The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-01-15

Les, he replleu, anu IL was given 10
me, and took possession, and have opened
forishing business. Upon the strength
thereof have entered into society, and re-
sponsible offices have been put upon me"
Well" said |, as my friend paused again,
"what has happened to disturb all this ?"
"Ill tell you,' he returned, starting from
moody reverie, into which he had fallen.
don't you remember that my father ard
my uncle Timothy once had a serious falling
out"
"Yes," told him, 81 have some recol-
lection of it but that was a good many
years ago. We were boys then"
"Aye-it was twenty yeals ago." said Fred;
"hut remember it very well, for l remem-
Der how badly it made my mother feel. The
enstrangement lasted for some years and
during that time the bitterness was very
strong. My uncle declared that he would
have nothing more to do with his brother;
and under the influence of this feeling, he
made will conveying the grea: bulk of his
property 10 Statfer, the son of his sisters
husband. You remember thate
"Yes," l said. And | did remember it
very well; for the thing made considerable
talk at the time; and more soibecause Statfer,
who had married Timothy Ellotts sister,
had not been considered much of man, and
it was not generally supposed that the boy,
whom he had left on the care of his wife's
relative, gave any promise of a valuable
life
And pursued Fred you probably rec
ollect when my father was very sick, uncle
Timothy came to him and the quarrel was
thrown away, and from that time, while nv
father lived their brothelly love was warm
and generous"
Yes; know all that"
Well-at that time my uncle spoke OF
the will he had made, and said he should de-
stroy it; and believed he did. | know it
as well as | know any thing which | did not
see with my own eyes. Before my uncle
died he told me that he should make no will
for there was no need of it. He said was
the only lawful heir, and that was enough.
My uncle died and came into possession
Of the property; and have enjoyed it, and
have tried to do good with it; and as the
ye.rs have passed on | have added some
thing 20 the original fortuue, for | have been
careful and purdent. In dark hour, how
ever, storm has burst upon ME. 1t Itseemed
one John Staffer has returned. He went
away ten years ago-went away because
my uncle would give him home no lon
ger-and has not been back since until
within the last year. He has come and has
laid claim to my property. He claims the
whole of it :"
"But how asked as my friend stopped
to take breath.
"You remember Stephen Akers, the old
lawyer? ?" said Fred.
aye" replied, know him very well.
! He has been out West, and done some busi-
ness there; but he can't do any more where
he is known, for he has proved himself vii
lain
Ha-do You know it, But what has
that do with you now?"
"Tl tell you. In the first place, he used TO
do business here, and my uncle employed
him some"
IL remember that"
"And 1t was he who made that old will
for my uncle"
"IeS, recollect it now"
We'll" continued Fred, "this old villain
Of lawyer came back here about six months
ago, and ere long he and John Statfer came
out and laid claim 20 my uncle's property
and when asked what he meant he produced
> paper which appeared 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
western county he overlooked it among otn-
er papers, and took it along with him. He
furthermore declares that he received sever
al letters from Mr.. Elliott, asking him to be
careful of the will, and keep it; so that it
could be brought to light in case of need"
so: course, said |, this will must be q
fraudulent one"
Most certainly ii is" returned Fred.
"And yet it has been admitted to Probate
The Judge has accepted it."
81 have appealed, and it goes to the Su-
perior Court; and, moreover, the trial comes
off tomorrow. For myself, Enoch-were |
alone in in the world would care little, for
| could put forth my energies anew; but for
my wife and children, oh, oh! it is hard
hard
He buried his face in his hands, and wept
aloud; but in little VI nile he became calm
again, and questioned him as l saw fit
Another witness to the will beside Stephen
Akers was living, and he had testified that
ne believed the instrument now produced was
the one to which he put his name. In short,
the case looked dark enough; and dare not
give my friend much hope. Yet l promised
to think Of the matter, and be present with
him at trial.