The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-01-01

the will was returnable. sat in brown
study after she left The office; and then,
jumping up with a sudden impulse, 1 4
snatched my hat and went up and down
the streets of the city until I came to the
dingy warehouse that still bore on its
weather-beaten signboard overhead the
name OF Jocob Shelnire. entered, and
before me were the two men that had
met on the Surrogate's stairs. They were
whispering together over the desk as Il
entered, and Passmore advanced as soon
as he saw me, and curtly demanded my
business;
The bluntness Of his manner, unex-
Ipected as it was, threw me offmy guard,
and I asked without preface, "Have|
you any interest, sir, in opposition to-
that of your ateemployer's sgrand-daugh-
ter p
"Have you any business to ask me
such a question o. he retorted, rudely,
if not insultingly.
clam her counsel, sir" replied,
''and-."
''Yes, yes, he interrupted. ''Wen,
sir, the will is to pc proved on the 18th
and if you are present you will know all
about it."
''But how is it about the will2" Task
led. "Virginia insists that there is none,
and"
''She is mistaken" he coolly rejoined.
'AIr Passmore," 1 said, ''from the re-
lations that have existed between your
self and this young lady's grandfather,
you should consider it your duty to &C
quaint her with anything that may hap
pen to your knowledge, adverse to her
interests. ask you now, sir, have you
nothing to communicate 2"
\ Nothing whatever, sir, he responded,
with a bland smile.
''AIr. Passnore, you are a scoundrel,
sir" ejaculated.
"AIr. Williams, you are certainly any
thing but a gentleman" washis tantaliz-
ing reioinder; and, with a mock bow, he
retired.
went back to my Office, chafed and
irritated to an unwonted degree, and en-
tirely satisfied that a deep plot had been
formed to cheat Virginia Garvin out Of
her inheritance. I thoroughly believed
it, but could do nothing but wait until
the day for the probate of the will had
brought its revelations.
Well, it came; and 1 attended before
the Surrogate at the hour named in the
citation with my client. There were also
present Passmore, Bledroe, and dis
tinguished member of our bar, whom the
latter had obtained to assist him. The
man Bledsoe produced an instrument
which purported to be, and whichhe de
clared was, the will and testament of ia.
cob Shelmire. 1t was very brief, giving
to Rufus Bledsoe all the property, both
real and personal, of which he should die
possessed. 1t was dated, 1 observed
about year previous to the time thai
{ Virginia had come to live withher grand
father; it was signed with the full name
! Jacob Shelmire, written apparently il
! the same hand with the body of the in
strument (and the handwriting was mar
:. velously like that of Jacob himself), anC
q it was witnessed, or purported to be, b.
! Thomas Darke and Peter Larned, boil
merchants of the city. AS he read thei
name, I happened to know that both o
them had been dead several years.
a The will was proved by Bledsoe AM
q Passmore, both of them testifying to tn
e genuineness of the signatures of bot
I the testator and witnesses. And Bled
T soc, in addition, swore that he had re
Il ceiyed the will-from Jacob Shelmire pei
V sonally, upon the day after its date.
The story which this man told wa
e substantially as follows: He was
/ nephew of the late Mr.. Shelmire, an
d was quite boy-when his aunt was maI
n ried. His new uncle saw him on tina
i occasion, and took quite fancy to hin
l. The wedding, he said, was in a distar
< town, where his parents resided, an
d when the wedding party broke up Ml
Shelmire said to him, Remember IN,
d my boy, if you ever want help" Yeal
after, when chance left him penniless j
ID London, he remembered the circun
le stances, and went in search of Mr.. She
T. mire; and the old man. gave him war;
st welcome "Your AUNT is dead, my boy,
n he said, "and have no kith or kid @
Il earth that I know of; 4 had a daughte
ID but she is dead, toe, and 1 can't lear
of that she has left me any children to tal
ne care Of You are welcome, indeed, N
le lad. With this, he took him home an
treated him most affectionately while l
stayed. The old man was anxious
adopt him and keep him with him ii
a. death should separate them; but BledsC
d. was sailor, and soon began to long fC
to another voyage, and at last told the ol
man that he must go. The night befol
o. he went Mr.. Shelmire sat up after h
=. ,1e,1oI 1,adti,,,a 1v,,iEino and IN tha ,,,oYr