Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-12-08

with him, as he thought we should be more
comfortable than at 1.-THE Weir" and we
gladly accepted the invitation. He told us
the old gentleman had appeared in his usu-
al health up to the day before his death,
when he complained slightly Of lassitude
and shivering, but nothing serious had been
apprehendcd. However the next day he
was seized with fit, from which he did not
recover.
1t had been arranged TO bury Uncle Jo-
seph as soon as convenient after our arrival
and hearing that we had reached England
Mr.. Mellor had fixed the following day for
the funeral, which, at Uncle Joseph re-
quest, was to be us quiet as possible, Char
ley, myself, Mr.. Mellor, and the medical
man alone being the mourners. And so we
laid the old man to his rest, in the village
churchyard, and returned to the home
which now should know him no more. We
partook of slight lunch almost in silence,
and then Mr.. Mcllor. unlocking small but
strong box, said, "You will probably now
wish to hear the contents of my old friend S
will" We assented. He then began the
usual form it was dated only some few
weeks previous to his death.
Almost all Uncle Joseph's servants were
remembered with legacies according to their
term of service. Mr. Mellor and myself
each received $4,000, and then the remain
der of his property, which consisted of
''The Weir,' and an income of about GS,
600 per annum, was left to his dear relative
Charles Lancewood, clogged with one con-
dition. Charley gasped and opened his eyes,
for here Mr.. Mellor paused, and a panied
look came over his face. The property far
expected he felt startled at the amount; but
,yhot could ba tba conI;t;np y Ho bapunJ
Mr.. Mellor to proceed, which he did, and
then he heard that all this wealth was to
become his at the expiration Of one year
from the time of Uncle Joseph death, pro-
vided that during that time, or at the expi-
ration of it, he married Mary Whitfield OF
Stanley as she was hencefOrth to be called
the beloved grand daughter of Uncle 10.
seph, who during this year would reside at
"The Weir, which was to be kept up foi
her residence, Charley receiving the sum OF
FL 900 at once but if, at the end of year
he declared his resolution not to marry Miss
Stanley, they were each to receive f ,000
per annum, the rest of his large property
being left to various charities and for char
liable purposes. Such also was to be the
case in the event of either of them dying
during the year.
We sat like statues, staring at each other
during the reading of this extraordinary
document and then Charley exclaimed,
"Why he must have been mad he never
was married
II beg your pardon" said Mr.. Mellor
''Mr. Stanley was widowcr at the time OF
his DEATH He was married abroad, but hi:
wife died at the birth of their first child.
who was daughter, and lived to grow up
but she formed an attachment very displea
sing to her father; and, on his refusing tC
, to sanction the marriage, she eloped with
, her lover, whose name was Whitfield, and
, married him. From that time her iathe
| heard no more of her, until you had bcel
gone to Paris about a month, when he re
| ceived letter from Mrs. Whitfield, whC
c was widow, written on her death-bed iron
a a small town in Scotland, imploring his par
s don for herself, and protection for her onl
and orphan child. Mr.. Stanley went a
Y once; but, before he reached the place, Mrs
Whitfield was dead He saw her quietly
: buried, and then returned, bringing will
, him the daughter, who has been an immens,
comfort to him, for his daughter conduct
} had been source of great sorrow to him
r and her sudden reappearance after all these
, years, and her death in the midst of great
: privation and suffering, was heavy blow
, and in my opinion it shortened the old
) mans days. y -.
r "Have you seen Miss Stanley or Whit
} field? Which is it to be?'' asked.
5 "Mr. Stanley expressed wish that she
: should take his name, +" replycd the lawyer
: "She is quiet, gentle girl, and will make
your friend very nice little wife.
. ''That she never will!'' exclaimed Char
: ley, impetuously. "NIy uncle must hav,
! been greatly mistaken if he thought l wa,
/ going to seek and marry wife for the SAX,
n of obtaining fortune. am sorry to Civ
y up the old place, where | have passed s.
n many days, but l never expected to succee,
}, to it, therefore it is no very heavy disap
i pointment but, rather than deliberatel
# marry Miss Stanley as a matter of business
;, | would lose every tarthing. am abur
/; dainty satisfied with the alternative, and
d as she is also well provided for, the res
e may go, for aught | care. l will not MARI
@ her.
e ''Do not be in hurry, Charley" said
1os;i. t'wait till Il you have seen her before y0
81 do not wish to see herr exclaime'
! Charley, violently; ''indeed, l decided.
object to making her acquaintance !; am
9 | shall avoid her by every means in m
l power.
s ] knew from past experience that it wa
1 useless to attempt to reason with him Will
' in this mood l therefore turned to Mr.
} Mcllor, and inquired if Miss Stanley was ac
: quainted with the contents of the will.
: Eyes" replied Mr.. Mellor 'Mr. Stan
: ley had described your friend in such glow
Y ing colors to his grand daughter, that she
| anxious to fulfill her mother dying iniunc
y ton to obey her grandfather in all things
: promised that, if Mr.. Lancewood wished t
!, marry her, she would raise no objection.
t "What are you going to do with yourself
r Harry?" said Charley "for my part, tn
: sooner l leave this place the better. | SUP
!, pose my belongings can remain here for tn
d present. he said, turning to MIR. Mellor
n when have found resting place, wi
d send for them"
'You had better let them remain her
5, altogether, l think, was the reply; t
!, which Charley did not vouchsafe any re
It sponse, but turned to me, seeking a repl
h to his first question. ...
n "I must 20 at once to my father $, | said
d "and shall be only too glad if you will sta
n with me as long as you feel disposed 5
C to do.
a My invitation was at once accepted bu
o we did not remain long in England, as b
= my fathers advice we determined to fms
l. the course of study we had commenced /
!. Paris. | tried several times during our sc
! journ there to shake Charley's antipathy +
h Miss Stanley, but it was useless. AT las
n our studies were concluded, and We ono
"A more returned to my father house, whlc
y he had begged Charley to consider as hi
r home until he had decided on his futur
y line of life.
L I LOO Of hr,,