having greatly fatigued myself
by so doing, trust that it was perfectly
legal to refresh myself with glass Of sher-
ry before | read the codicil.' ..- ....s.
was going to utter some further re-
marks, when Ccnstance's mother said,
Good morning. Mr. G6ilton!o in tone of
81 V0iee which left me no alternative but to
echo her leave taking. and / descended
the stairs, pursued BY smOthered laugh
4 from the party 10 the drawing.room, re-
rued1hoine an very low spirits, and enter
\ ed my adventure, or, rather, misad sc ntuTe,
10 my diary, deducing from it this valua-
! BILE piece Of advice to gentlemen in search
OF fortune 'eke ever believe that will is
a concluded until you huve,iRquired Wbeth-
er there is any codicil to it, an. 5-. s-...
f. An old lawyer was giving advice to his
con, who was just entering upon the proc
tice of bis fathers profession: 800.
My son said be-, 'fyou have case
where the Law is clearly on your aide, but
justice seems to be against you, urge upon
thsjury theFast sim prtancs Of sustaining
II the law If cn~the okhar hand nos, a - B.; !,