The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-02-19

saint, quotha ~ cried the notary, in
dignantly, may heaven defend me from
such saints An unforgiving, unnatural
woman. / am wrong, do her an injus-
tice. Her intention, am sure, was to give
you and Monsieur DArlemont an opportu-
nifty ofdoing good, noble action, by
dividing the property equally with her
poor niece T."
Monsieur D'Arlemont will do as he plea
SEES; repeat that my choice is made"
And so is mine," said D'Arlemont; ~
shall take the chateau and all it con-
tains."
Pause enc moment, Monsieur D'Arle-
mont" cried the notary. even if it was
the intention OF the deceased to punish
her niece, ought you, q millionaire, to take
advantage of her unchristian conduct 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 2"
MANY thanks for your kind advice, my
dear Dubois" said D'Arlemont sneeringly;
1.-THE chateau is close to one of my estates,
and Will suit me neutrality-suspicious.
as 1t is furnished. AS for the family Jew
els, 1t IS impossible for me to think Of part
ing with them"
I'm that case" said the notary, address
ing Marie, II can only give you, my poor
Madame LeFevre, the prayer-book.n
| She took the book, pressing it to her
lips, held it to her son, who cried out with
childish delight at the sight of its richly
gilt cover, "Oh, mamma, let me have it ~
YES, my boy, you shall have it; it will
be the only legacy can leave you. But nev-
/ ma wi 10 I 81, T.. l.
she mas pardoned me She has said it,
and know that she was truth itself-
~lhe notary turned away his head.
DON'T go, Madame LeFevre," said he,
must speak to you by and BY"
AT that moment the boy, in playing with
the book unclasped it, and cried, "Oh,
mamma, look at the pretty pictures But
why are they covered over with this nice
thin paper 2"
ut is to keep them from being soilcd.,'
ture 2" f0
"His mother looked.-she uttered pierc.
Ing cry, and fell, fainting, in the arms of
Monsieur Dubois, who said TO those pre-
sent, Let her alone, it is nothing; she will
not die this time. Give me that book,
child, you may do mischiefto it,"
The two rich legatees went away, COM
mentlng not very charitably On Marie's
swoon and the evident interest the notary
took in her.
About month afterwards they met
Madame LeFeyre and her son, both we'll
dressed, riding in pretty carriage, with
two horses. This unexpected sight led
them to make eLquiry after her, and they
iound that she had purchased handsome
house and was living in quiet, but very
good style. Thunderstruck at this intelli-
gence, they went to- ether to question the
notary. They found him at his desk.
DO we interrupt you {" said the
lady.
u am not particularly busy only maxi
ing out an account of bank stock have
purchased for Madame LeFevre.n
And for heavens sake where does it
come from ?"
why, don't you know 2"
mo; how should II"
"Did 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 ESQ each.
Good Heavens ~ cried the gentleman.
"Oh, il | had but KNOWN said the
lady.
You had each choice" said the nota-
ry; land tried all could to prevail upon
you both to take the prayer-book, but in
vain"
but who could expect to find fortune
in prayer-book 2"
ut is easily explained its owner had
suffered great distress in the emigation to
England; she always lived in fear of being
obliged to fly a second time, and as her
prayer-book was the only thing she had
not been robbed of in her first flight she
concealed the handsome fortune Of eigh-
teen thousand pounds in it to prevent her.
self being second time reduced to pov.
erty."
The legatees skunk away in silent rage.
The good notary chuckled and rubbed
his hands.
"She was saint p cried he. "Ah YOU
neither of you will say that now, though
you may say it with truth. Heaven rest
her soul / shall honor her memory to my
dying day.