The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-08-16
~npu1uo srAR AND CATHOLIC MESSENGER.
NEW ORLEANS. SUNDAY, AouoeI 40, .e.e.
THE PICTORIAL PRAY1l-B00K.

most respectable nOtaries in Paris, Monsieur
Dubois-a man of the old school, univer-
sally respected for his good sense, probity,
and bencvolence. There were pfesenI SnG
side the notary himselD lady OF middle
age, richly dressed; she could never have
been handsome, but perhaps, had her coun-
tenance been less proud and disdainful, she
would not have appeared as she did-posi-
lively ugly; an insignificant, looking httle
man and IL woman, very shabbily dressed,
who sat at some distance from the others,
holding the hand of beautiful little boy
I" Her death was rather sudden, salt
Madame Moranville, the richly-clad lady,
to the little man in black.
eyes" replied he, coolly; "but, no doubt,
she was we'll prepared"
UHave YOU any idea of the contents of
the will z"
Not the slightest; but we shall soon
know. Dubois will open it directly"
pray What is That shabby ye
herea"
ooh, don't you know her, II 10 ,!.s
runaway niece, Marie, who made such q us
grassfu match some years nS9 iow birth"
&c wonder she has the assurance to come
into our presence"
$50 do i; the more SO, because onr de-
ceased relative. good, pious woman rs she
bedience and ingratitude with horror"
Y At that moment Marie approached the
speakers; she was yet scarcely in middle
age, but sorrow had been beforehand with
time in robbing her check of its bloom and
eyes of their lustre.
Pray, what brings you here r said Ma
dame Moranville, haughtily.
50 Madame, replied the poor widow,
am not come to interfere with your rights
know have deserved nothing from my
aunt but her pardon, and l hope to hear
that she has left me that"
"What.' cried Madame Moranville,
"pardon to you, the disgrace of your family,
who fled from the protection of your aunt
the best of aunts-with a low fellow 7"
Madame, acknowledge my fault; l
have been ungrateful and disobcdient-II
know it; but my sutferiDgs have been so
great that hope Heaven has pardoned me,
for have looked upon the loss of my hus-
band, and the poverty and sorrow atten-
dant upon it, as IL punishment from above"
And you deserved"
Cease these reproaches, madame" said
the notary i'll stern tone "your Cousins
fault is not so very grievous as to call for
them
g But why should she insult us with her
presence
sc She has right to be here,'' replied the
notary. she comes at my DESIRE"
He then proceeded to read the will, in
which after the usual preamble, the de-
ceased divided her property into three
parts. The first was composed of n sum of
SsOOO in the hands of the notary; the
second of furnished country seat OF the
same value and some family jewels; the
third of an illustrated prayer book. The
VIII Then proceeded as follows:
desire that my property may be di-
yided into three lots; the first, to be the
fsOO0, the second, the chateau, furniture
aud jewels; tho third my prayer book,
took it with me in the emigration, during
the Reign of Terror. pardon my niece,
Marie, for the sorrow she has caused
me and, as proof of my sincerity, men
ton her in my will. My beloved cousin,
Madame Moranville, will have the first
choice my brOther-in law, Monsieur DAT |
tenont, the second, and Marie, the last"
Ah, my sister n-law waa sensible |
woman" cried Monsieur D'Arlemont.
"Yes," said Madame Moranville, litter |
Ing; "she has given q proof Of it; Marie !
Will only have the prayer-book.n
The notary, who seemed scarcely able to !
contain his indignation, interrupted the tit |
serer. " What do you choose. Madame :"
said he.
"The fsOOO.n
You are determined on that o.
Most undoubtedly"
Madame Moranville you arc rich, and
your COUSIN 10 very-very poor cannot you
leave this lot, and take the prayer-book
that this-this-" he seemed for q moment
at o loss for an expression" this stran1e
VIII has put in the balance with the other
lots 2" '''' o'ne'
Are you Joking, Monsieur Dubois -
Dried MADAME MoranviIIe = " or don't you
see that my honored cousin has made her
wall in the express intention that the prayer
book should fall to Marie, who was to have
the last choice 2"
And what do you conclude from that 7''
"i conclude that she desired her niece
should understand that prayer and repen-
lance were the only succors she ought to
expect IN this life. All, she was a saint, |
that dear woman!"
Saint, quotha !" cried the notary. in |
dignantiy; may heaven defend me from
such saints An unforgiving, unnatural
woman l. am wrong; l do her injustice.
ae1 intention, am sure, was to give YOU
MOnalRur A ~