The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-10-19
I a E W IL L.


as she dead, then ?"
"Yes, madam" replied little gentle
man in brown coat and short breeches
"And her will 2"
"Is going to be opened here inmeli
ately, by her solicitor"
"Shall We inherit anything?"
at must tie supposed so; we have
claims"
"Who is that miserably dressed per.
sonage who intrudes herself here 2"
20, she," replied the little man, sneer-
ingly "she won't have much in the will
she is sister to the deceased"
"What that Anne, who. welded in
1872 man of nothing-an officer ~
"Precisely So"
"She must have no small auloun. ol
impudence to present herself here before
a respectable family"
"Thstaore so, as sister Egrie. OF noble
birth, had never forgiven her for tha,
mesalliance."
Anne moved at this time across the
room in which the family of the deceas
ed were assembled She was pale; hci
fine eyes were filled with tears, and be,
face was furrowed by care with preco.
Icious wrinkles.
"What do you come here for ?" said
Madame de Villeboys, with great hangh.
tiness, who o moment before had been
interrogating the little man who inheri.
ted with her.
MADAME" the poor lady replied with
humility, 81 do not come here to CLAIM,
a part Of what does not belong to me; l
came here solely to see NJ. Dubois, my
poor sisters solicitor, to inquire if she
spoke of me st her last hour"
"What! do you think people busy
themselves about you?" arrogantly OBJ
served Madame de Villeboys; "the dis
grace of great house-you. who wed.
ded man of nothing, q soldier Of Bo
naparteI'
Madame, my husband, although a
child of the people, was brave soldier,
and, what is better, an honest man," OBJ
served Anne.
At this moment venerable person
age, the notary Dubois, made his appear
ance.
Cease" said he, ''to reproach Anne
with union which her sister has forgiy.
en- her. Anne loved generous, brave
and good man, who had no other crime
to reproach himself with than poverty
and the obscurity Of his name. Never
theless had he lived, if his family had
known him as I knew him-I, his old
friend-Anne would be ct this time hap
py and respected"
"But why is this woman here?"
Because it is her place to be here,
said the notary, gravely; II myself re-
quested her to be here"
NJ. Dubois then proceeded to open the
will.
Il, being sound in mind and heart
Egrie de Denfremdg, retired as board
er in the convent Of the Sisters of thu
Sacred Heart of Jesus, dictate the follow
ing wishes as the expression Of my for.
NAL desire and principal clause of my
testament:
"After my decease, there will be found
two hundred thousand francs in money
at my notary's, beside jewelry, clothes
and furniture, rs also q chateau worth
two hundred thousand fia1cs. In the
convent, where I have been residing, will
be found my books, 'Hieures de ID
Vierge, holy volume, which remains ss
i. was when I took it With me at the time
of emigration. l desire that these oh
jects be divided into three lots The
first lot the two hundred thousand franc;
in money. The second lot the chateau
furniture and jewels The third lot, ..my
book, Hieures de la Vierge. have par
doned my sister Anne the grief she has
caused US, and would have comfortet
her sorrows, if l had known sooner OF
her return to France. Icomprise her in
my will. Madame de Villeboys, my
much beloved cousin, shall have the frs
choice. NJ. Vatry, my brother in.law
shall have the second choice. Anne vii
take the remaining lot"
"Ah, ah" said Vstry, "sister Egri;
was good one that is rather clever On
her part"
Same will only have the prayer book,
exclaimed Madame dc Villeboys, laugh
ing aloud.
The notary interrupted her joculsrly.
MADAME" said lie, (which lot do yol
choose?"
"The two hundred thousand francs II
money"
"Have you quite made up your mind Z
Perfectly So"
The man Of law, addressing himsel
then to the good feelings Of the lady
said:
MADAME, you are rich, and Anne ha
nothing. Could you not leave this 10
and take the book Of prayers, which th,
eccentricity of the deceased has place.
on par with the other lots p
"You must be joking, NJ Dubois" ex
claimed Madame de Vllleboys; "yo,
must be dull not to see the intention o
sister Egrie in oil this. Our honoret
cousin foresaw full well that her book o
prayers would fall to the lot Of Anne
who had the last choice"
"And what do you conclude from
thatt" inquired the notary
81 conclude that she intended to init
mate to her sister that repentance anc
prayer were the only help she had to ex
pect in this world"
AS she finished these words. Madam,
de Villeboys made definite selection o
the ready money for her share. M.Vatr,
as may be easily imagined, selected til,
chateau, furniture and jewels as his lot
Monsieur vatry," said NJ, Dubois t.
that gentleman, "even suppose it hat
been the intention of tae deceased t
punish her sister, it would be noble OIL
your part, millionaire as you are, to Civ,
at least portion of your share to Anne
who is in want Of it."
Thanks for your kind advice, dea
sir, " replied Vatry "the mansion is sit
uated on the very confines of my woods
suits me adm rably, all the moro so tha
| IL is ready furnished Az tn tho ieuals n