The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-04-02
THE MISSING FINGER.JOINT.

Ii was my first visit to London since
had taken up my abode and entered on
the practice of my profession as a sohc-
itor at Southampton.
In London I had a 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. 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
my friend.
Our first greetings and friendly inqui-
ries over, / longed, yet forbore, to ask
the cause of my friends melancholy. [
felt sure, in due time, of being made the
confidant of the secret, provided no mo-
tive of dehcacy prompted its conceal
ment.
That evening, n my room at the hotel,
George told me his story. He had
formed an attachment for a young lady,
whose graces of mind AMI person ne por-
trayed with all the fervor of a lovers
eloquence. She had returned his affec-
ton; but her father had opposed his
suit, having set his heart on the marriage
of his daughter to nephew of his. This
nephew was young surgeon, of profit
gate character, my friend assured me
but that may have been preiudice-yho
had long, but unsuecessfully, wooed his
cousin, to whom his proffers were as re-
pugnant as to her father they were ac-
ceptable.
Some months since, Mr.. Parsons, the
young lady's father, had gone into Hanp
shire on business, accompanied by his
nephew. At Southampton he had been
seized by sudden illness, which ter
minated fatally in three days.
On the siay TTace6incr his death he had
executed will (Which had since been
proved by the dispositions of the attest
ing wltnesses), containing solemn re-
quest that his daughter, to whom he left
the whole of his estate, should accept the
hand of his nephew in marriage, coupled
with provision that IN case the latter
offered, and she refused, within a speci-
fed period, to 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 would not have cost Julia Parsons
q moments hesitation and nothing
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 Julia's
eyes. was sacred. It had surprised and
many conferences on the subject, he had
never gone beyond the most kindly re-
mOnstrance, and had never even limited
at anything like coercion.
Young Parsons, the nephew, had not
the magnanimity to forego his ungener-
ous 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
al, %o1& 10
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 witness the con-
demnation of two lives TO hopeless mis-
cry.
AT the conclusion of my friends mar
rative, in which, for reasons that may
hereafter be developed, I felt q peculiar
interest, I prevailed upon him to ac-
company me to place of amusement, to
which had previously procured tickets.
When we reached the theater, the per-
formance had already begun but we
succeeded In finding seats which COM
manded fair view both of the stage and
the audience.
In few moments George touched my
elbow.
g Observe the gentleman nearly op-
posite, IN the front row, seated next the
he whispered.
I looked In the direction indicated,
and saw face whose striking resem-
blance to one had seen before caused
me TO start with surprise.
Who is It ~ I asked.
$ Eadridge Parsons, y was the reply.
g The nephew of whom you spoke 9'i
6 The same, my friend answered.
Does he resemble his uncle 70 I was
ON the point of inQuiring but Just then
the stranger drew the glove from his
right hand, and Z saw that the first Joint
OF the middle finger aU1s sCGsatigsq, a cir
cumstance which, for sufficient reason,
absorbed my attention.
g Do you know the exact date of Mr.
Parsons death r. I asked, when we had
gained the street at the close of the per-
formance.
. Yes, said George 8 it was the 23d
of December. His daughter received q
Telegram from her cousin, announcing
the fact the same day. But why do you
aakf9
g have reason which may or may
not prove good one, ] returned and
stating that i had business engagements
for the whole of the next day, parted
with my friend, promising to meet him
ON the following evening.
Next afternoon found me at the abode
Of Mrs Parsons, the surgeon.
g Mr. Parsons, presume were the
words with which I accosted the gentle
naan had seen ct the theater.
Yes, sir. y
9 You may not remember me, Mr..