Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-04-03

madame" said he.
The eight thousand pounds
"You are determined on chat y
"Most undoubtedly"
MADAME Moranvile, you are rich,
and your cousin is very, very poor; can
not you leave this lot and take the pray
er-book that this'-he seemed for mo-
ment at loss for an expression this
strange will has put in the balance with
the other lots p
care you joking, Monsieur Dubois ~
cried Madame Moranville ''or don't you
see that my honored cousin has made her
will in the express intention that the
prayer-book should fall to Marie who
was to have the last choice ~
And what do you conclude from thatY
Il conclude that she desired her niece
should understand that prayer and re-
pentance were the only succors she ought
to expect in this life. All, she was a
saint, that dear woman 2
Saint, quotha y cried the notary, in
dignantly ''may heaven defend me from
such saints An unforgiving, unnatu-
raj woman. | am wrong do her an
injustice. Her intention, am sure, was
to give you and Monsieur DArlemont
an opportunity of doing good noble
action, by dividing the property equally
with her poor niece"
Monsieur D'Arlemont will do as he
pleases, | repeat that my choice is made
"And so is mine" said D'Arlcmont;
II shall take the chateau and all it con
tains"
pause one moment, Monsieur OAR
lcmont," cried the notary. Even if it
was the intention of the deceased to pun
ish her niece ought you millionaire, to
take advantage of her unchristian con-
duct to leave one of your own family
languishing in poverty? Will you not at
least give up part of your lot, even small
part. to this poor widow"
MANY thanks for your kind advice,
my dear Dubois. said D'Arlemont snecr-
ingly; 'the chateau is close to one of
my estates, and will suit me admirably
particularly as it is furnished AS for
the family jewels, it is impossible for me
to think of parting with them"
''In that case" said the notary, adj
dressing Marie, II can only give you,
my poor Madame LcFevre, the prayer
book"
She took the book, and pressing it to
her lips, held it to her son, who cried
out with childish delight at the sight of
its richly-gilt cover, ooh, mamma, let
me have it !"
Eyes, my boy, you shall have it; it
will be the only legacy can leave you.
But never, never will part with it. !
thank heaven she has pardoned me
She has said it, and / know that she was
truth itselfp
The notary turned away his head
"Don't go, Madame LeFevre," said
he, Il must speak to You by and by"
At that moment the boy, in playing
with the book, unclasped it, and cried
out, "Oh, mamma, look at the pretty
pictures But why are they covered over
with this nice thin papcr?''
ut is to keep them from being soiled."
"But why put six papers to every
picture 2"
His mother looked uttered
piercing cry, and fell, fainting, in the
arms of Monsieur Dubois, who said to
those present, ''Let her alone, it is moth
ing she will not die this time. Give
me that book, child, you may do mischief
to it,"
The two rich legatees went away,
commenting not very charitably on Ma
rie's swoon and the evident interest the
notary took in her.
About month afterwards they met
Madame LeFevre and her son. both we'll
dressed, riding in pretty carriage, with
two horses. This unexpected sight led
them to make enquiry after her, and they
found that she had purchased hand
some house and was living in quiet,
but very good style. Thunderstruck at
this intelligence, they went together to
question the notary. They found him
at his desk.
"Do we interrupt you p said the lady.
II am not particularly busy; only
making out an account Of bank stock |
have just purchased for Madame Le-
Fevre."
And for heavens sake where does it
come from ?"
"Why, don't you know p
"No; how should 2"
odd you not see what was in the book
when she tainted 2"
"No."
"Well, then, must tell you that the
prayer-book contained sixty engravings,
and that each was covered with six bank
notes of fifty pounds each"
GOOD heayensw cried the gentle
man.
"Oh, if had but known" said the
lady.
"You had each choice" said the no. |
tary; "and tried all could to prevail |
upon you both to take the prayer-book, /
but in vain"
"But who could expect to find a for
tune in prayer-book 2
1T is easily explained; its owner had
suffered great distress in the emigration
% England; she always lived in fear Of
being obliged to BY second time, and
as her prayer-book was the only thing
she had not been robbed Of in her first
fight, she concealed the handsome for