Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-03-25
for sufficient reason, absorbed my at

i OCuticus
"Do you know the exact date of
Mr.. Parsons death?' l asked, when
we had gained the street at the close
of the performance.
@Yes," said George; st was the
23d of December. His daughter re-
ceived a telegram from her cousin,
announcing the fact the same day.
But why do you ask?'
81 have a reason which may or
may not prove a good one," l return
ed; and stating that l had business
engagements for the whole of next
day, parted with my friend, promis-
ing to meet him on the following
evening.
Next afternoon found me at the
abode of Mr.. Parsons, the surgeon.
"Mr. Parsons, l presumed" were
thelwords with which / accosted the
gentleman ! had seen at the theater.
Tes, SIR
'sYou may not remember me, Mr..
Parsons, but l believe we have met
before"
Il beg your pardon, sir, for not
recollecting the occasion"
"You were in Southampton last
winter, were you notY
Il was" he answered, with some
embarrassment.
II am the solicitor on whom you
called to take draft of will"
He turned pale but made no reply.
81 saw a record of that will at Doc
tors Commons this morning." 1 re
sumed, "and-"
"You speak of my uncle's will, F" he
hastily interrupted.
"And yet" | continued, "you said
it was yours when you applied to
have it written. You misrepresented
yourself as desirous of executing
such a document preparatory to en-
barking on perilous voyage. The
paper was drawn in accordance with
your instructions, leaving the date to
be filed in at the time of signing.
Your locks were gray then, and you
certainly looked old enough to have
marriageable daughter; but your dis
guise was not perfect" And point
ed to the mutulated finger.
what do you meanr' he shouted
in defiant tone.
Simply that your uncle's sigma
ture to that will is forgery" l an
swered, rising and confronting him.
He died on the 23d of December.
Your own telegram to that effect is
in existence. 1t was on the 24th, the
day before Christmas, that you call
ed on me to prepare the document
now on record as his will. The infer
ence is plain; you undertook to
manufacture this spurious testament
after your uncle's death, and wishing
to .clothe your yillainy in legal form,
YOU procured from me The required
draft. You or some one at your in
stigation, simulated the signature OF
the deceased. The witnesses, who
have since perjured themselves in
their dispositions, were procured in
some manner best known to your
self"
Enough, SIR" he calculated, plac-
ing his back against the door; you
have shown yourself in possession of
secret the custody of which may
prove dangerous"
81 am not unprepared for your
threat" / replied. "In the first
place, did not come here unarmed;
| in the next, | have prepared full
written statement of the facts to
which | have alluded, with informa
tion, besides, of my present visit to
Yourself This paper Rill be deliv-
ed to the friend to whom it is direct
ed, unless within an hour reclaim it
from the messenger, who has been in
structed for that length of time to
retain it,"
His face grew livid. His frame
quiyered with mingled fear and rage,
and his eye cleaned like that of 4
wild beast at bay.
"What is your purpose?" he ex-
claimed in voice hOarse with sup
pressed passion.
"To keep your secret while you
live" answered, "on one condition"
Name it"
"That you write instantly to Julia
Parsons, renouncing all pretensions
to her hand, and absolutely with
drawing your proposal of marriage" "
After a moments pause, he hastily
penned a brief note, which he sub
mitted to my inspection; it was quite
satisfactory.
''Be so good as to seal and address
it." / said.
He did so.
"Iwill see that it is delivered" /
remarked, taking it up and bowling
myself out.
When I met George Dickson that
evening, his old college look had
come back. He had great neUs to
tell me. The next thing was to take
me to see Julia; and it is needless to
tell what happy evening we three
spent together, and what happy
marriage followed not long after.
Eldridge Parsons, have just learn
ed, emigrated to Australia, on board
the London, and went down in thai
ill-fated ship.
REMARKS ABOUT EAsTER.-Eastel