Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-05-15
flee, to prove my hearts sincerity T"

Few homes were happier than thst Of Cecil
Vernon and his beautiful young wife. When
he returned at evening after days toll in
the profession in which he was beginning to
rise, Brenda would meet him with q smile
and kiss that charmed away all sense OF
weariness and the two, as they ehatted or
read together, and the swift hourssped, blessed
their lot, and never once sighed for the wealth
that might have been theirs.
But time brought reverses.' Cecil Vas
pros.rated by q severe and lingering illness.
By degrees his small satings melteds and
when he at last lay at deaths door, there
was nothing left. ..r. H--. s,
Poor Brenda bore up with womanly costfs
age. Day and night she ministered at hef
husbands bedside, denying herself to supply
his slightest wants, and coneealug, with
studious care, the straits to which she found
herself reduced.
When it would have been impossible 20
hide them longer, delirium, mercifully inter.
posed, aud shielded the sufferer from knowl>
edge which, in his enfeebled state, must have
destroyed the little chance of life left.
Brenda could bear deprivation without O
murmur. But to see her husband dying
before her eyes for the want Of comforts in
dispensible in his condition, oyercame her
fortitude.
Hitherto pride had Kept her aloof from
those who had so grossly &ronged her. But
now she said to herself:
''Surely, in my fathers house, they will
not refuse to mo the means of saving my hass
bands life"
Blu. the hearts of Jared withers and his
wife had borrowed hardness from each other.
From marble they had turned to flint from
which it was impossible to strike spark OF
sympathy. .,
To be refused her moderate request. Brenda
had scarcely counted possible. But to be re-
pulsed with cruel, heartless words, spurned
as an unSorthy beggar by those who had
robbed her of her patrmony. was blow for
which she was altogether uuprepsred. Bit
ter thoughts rose in her heart, but their ez.
preston died on her lips. Her strength al!
most failed, and with tottering steps she was
turning away, whom q voice, once familiar,
struck her ear. It was that Of Mr.. Wolcott,
an old lawyer, formerly her fathers conf
Dental adviser.
81 think you had better stay" said the
old gentleman, addressing Brenda, who had
not observed his entrance. "What have to
say concerns youas we'll as the others present"
Mr. Wolcott put on his specs and took
paper from his pocket.
Your late husband, madam" he contin>
ued, turning TO MrS. NitneEsJ rs We hii re-
member, visited New Orleans in the hope OF
recruiting his declining health, but unfof-
tunately died there. It appears that before
his death he executed codicil to his will.
which he left in the hands of the lawyer who
drew it, who himself fell i'll and died . few
days later, leaving his business aud papers in
great confusion, the result being that the
eodicil was only recently discovered"
Mr.. Wi,hers and his wifo exchanged
glauces nervously.
"The document has been forwarded 70
me-" Mr.. Wilcott resumed, "and will eIplain
itself II is brief, and will read it"
"By way Of codicil to my will executed
the-day Of, 1S-, hereby declare,
that in case my wife, Lucretia, shall marry
again, all devises and bequests to her in my
said will shall become void and my whole
estate shall go to my daughter, Brenda,
whome in that event, l constitute my sole
executrix and do hereby revoke and an
null so much of my said said will as requires
my wife's consent to my said daughters mar
riage, and forfeits the latter's share Of my
estate for the want of such consent"
As the old lawyer had said. the paper a.
planned itself Brenda was now mistress OF
all her fathers fortune. Her sick husband
no longer wanted for anything, aud speedily
regained his health. Nor did he and Brenda,
in their new prosperity, We nre glad to say.
retalate upon Jared Withers and his wife By
melting to them with their own measure.