Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-02-19

u saiu was Inc obiy lawful uelT ana tnt
was enough.
II My uncle died and | came in posses
/ sion Of the property and have enjoy
ed it, and have tried to do good with it
h and as the years have passed on l hay
t added something 10 the original fortune
for haye been careful and prudent. Il
e a dark hour, however, storm has burs
! upon me. 1t seemed only cloud a
5 first bat it prove6a fearful one. Johl
Staffer has returned. He went ava,
: ten years ago-went away because my
3 uncle would give him a home no longer
f and has not been back since until within
, the last year. He has come ard ha:
} laid claim to my property. He claims
the whole of it p
But how?' I asked as my friend stop.
ped to take breath.
You remember Stephen Akers, the
old lawyer !? said Fred.
Aye l replied, Il know him very
well. He had been out West, and done
some business there but he can't do any
more where he is known, for he has pro-
we'd himself a william
'Ha-do you know it !? But what has
that to do with you now p
Tll tell you. In the first place, he
used to do business here, and my uncle
employed him some
i remember that
And it was he who made that old will
for my uncle
Yes, | recollect now
WELL continued Fred, this old villain
of lawyer came back here about six
months ago, and ere long he and John
Staffer came out and laid claim to my
uncle's property; and when asked what
he meant be produced paper which ap-
peared TO be the last will and testament
of Timothy Elliott And Stephen Akers
swears this is the same will which my
uncle made many years ago, and that it
has been in his charge ever since. He
says that when he went away TO the west
country he overlooked ii among 9TH
er papers, aud tool it along with him.
He furthermore declares that he received |
several letters from Mr.. Elliott, asking
him to be careful of the will, and keep
it; SO that it woul{ be brought 10 light
in case of need
of COURSE said II, this will must be a
fraudulent one.'
Most certainly i is returned Fred.
And yet it has been admitted to Pro-
bate. The judge has accepted it,
Il have appealed, and it goes to tie
Supreme Court; and, moreover, the trial
comes off tomorrow. For myself, Enoch
were | alone in the world-I would
care little, for could put forth my ener-
gies anew; but for my wife and children,
oh oh it is hard hard!
He buried his face in his hands and
wept aloud; but 10 little while he be
came calm again, and l questioned him
as I saw fit. Another witness to the
will besides Stephen Akers was living, /,
and he had testified that be believed the
now produced was the cne to
which he had put his name. In short,
the case looked dark enough; and | dare
not give my friend much hope. Yet
promised to think of the matter, and be
present with him at trial.
On the following morning l got away
as soon as | could, for could not bear to :,
witness Hattie's grief; but promised TO
come back again and as held her hand
at the door / told her to keep up good =,
heart. 8
An uncle of mine, named Ansel Forbes, !,
a brother Of my mother, was in town on
business, and / meant to see him. He
was paper manufacturer, aud worth a
handsome property. l found him at the
hotel, and passed happy hour with him
for had been hi: pet in boyhood, and it
was by bis generous bounty that went
through college. / told him about the d
trial which was coming of, aud he said
be meant to be present if he could. He o
bad been well acquainted with Timothy
Elliott and was firmly convinced that the
only will which Elliott ever made had u
been destroyed.
When the hour of trial arrived it was P
announced that | should assist in the
case. I took my seat with the counsel d
already engaged. AS the trial went on j.
/ certainly did look dark enough for my
'riend. Stephen Akers, dark-browed, lf
'oxy looking man, with hair of grizzled u
,ed, which stood out like hedgehog's P
Iuills, upon his small head, swore that
his will was the will which he, as limo II
by Elliott's attorney, had made eighteen o.
,ears before, and tIst it had been in his a
possession. until he bad lodged il at the