The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-04-09
THE MISSING FISHER-JOINT.

my old college chum. George Dickson T.: |
and as he was the only person knew in
the great metropolis, of course lost |
no time in looking him up. Three years
had passed since our last meeting but
ten could scarcely have produced a
change more marked than had taken
place in the appearance and manner of
nv friend.
Our first greetings and friendly inqui-
ries over, 1 longed, yet fOrbore, to ask
the cause of my friends melancholy. I
felt sure, in due time, of being made
the contdant of the secret, provided no
motive OF delicacy prompted its con-
csalment.
That evening, in my room at the
hotel, George told me his story. He
had formed an attachment for a Young
lady, whose graces of mind and person
he portrayed with sll the fervor of a
lovers elOquence. She had returned
his affection hut her father had OPP
posed his suit, having set his heart on
the marriage of his daughter to q
nephew of his. This nephew was
young surgeon, of prohigate character,
my friend assured me-but that may
have been preiudice-who had long,
but unsuccessfulIy, wOOed his cousin,
to whom his prOffers were as repugnant
as TO her father they were acceptable.
Some months since, Mr.. Parsons, the
young lady's father, had gone into
Hampshire on business, accompanied
by his nephew. At Southampton he
had been seized by a sudden illness,
which terminated fatally in three DAYS.
On the day preceding his death he
had executed Will (Which had since
been proved by the dispositions of the
attesting witneSses), containing a solemn
request that his daughter, to whom he
left the whole of his estate, should &C.
cept the hand of his nephew in mar
riage, coupled with a provision that in
case the latter offered, and she refused,
within specified period, 10 enter into
the proposed union, the entire estate
devised 10 the daughter should be for
feited to the nephew.
To sacrifice her fortune to her hearts
choice would not have cost Julia Par
sons moments hesitation aud moth
ing could have more delighted George
Dickson than so fair an opportunity Of
showing how superior his devotion was
to all considerations of personal advan-
tage. But her fathers dying request,
in Jnha's eyes, was sacred. Il had
surprise and stunned her, it is true;
subject, he had never gone beyond the
most kindly Temonstrance, and had
never even limited at anything like
coercion.
Young Parsons, the nephew, had rot
the magnanimity TO fOregO his ungener-
GUS advantage. He might have been
content with his Cousins fortune alone,
but his right to that depended on his
offer and her rejection of an alliance
which she 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 more days would wit
ness the condemnation of two lives TO
hopeless misery.
At the conclusion of my friends mar
rative, in which, for reasons that NAV
hereafter be developed, I felt peculiar
interest, l prevailed upon him to ac-
company me to place of amusement,
to which 1 had previously procured
tickets.
When we reached the theater, the
performance had already begun but
we succeeded in finding seats which
commanded fair view both of the stage
and the audience.
In a few moments George touched
my elbow.
"Observe the gentleman nearly op-
posite, in the front row, seated next
the column, leaning his arm on his
cane, ;" he whispered.
L looked in the direction indicated,
and saw a face whose striking resem-
blance to one l had seen before caused
me to start with surprise.
"Who is it?" 1 asked.
80 EI1rIHua Darg,v,s -r,r
The nephew of whom YOU spoke ?"
"The same" my friend answered.
Does he resemble his uncIe?" [
was on the point of inquiring but lust
then the stranger dreW the glove from
his right hand, and / saw that the first
JOINT of the middle finger was wanting,
a circumstance which, for sufficient
reason, absorbed my attention.
DO you know the exact date of Mr.,
Parsons death ?" / asked when we had
gained the street at the close of tie per
Torrance.
., Yes" said George; cit was the 23d
OF December. His daughter received q
telegram from her cousin, announcing
the fact the same day. But why do Won
ask p
have reason which may or NAV
not prove a good one, 4" I returned and
stating that | had business ENGAGEMENTS
Tor the whole of tire next day, 1 parted
with my friend. promising to meet him
on the following evening.
Next afternoon found me at the abode
OF Mr.. Parsons, the surgeon.
Mr.. Parsons. L presume ?" were the
words with which / accosted the gentle
man | had seen at the theater.
Eyes, sir"
60 An.t
Parsons, but L believe we have met be-
fore"
Il beg your pardon, sir, for not recol-
Letting The occasion"
You were in Southampton last win
ter, were you not ?"
was, he answered, with some en-
barrassment.
am the solicitor on whom YOU called
to take a draft a will"
Re turned pale, but made no reply.
saw record of that will at DIR.
Commons, this morning." / resumed,
and"
You speak of my uncle's WILL" he
hastily interrupted.
And yet, I continued. "vou said
1t was yours when You applied to have
1t written. You represented yourself
as deslrous OF executing such a doou-
ment preparatory to embarking on a
perllous 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 a manageable daugh-
ter; but your disguise was not perfect. +"
And pointed to the mutilated finger.
" What 10 you mean y he shouted Ia
a defiant tone.
Simply that your uncle's signature
to that wilt is a forgery!' / answered
rising and confronting hin. 'He died
on the 23d of December. Your own
Telegram TO that effect is in existence.
1t was on the oath, the day before
Christmas, that you called on me to
prepare the document now on record as
his will The inference is plain: YOU
undertook to manufacture this spurious
testament after your uncle's death, and
wishing 10. clothe your villainy in legal
form, you procured from me the re-
QUlrel draft You or some one at