Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-02-03

feter inCn. Lei bTlRgS Iamlly 10
something for her.
"To be sure!' said Mr.. Collect. Briggs
family are the people to do something for
her."
She n. mustn't expect anything from US
Destitute is she ?" said John. With
children, too Why this is another case,
sir. You certainly ought to notice her
to assist her. Confound it, I'm for letting
her have the hundred year"
"Oh, John, John What break DOWN.
said Mr. Collect. $50 you were trying
to follow Peter Finch through Stony
Arabia, and turned back at the second
step! Here's brave traveller for you,Pe-
ter John, John, keep to your Arabia
Felix, and leave sterner ways to
very different men. Goodbye, both of
you. I've no voice to talk any more. I'll
think over all you have said.'
He pressed their hands, and they left the
room. The old man was too weak to
speak the next day, and, in three days af
ter that, he calmly breathed lis last.
AS soon as the funeral was over, the will
was read by the confidential man of bust
ness, who had always attended to Mr.. Col
let's affairs. The group that sat around
him preserved decorous appearance of
disinterestedness, and, the usual preamble
to the will having been listened to with
brcathless attention, the man of business
read the following, in clear voice:
81 beaueath, to my niece, Emma Briggs,
notwithstanding that she shocked her fam
lily by marrying an Gilman, the sum of
$4,000; being fully persuaded that her
lost dignity if she could even find it again,
would do nothing to provide her with
food, or clothing, or shelter"
John Meade smiled, and Peter Finch
ground his teeth-but in quiet, respecta-
BILE manner.
The man of business went on with his
reading.
Having always held the opinion that
women should be rendered rational and
independent being, and having duly con-
sldered the fact that society practically de-
MES her the right of earning her own
living-I hereby bequeath to Mary Jayne,
the on y child of my old friend, Frederick
Jayne, the sum of 10000, which will en-
able her to marry, or remain single, as she
may prefer"
John Meade gave a prodigious start upon
hearing this, and Peter Finch ground his
teeth again-but in a manner hardly re-
spectacle. Both, however, by violent
effort, kept silent.
The man of business went on with his
reading.
az have paid some attention to the
character of my nephew, John Meade,
and have been grieved to see him much
possessed with feeling of philanthropy,
and with general preference for what
ever is noble and true over what is base
and false. AS these tendencies are by no
means such as can advance him in the
world, bequeath him the sum of 10000
hoping that he will thus be kept out of
the workhouse, and be enabled to paint
his great historical picture-which, as yet,
he has only talked about.
GAS for my other nephew, Peter Finch,
he views all things in so sagacious and
selfish way, and is so certain to get on in
life, that should only insult him by Of
fering an aid which he does not require;
yet, from his affectionate uncle, and en-
tirely as a testimony of admiration for his
mental acuteness, venture to hope that
he will accept bequest of $500 towards
the completion of his extensive library of
law books"
How Peter Finch stormed, and called
names-how John Meade broke into a
delirium of Joy-how Mary Jayne cried
first, and then laughed, and then cried
and laughed together; all these matters
shall not attempt to describe. Mary
Jayne is now Mrs. John Meade; and her
husband has actually begun the great his
torical picture. Peter Finch has taken
to discounting bills, Ind bringing actions
on them; and drives about in his brough-
am already.