The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-10-28
SELECTED STORY.
A BOLD STROKE FOR A WIFE.
ny JUDGE CLARK.

ny JUDGE CLAhh.
1. was my 6rst visit North since
had taken up my abode and entered o'
She ,rae,,ce of my profession IN Ne"
Orleaus,
In tie cI,y'of N"w Y"k | had " very
dear friend. my nd ehu" and e'sss'l'"'e
George Dickson, aud az he was va the ct" {.
ay person / knew inthe great me,r"pci'S
.S eourse / los. no time in looking h'u
up.
Three years had passed since our last
meeting, but ten could scarcely have
h,odueed change more marked than
had taksu place in the appearance a"o
manner Of my friend.
Our FIRST greetings and friendly IN
ua;ries over, 1 longed, yet forebOre, to
, ,.,k ! the cause of my frieud's n'eluueho'
IL, ! fel. sure, in due time, of being
made the confident of the secret, pro-
x;ded no motive of delicacy prompted its
concealment.
Tha. evening 10 my room at the no,
sel, George told me his story. de had
formed an attachment for young LADY,
whose graces Of mind and person he
portrayed with all the fervor Ola lover )
elooueuee. She had returned his affec-
tiou. but her father had opposed his
suit, having set his heart on the mar.
rage Of his daughter TO nephew OF
bis. ...... .. .-...
This nephew wss a young physician
Of proaigate charct-r, my friend as
su,,red me-but ,h,t may have been pre-
iudice-who had long but nusuccess'
fully woocd his cousin, to whom his
proffers were as repugnant as to her ia
ther they were acceptable
Sou,smontas siuco, Mr.. Parsons, the
youns iady S fasher; hadgone South oo
business, accompanied by his nephew.
AZ New Oilesns he had been seized by
!. sudden illness, which Terminated IA,
.aily in three days.
On the day preceding his death he
had executed will, (Which had since
been duly proved BY the depOsitlons OF
the at.estiug wituesses,) containing a
solemn request that his daughter to
whom he left the whole Of his estate
should accept the hand Of his nephew IN
marriage, coupled with a provision that
in case the latter offered, aud she re-
fused, Within specified period, TO enter
into the proposed union, the entire es'
tate devised to his daughter should be
forfeited to the nephew.
To sacrifice her fortune to her heart s
choice would not have cost julia Par
,ons a moments hesitation and moth
ing could have more delighted George
Dickson, than SO fair an opportunity u
showing how superior his devotion NV was ;
to all considerations ofpersonal'dvan-
,sre But her fathers dying request,
in Julia's eyes was sacred. 1t had sur
prised aud stunned her, it is true' tor III
their many Conferences on the subject
he bad never gone bevond tue most
kindly reuous.rance, a"d had never
even limited ut anything like coercion
Young Parsons had not the m's"a"''
unity to forget his unsenerous aaVan'
tsge. ..4n.--
Hc-miyht have been content with his
cousin's fortune alone, but his right 70
that depended on his offer and h'' re
lection of an alliance which she felt III
conscience bound to accept. The br'e'
season Of grace, which she had bee"
compelled to beg even with tears, had
already almost passed, and . few more
days would witness the condemnation
of two lives to hopeless misery.
A. the conclusion of my friends mar
rative, in which, tor reasons that ma!
hereafter be developed, ! felt peculiar
interest, ! prevailed upon him to accom-
pany me to . place of amusement It
which l had previously, procured tick
cts. ..a.
When we rcsched+he theatre tn'
performance had already begun; ou
ys succeeded in finding seats wn'o'
commanded a fair view both OF the sag
and the audience.
In few moments George tocuhed IN.
slboN.
"Obssrys the: gentleman nearly op
posiss, in the front oftbs parquetts
sssssd susxs the column, lsaniSg hi