The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-10-18

garet, single lady, to bear him company
during my absence.
We had been in Paris about six months
when to our grief and surprise,we receiv-
ed telegram urging our immediate re-
turn to England, in consequence of the
sudden death of our dear old Uncle Jo-
seph. We started at once, and made all
haste on our homeward way. On arriv-
ing at the little town of Charlton, the
nearest station to ''The Weir" we were
met by Mr.. Mellor, the only confidential
friend Uncle Joseph ever had that We
knew Of. He belonged to that much
abused class of men, the lawyers; but he
was, I believe, truly upright, excellent
man. He invited US to go home with him,
as he thought we should be more comfor-
table than at "The Weir" and we gladly
accepted the invitation. He told US the
old gentleman had appeared in his usual
health up to the day before his death,
when he complained slightly of lassitude
and shiyering, but nothing serious had
been apprehended. 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 arri-
val; and hearing that we had reached En-
gland, Mr.. Mellor had fixed the following
day for the funeral, which, at Uncle Jo-
lseph's request was to be as quiet as pos
sible, Charley, myself, Mr.. Mellor, and
the medical man alone being the mourn
ers. And SO we laid the old man to his
rest, in the village churchyard, and return
ed to the home which now should know
him no more. We partook of slight
lunch almost in silence, and then Mr..
Mellor, unlocking asmall 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
we're remembered with legacies according
to their term of service. Mr.. Mellor and
myself each received 35, 900, and then the
remainder of his property, which consis7
ted of sThe Weir and an income OF
about $4,000 pounds per aEnum, was left
to his dear relative Charles Lancewood,
clogged with ore condition. Charley
gasped and opened his eyes, for here Mr..
Mellor paused, and panied look came
over his face. The property far exceeded
anything that Charley had ever expected;
he felt startled at the amount; but what
could be the condition? He, begged MIR.
Mellor to proceed, which he did and then
he heard that all this wealth was to be-
come his at the expiration of one year
from the time of Uncle Joseph's death,
provided that during that time, or at the
expiration of it, he married Mary Whit
field, or Stanley, as she was henceforth to
be called, the beloved grand daughter oil
Uncle Joseph, who during this year wo'd q
reside at "The Weir" which was to be
kept up for her residence, Charley receiv-
| ing the sum of 91 900 at once; but If al
the end of the year, he declared hisres
olution not to marry Miss Stanley, they
we're each to receive G1, ,00G per annum
the rest of his large property being lef1
| to various charities and for charitable
purposes. Such also was to be the case
| in the event of either of them dying du-
ring the year,
We sat like statues, staring at each 9th
er during the reading of this extraordlna-
ry document; and then Charley exclalm
ed, iaWhy he must have been mad! ht
never was married. saiS afJ
81 beg your pardon" said Mr., Mellor
"Mr. Stanley was widower at the tins
of his death. He was married abroad
but his wife died at the birth of their frs
child, who was daughter, and lived te
grow up, but she formed an attachment
/ very displeasing to her father; and.on hi:
i refusing to saction. the marriage, sht
eloped with her lover, whose name wa
Whitfield, and ma-ried him. From tha
time her father heard no more of her, ,un
til you had been gone to Paris about
month, when he received letter from
! MRS. Whitfield, who was a widow, ,writtel
on her death bed from small town II
Scotland, imploring his pardon for her
self, and protection for her only and or
phan child. Mr.. Stanley went at once
but before he reached the place, Mrs
; Whitfield was dead. He saw her quietl
| buried, and then returned, bringing wit
him the daughter, who has been an I'M
mense comfort to him, for his daughter
conduct had been source of great sor
row, and her sudden re-appearance afte
all these years, and her death in tn
midst of great privation and suffering
I was heavy blow, and in my opinion
I shortened the old mans days re
"Haye you seen Miss Stanley,or Whit
/, field? Which is it to be2'' asked.
"Mr. Stanley expressed aswish that sh
< shouldtake his name, replied the lawyel
: .She is quiet, gentle girl, ,and will max
your friend nice little wife,
!, "That she never will exclaimed Cha
ley impetuously. "My uncle must hay
been greatly mistaken if he thought
g was going to seek and marry wife for til
sake of obtaining fortune. am sorr
y to give up the old place, where [ hay
;, passed SO many days. but 1 never expec
Il ed to succeed to lt,therefore it is no heav
s disappointment; but, rather than delibe
ately marry Miss Stanley as matter I
), business. would lose every farthing.
q am abundantly satisfied with the alterni
Il tive, and, as she is also we'll provided fo
T the rest may go for aught care. | wi
: not marry her.
"Do not be in hurry, Charley sal
J /, "wait till you have seen her before yc
u decide"