The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-04-02
WisreHanFaHs,
THE Missing FING4R-JOINF.

Ii was my first visit to London since |
had taken up my abode and entered on
the practice of my profession rs solicit
or at Southampton
In London had n very dear friend,
my old college chum, George Dickson;
and as he was the only person knew in
the great metropolis, of course lost no
time in looking him up. Thee years
had passed since our last meeting; but
ten could scarcely have produced
change more marked than had taken
place in the appearance aud manner of
my friend.
Our first greetings and friendly inqui-
ries over, longed, yet feared, to ask
the cause of my friends melancholy. ]
felt sure, i'll due time, of being made the
confidant of the secret, provided no mo-
tive Of delicacy prompted its conceal
ment.
That evening, at my room at the hotel,
George told ne his story. lie had form
ed an attachment for a young lady.
whose graces of mind and person he por
trayed with all the fervor of lovers el
oquence. She had returned his afTec
ton; but her father had opposed his
suit, having set his heart nu the mar
riase of his daughter l.: :, uePl'-w Uf hi.
This nephew was II ynars surgeon, OF
proHsate character. my friall assured
me-but that mly .i;tve been prejudice
who had long, but nnsucceSsfnlly,
we're ;ls repugnaut as they wer. Ia her
father acceptable.
Some months sine, Mr. Parsons, the
voting lady's father had gone into Hamp
shire on business. accompanied by his
nephew; At Southampton he had been
~''iz Il T.! "a Sudden illness, which terni-
";,i'-'l fatally III three, '!a!s.
O. h- .!"v prrr" ii'::. his death lIe had
..tu,.i 3. ii sitie.. hrd stree beer.
,----.i - -, d. q. ."..- - ai:--ti Z
ii.,.>,--l q. uI;iI.i'.: Il =. ANN request
80 'uV, s. e. ''..n i,r ieit the
:.oi.' "f l. eotn'., shout accept !he
! ni...i his r"piIrw in marriage coupled
with e.. ',.,,yisinu that ia cusu the latter
| OF rrd hirI Shu refused, within speci-
! i'll period Ia enter into the proposed
union, the entire estate devised to the
daughter should be forfeited to the
nephew.
To sacrifice her fortune to her hearts
choice woald mos have cost Julia Par
SONS "A moments hesitation; and nnthing
could have more delighted George Dick
son than so fair an opportunity of show
ing how superior his devotion was to all
considerations OF personal advantage.
But her fathers dying request, in Julihs
eyeS WIS sacred. II had surprised and
slammed her, il Is true; for in their many
confer, nces on the subject, lac had never
gone beyond the most kindly remon
| strance. aud had never even huted at
anything like coercion.
Young Parsons, the nephew, had not the
m1guanimity to f0reSo his ungenerous
advantage. lie might have been con
tent with his cousins fortune alone, but
his right to that depended on his offer
and her r, lection of an alliance which
size felt in consequence bound to accept.
The brief season Of grace. which she had
been compelled to beg even with tears,
had already almost passed, and few
mere days would witness the eondemna-
:ion of two lives TO hopeless misery.
At the conclusion of my friends mar
rative, in which, fer reasons that may
hereafter he Developed, l felt peculiar
interest. prevailed upon him to ac orn-
| pany me to "a place of amusement, to
wi ich had previously procured tickets.
When we reached the theater, the per
formance had already begun; bat We
succeeded ia finding seats which com
ma,id,,i "a fair view both of the stage
and the audience.
Ia IA fex mnmenls George touched my
elbow.
|
site. in tia. front row, seated next the
column, ltau;i,g his ARIA on his cane, "
he whispered,
| looked ia the direction indicated,
and saw face whose striking resem-
bIanee to one had seen before caused
me TO start with surprise.
WHO is it," I asked
"EIdridge Parsons, was the reply,
.'The one Of whom you spoke"
."rie same" Hy friend answered.
Docs hr resemble his uncleT | was
on the point of iuquiring; but just then
the stranger drew the glove from his
right hand. and | saw hat the first joint
of the middle finger was wanting, IA cir
cumsiance which, for sufficient reason,
absorbed my attention.
''Do you know the exact date of Mr..
Parsons deathg' asked when We had
l ooinad 4ha cfraaf of the cioSa of fhe Upr-