The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-04-09
THE MISSING FINGER-JOINT.

and as he was the only person I knew in
the great metropolis, of course I lost
no time in looking him mp. Three wears
had passed since our last meeting but
ten could scarcely have produced q
change more marked than had taken
place in the appearance and n of
my friend.
Our first greetings and friendly inuui-
ries over, I longed, yet forbore, to ask
the u of my friends melancholy. I
felt sure, in due time, of being made
the contidant of the secret, provided no
motive OF delicacy prompted it's con
cealment.
That evening, in my room at the
hotel, George told MT his story. He
had formed an attachment for a young
lady, whose gracessof mind and person
he portrayed with all the fervor of a
lovers eloquence. She had returned
his affection +; but her father had op-
posed his suit, having set his heart on
the marriage Of his daughter to q
nephew of his. This nephew was a
young surgeon, of profigate 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 repuenant
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 O sudden illness,
which terminated fatally in three DAYS,
On the day preceding his death he
had executed a will (which had since
been proved by the dispositions of the
attesting witnesses), containing q solemn
request that his daughter. to whom he
LETT the whole OF his estate, should ac-
cept the hand of his nephew in mar.
rage, coupled with a provision that in
case the latter offered, and she refused.
within a specified period, to enter into
the proposed union, the entire estate
devised to the daughter should be for.
felted to the nephew.
10 sacrifice her fortune to her hearts
choice would not have cost Julia Par.
sons a moments hesitation : and moth
ing could have more delighted George
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 Ju11a's eyes, was sacred. It had
surprised and stunned her, it is true /.
In their many conferences on the
subject, be had never gone beyond the
most kindly remonstrance. and had
coercion.
Young Parsons, the nephew, had not
the ~magnanimity to forego his ungener-
GUS advantage. He might have been
content with his cousins fortune alone
bnt his right to that depended on his
o1er and her rejection of an alliance ,
Whlcn she FELT IN consequence bound to :
accept. The brief season of Oraoo
which she had been compelled to hag :
even with tears, had already almos3 !
passed, and q few more DAYS would vii. !
ness the condemnation of two lives tn 2
hopeless misery. :
AT the conclusion of my friends mar I !
tatlVe, IN which, for reasons that NAV y
hereafter be developed, L felt a ~peouIiar =
interest, | prevailed upon him to az '
company me TO q place Of amnsament .
Po
When we reached the theater. the !
had already begun : but .
succeeded in finding seats which I
9 fair view both of the stage p
md the audience. ii
az elbow. n
observe the gentleman nearly an g
,oslte, in the front row, seated nert u
ne column, leaning his arm nm bia u
ane," he whispered. as &C
l looked In the direction Indicated ID
ad saw q face whose striking resems O
iance to one | had seen before caused u
% 70 start with surprise. IN
Who is it?" I asked. 70
Eldridge Parsons, 2 was the ranIv IIt
The nephew of whom Won saaEa - ce
Inc same" my friend answered. te
Does ne resemble his uncle? p Gh
y on the point of inquiring /; but inst trt
len the stranger drew the glove from OF
right hand, and / saw that the frat ex
lnt o. the middle finger was wantinp. GO
circumstance which, for suficiant dc
ason, absorbed my attention. trs
do you know the exact date of Mr. ~
araons, death ?" / asked when we had LEI
lned the street at the close Of the per va
rmance. be
Yes. said George; set was the 23d ba
december. His daughter received q vi
legram from her cousin, announcing -
2 tact the same day. But why do Won mi
l nave q reason which may or NAV w
3 prove Q good one" I returned . and
ting that had business engagements
! the whole Of the next day, / parted Wi
10 my friend, promising TO meet him Tn
the following evening. mo
Next afternoon found me at the abode inc
MI. Parsons, the surgeon. on
Mr. Parsons. I presume Pr were tba vii
rds with which I accosted the gentle wol
! had seen at the theater. tan
: Yes, SIR" ~,
: You may not remember me- nv mar
fsons, but I believe we have met be- AMI
4 beg your pardon, sir, for not rscol- CIV
ing the occasion" thr,
You were id Southampton lest win and
were you not ?" for
Il was, he answered, with some am
rassment. =
the solicitor on whom you called a 1
axe q draft d will. {" str
g turned pale, but made no reply. tbej
I saw q record OF that will at Dr. opil
mons this morning" I resumed, FREQ
the
speak Of my uncle'a WILL b larg
~ interrupted. inst