The Democratic advocate., 1874-05-02
Select Storp.
THE PICTORIAL PRAYER-BOOK.

1t was many long year ago, and the
scene of my story is the Office of one Of
the most respectable notaries in Paris,
Monsieur Dubois, a man of the old school,
universally respected for his good sense,
probity and benevolence. There were
present, beside the notary himself, a lady
Of middle age, richly dressed; she could
never have been handsome, but perhaps
had her counteuance been less proud and
disdainful, she would not have appeared
as she did-positiyely ugly--an insigni6-
cant looking little man and woman very
shabbily dressed, who sat at some distance
from the others, holding the hand of a
beautiful little boy.
"Her death was rather sudden, said
Madame Moranyile, the rich clad lady, to
the little man in black.
ayes" replied he, coolly; "but no doubt
she was well prepared"
Have you any idea of the contents Of
the will p
"Not the slightest; but we shall soon
know. Dubois will open the will directly.
"Pray, who is that shabby looking wo-
man? What business can she have here?"
"Oh, don't you know her? 1t is the
runaway niece, Marie, who made such a
disgaceful match some years ago with q
lieutenant in the army--a man Of low
BIRTH
81 wonder If she has the assurance to
come into our presence"
$50 do l; the more so, because our de-
ceased relative, good, pious woman as she
was, must have looked upon her disobe-
diencc aud ingratitude with horror"
At that moment Marie approached the
speakers; she was yet scarcely in middle
age, but sorrow had been beforehand with
time in robbing her cheek of its bloem and
her eyes of their lustre.
"Pray, what brings you here p said
Madame Moranvillc, haughtily.
"Madame," replied the poor widow, II
am not come to interfere with your rights;
know | have deserved nothing from my
aunt but her pardon, aud that | hope to
hear she has left me-
What cried Madame Moranville,
pardon to you, the disgrace of your fami-
ly, who fed from the protection Of your
aunt--the best of aunts-with low fel-
low 2"
Madame, acknowledge my fault |
have been ungrateful and disobedicnt--I
know it; but my suferings have been so
great that hope heaven has pardoned
me, for l have looked upon the loss of my
husband, and the poverty and sorrow
attendant upon il, as punishment from
above"
"And you deserved"
"Cease these reproaches, Madame, said
the notary in stern tone; your cousin
fault is not so very grievous as to call for
them
'But why should she insult US with her
presence here p
'She has right to be here, replied
the notary, "she comes at my desire
He then proceeded to read the will, in
which, after the usual preamble, the de-
ceased divided her property into three
parts. The first was composed Of sum
of Es,000, in the hands of a notary; the
seecad of furnished country seat of the
same ralue and some family jewels; the
third Of an illustrated prayer-book The
will then proceeded as follows
II desire that my property may be d.
vided into three lost; the first to be eight
thousand pounds; the second the chateau,
furniture and jewels; the third my prayer
book, which Is still IN the same state as
when | took il with me ia the emigration
IN the Reign Of Terror. ! pardon my
niece, Marie, for the sorrow she has caused
me; and as a proof Of my sincerity men
tion her in my will Ny beloved cousin,