American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-04-17

| liked him and were Jealous of the fathers
affection for the younger son. The for
| tune of the father was in his own power
| with the exception of small entalled
property. Gradually an estrangement
crept between the old man and his favor
lite son, which was not wholly the sons
fault. And there was no lack of malice
to widen the breach on the part of 9th
ers. At last a serious quarrel occurred
between the young man and his father
on the subject of the formers marriage
with lady of large fortune. The father
and son parted in anger. The father sent
for his lawyer and made his will, leaving
his whole fortune to his elder son, cutting
off the younger with ono shilling.
The father and son did not
meet again until just before the
day of his fathers wish to see him, hast
ened to him. The meeting gave happi-
ness to both, and they parted recon
ciled. The old man had not been very
well for some time, but after his sons
departure rallied wonderfully, and
seemed likely to live for years. One
day he started on journey, telling no
one his mission. The same evening he
returned, apparently in good health.
his bed! Heart disease was the verdict
of the physicians. The night before, or
the morning of his death, terrible MUIR
der had been committed near town not
twenty miles distant from the old mans
home, the victim being a solicitor and
land-agent from a neighboring county.
This gentleman had come to k on
business, and had accepted the invita-
ton of a friend to dinner. On returning
to his hotel from his friends house he
was attacked on the public road. His
body was not discovered for several
hours after the deed was pcrpetrated;
and as all the valuables on his person
were gone it was believed it was for the
purpose of robbery the crime was COM
mitted. 1t was generally believed there
were more than one engaged in the mat
ter, as, though lame, the deceased was a
powerful man, and well able to cope
with a single antagonist. The murderer
was never discovered. There was some
brought the dead man into disrepute
with the peasantry; and there was one
man in particular on whom suspicion
fell. But the fact of the robbery took
people off the scent, and gave the crime
another character than agrarian.
"Search was made, however, for the
man in question, but he was never found,
and was believed to have left the cOun-
try; and no trace of the murderer, who
ever he might be, was discovered. The
elder of the two brothers stepped into
his fathers fortune, and the younger got
his shilling! They never met after they
parted at their fathers grave. But the
younger went his way with lighter
heart to think that his fathers last words
to him had been those of peace and
love; believing, also, that if he had but
lived little time longer another will
would have been made and justice would
have been done him.
"Justice had been done him; another
will had been made. For some reason
probably suspicion of his elder sony he
had wished to keep the matter a secret,
and had employed the murdered man to
draw the will, instead of the family law
yer. He had known the dead man a
long time, and had confidence in him.
He had gone to k to meet him the
day of that sudden journey-the last day
of both their lives-and had executed
the will. Whether the elder brother ever
had any suspicion on the subject it is
impossible to say. The witnesses to the
will are both living in k. No pa
pers of any kind being found on the
dead man, of course all was clear for the
elder of these sons; and he was at liberH
to disregard any idle gossip he might
have heard as to his fathers executing
deed the day before his death. The(Will,
which was the old mans last wiz and
act, is found. and has, through nSsteri-
Gus interposition of Providence been
sent to him to whom it chiefly appkes."
"That is fortunate, dear Jack, forNthe
younger brother will get his DUE
"And that younger brother is about to
claim it, and is going to carry off his
wife and child to share it with him" said
my husband, loosely. cay, Nell, am
that younger brother, whose earlier his
tory has, till now, been such mystery
to his sweet, little darling wife,"
"Then," said 1, tears of joy Drumming
my eyes-my hand fondly clasped in
his then that is the story of the
packet?'
THAT is the story of the packet. so
guarded for years by the poor
outcast who is dead and gone. And now
1 think my Nell will not have cause al
together to repent having sheltered the
castaway on that Night in the Back
woods"