The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-11-08

''But, my dear sir, it is impossible tt
execute the provisions of such docu.
ment," replied the bland and smiling
Mr.. Hunt. "Such n will would be il.
legal, and consequently worthless"
"Cnnfonnd itn' said the irate old seq
dog; edo you mean to tell me that q
man can not sail his own craft in any
water he chooses 2"
And after several stormy interrup.
tons, the lawyer at last made clear to
his wrathful client, that, in order to be
legal, the will must contain the name
of Miss Josephine as legatee, be the
sum ever so small.
every well, since 1t must be so" re-
piled Captain Wycherly /; and he bent
his shaggy head to listen to the read
ing Of the document that conveyed
railroad shares, bank stock, and farm
ing lands, amounting in all to half a
million of dollars, to the aforesaid
charitable fund, and left to his daugh-
ter, "Mrs. Josephine Marty, the sum OF
two dollars, to buy q stool of rcpen-
tence, whereon she could sit aud re-
feet upon the ingratitude of her con-
duet to an indulgent father"
"And yon may give" said the old
man, with a grim smile, "tlle Wycler-
~ homestead to her portion also"
':The Wycherly homestead re-
pcated Mr.. Hunt. ~ can not say that
| ever heard of it BEFORE"
cha! ha!' reared Captain Wyclcr-
ly, who relished his joke now and then.
~ dare say you never did-ha, ha =
Ten acres in all, and the most barren.
reproductive soil conceivable-cover-
ed with rocks and stones, and watered
by the blackest, dirtiest stream that
eyer ran, With a few gnarled and moss
grown apple trees, shading log hut
in their midst-such is the birthplace
of all the dead and gone Wycherlys FOL
generations pasta magnificent place
-ha, ha! Or, stay; instead of put.
ting it in the will, suppose You make
out deed of the place, and present il
to Mrs. Josephine Marty, as Il wedding
gift from her affectionate father, or
condition that she and her husband
spend the honeymoon there. I have
heard that my gentleman was some.
thing of an amateur artist, and he car
not fail to admire the scenery
And with this parting joke the cap
tain went his way.
So that evening, Mrs. Josie Marty
sitting by her husbands side in theil
lodgings, was surprised with packc,
of paper from the Office of Hunt and
Ketchnm, setting forth the above con-
ditions, and indorsing the deed to the
Wycherly homestead.
eve will go; won't we, dear Duke9'
whispered Josie, her red lips quivering
and tear or two glittering on the sill
ken brown lashes that shaded hei
sweet blue eyes. 81 think we'd better
go, dear not for the land, which it APP
pears is worthless enough; but it is
papa's request, and, perhaps, it's the
last that lie ever will Make" and here
she broke down in a tempest of sobs
and tears.
For though she had willfully DISC
beyed him, yes, next to her husband
Josie loved the stern, tyrannical ole
man whom she called father.
I
Captain Wycherly was i'll. Servants
went to and fro through the elegant
rooms, trying in vain to satisfy the
caprieious whims of the childish ole
man, who, now that his fit of passion
was over, longed daily and hourly fol
the presence of his cliild-his darling
Josie. But his stubborn pride wa'
not yet humbled enough to allow hin
to seek her; and SO the weary day
went by, and he heard no tidings o
his daughter, whose face he had no
seen since the morning of her wedding
day.
At last, when golden dandelions ant
delicate anemones began to write TIN
sweet promises. Of spring all owe
field and wood and infused a warmer
tint into the golden sunshine, Captain
I'Wycherly could sit at his chamhe
window and look out upon familiar
scenes.
What house is that 2. he asked o
John, the servant pointing to an ele
CANT brownstoue mansion, of palatia
dimensions, which occupied the place
formerly dedicated to d row of cot
tages. 70 49,
ssThat, sir9" said garrulous John
f"why, that's the new house built by |
foreign gentleman, who took a fame.
| 70 the place, strand paid a goot
round sum for it, too. Why, they sa.
there's no end to his money; and h
has title, besides lord or duke
something, sir, whatever it may be
Perhaps you've seen 'em, sir !"
And John, who regarded his maste
as sort Of Travelled paragon, to whor
nothing foreign would be at all unfa
miliar. from !. ROYAL duke to Benga