Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-07-27

received a telegram from her cousin
announcing the fact the same day. But
why do you ask?'
Il have a reason which may or may
not prove a good one,' I returned, and
stating that / had business engage
ments for the whole of the next day, l
parted with my friend, promising to
meet him on the following evening.
Next afternoon found me in the Office
of DR.. Parsons. 4
Or. Parsons, 1 presume?' were the
words with which accosted the gen.
tleman l had seen at the theatre.
Yes SIR
you maynot remember me, Doctor,
but | believe we have met before.
1 beg pardon, sir, for not recolleet-
ing the OCCASION
You were in New Orleans last win
ter, were you not?,
Il was,' he answered, with some
embarrassment.
i am the gentleman on whom you
you called to draft wiII.'
He turned pale and made no re-
ply. sCST5f1e PTS 3ce
L saw the record of that will in the
Surogate's Office this morning,'I re-
sumed, and
you speak of my uncle's will, he
hastily interrupted s
And yet continued, you said it
was yours when you applied to have if
written. You presented Yourself as
ldesirous of executing such document
preparatory tOembarkiug on :perilous
voyage. The paper was drawn in ac-
cordauce with your instruction, leay.
| ing the date to be filed at the time OF
signing. Your locks were gray then,
and you certainly looked old enough
to have manageable daughter, but
your disguise was not perfect, and /
pointedt o the mutilated finger.
What do mean? he shouted in de-
fiant tone, springing to his feet.
simply that your uncle'S signature
to that paper is a forgery I answered,
rising and confronting him. He died
on the twenty third of December
Your own telegram to that effect is in
existence. 1t was on the twenty.
fourth, the day before Chsistmas. that
you called on me to prepare the paper
now on record as his will. The. infer
enee is plain, you undertook to manu-
facture this. spurious testament after
your uncle's death, and wishing to
clothe your villainy in legal form: you
procured from me the required draft
You, or some one at your instigation,
initiated the signature of the deceased. J.
The witnesses, who have since perjur-
ed themselves in their dispositions,
were procured in some manner beSi
known to YOURSELF fEE w
Enough, sirl' he calculated, placing
his back against the door, you have
shown yourself in possession of secret
thecustodyof which may prove DANCE
rous! =
Il am not unprepared for your threat,
I replied. In the first place l did no
come here unarmed, in next, / have
prepared a full written statement o.
the facts to which 1 have alluded, with
information, besides, of my present
visit to yourself. This paper will be
delivered to the friend to whom it i:
directed, unless within an hour l re
claim it from the messenger, who ha!
been instructed for that length of time
to retaini it.
s His face grew livid. His frame quiv
i Tered with mingled fear and rage, ant
his eyes cleaned like that of wild
DSdo6 dG Ddys- - -
sWhat is your purpose?' he exclaim
led, in voice hoarse with suppressed
Epassion. EvE vJIa-
i TO keep your secret while you live.
I answered, 'on one condition
4 Name it, ss&F e tEl
THAT you write instantly to JUL;
Parson renouncing all pretentions tt
lher hand, and absolutely withdrawing
your proposal ofmarriage.'
After a moments pause he seatet
,lhimselfat his desk and hastily pennet
Ia brief note, which he submitted TO
Imysinspection. 1t was quite satisfac
tory.
sBeso good as to seal and address it,
| / said. ea5t ~
j He did so.
4 Il will see that it is delivered / re
marked, taking it up and bowling my
self out. sd ,sa8s 81 ID I.s-.es ls..i -
i When met George Dickson in the
evening his old college look had come
back. He had great news to tell me-
THE next thing was to take me to set
! Julia, and it is needless to tell that 6
happy marriage followed not long af
ter. t 7.
EIdridge Parson, have just Learned
Joined one of the late Cuban eXpedi,
tions and was killed ina. recent en-
counter with the Spaniards. 5-..sf