The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-04-10
THE MISSING FINGER-JOINT.

THE MISSING FINHER-JOINT.
It was my visit to London since 1
had taken up my abode and entered on
the practice of my profession as a So
Hcitor at Southampton.
In London I had a very dear friend,
my old college chum, George Dickson !;
and as he was the only pereon I 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 q
change more marked than had taken
place In the appearance and manner of
nv friend.
rles over, I longed, yet forbore, to ask
the cause of my friends melancholy. 1
felt sure, in due time, of being made
the conhdant of the secret, provided no
motive of delicacy prompted its con-
cealment.
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 all the fervor of
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 O
nephew of his. This nephew was q
young surgeon, of proAigate 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 repugnaut
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 q will (Which had since
been proved by the Propositions of the
attesting witnesses), containing a solemn
request thst his daughter, to whom he
left the whole of his estate, should &C.
cept the hand of his nephew in mar.
mage, 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 to the daughter should be for
feited to the nephew.
To sacrifice her fortune to her hearts
choice would not have cost Julia Par
sons o moments hesitation and 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 Julia's eyes, was sacred. Il had
surprise and stunned her. it is true !;
for, In their many conferences on the
subject, re had never gone beyond the
most kindly remonstrance, and had
never even limited at anything like
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,
but his right to that depended on his
ofier 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 q 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 may
hereafter be developed, felt peculiar
interest, I prevailed upon him to &C
company me to place of amusement,
to which I had previously procured
tickets.
When we reached the theater, the
performances had already begun but
we succeeded in finding seats which
commanded a fair view both of the stage
and the audience.
In q few moments George touched
my elbow.
"Observe the gentleman nearly Cd
posite, in the front row, seated next
the column, leaning his arm on his
cane, he whispered.
looked in the direction indicated,
and saw a face whose striking resem.
blance to one I had seen before caused
me to start with surprise.
Who is it?" asked.
.Eldridge Parsons" was the reply.
The nephew of whom you spoke p
The same" my friend answered.
Does he resemble his uncle?" /
was on the point of inquiring but inst
then the stranger drew the glove from
his right hand, and I saw that the first
joint of the middle finger was wanting.
q 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 the per.
Torrance.
Yes" said George; "it was the Odd
OF December. His daughter received q
telegram from her cousin. annoupcino
the fact the same day. But why do YOU
have a reason which NAV or NAV
not prove a good one," 1 returned and
stating that l 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 MI. Parsons, the surgeon.
Mr.. Parsons. presume ?" were the
words with which I accosted the gentle
man l had seen at the theater.
Eyes, sir."
You may not remepber me, Mr..
Parsons, but believe we have met be-
81 beg your pardon, sir, for not recol.
iect1ng The occasion"
"You were in SOUTHAMPTON last win.
ter, were you not"
i was" he answered, with some EN-
barrassment.
81 am the solicitor on whom You called
to take q draft will"
he turned pale, but made no reply.
saw record of that will at DR.
commons this morning." resumed
and"
:" You speak of my uncle's WILL" ht
hastily interrupted.
"And yet" 1 continued, "you said
it. was yours when you applied to have
1T written. You represented yourself
as desirous of executing such docu.
ment preparatory to embarking on q
per1ious 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
tnen, and you certainly looked old
enough to have a manageable daugh-
ter but your disguise was not perfect. u
And pointed to the mutilated finger.
What do you mean p he shouted in
q defiant tone.
Simply that your uncIe's signature
to that will is a forgeryr' 1 answered
rising and confronting him. "He died
on the 23d of December. Your own
Telegram to that effect is in existence.
h. l.