The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-04
Frederick Deaq's Will.

"Well, since you are both so urgent,
ard since making will won't end my
life, I'll do it at once, a1d you shall wit
ness"
And the speaker, white-haired old
gentleman, laughed pleasantly, and
drew toward him an old book lying on
the table at his side. Selecting one Of
the two or three blank leaves at the back,
he took up pen, and dipped it into the
ink.
81 confess was not prepared for such
promptitude,' smiled one the gentlemen
in reply; "but we shall be only too hap
py to serve you," adding, little dryly:
"Don't you think, however, it would be
just as well to get sheet of paper?"
Not bit of it, returned Mr.. Dean;
"this leaf is as good as sheet" and he
proceeded to pen, in bold characters:
"The last will and testament of Fred
erick Dean
Gas you like" said the other exchang-
ing an amused smile with his companion.
"0nly insure Nannette comfortable
future, and remember that to insure it
you must cut out that leaf, and place it
where it can be found by the proper
person when needed"
A pre-occupied nod answered theco
sci, and for little while nothing was
heard but the hurried scratch of the pen.
At last the writer threw it down, and
leaning back in his chair, read the docu
lnent aloud.
"Does that suit you2" he asked, turn
ing to his visitors as he finished.
An eager affirmative answered him.
"Then remember" he said, with sud
den earnest gravity, ''to see justice done
if my Nannette should meet with trouble.
And now we will sign"
The signing was done, the book closed
and pushed aside till the farewells, which
had been deferred quite long enough
were spoken, and within an hour, the
two visitors were on board steamer
bound for Europe.
For few minutes after their depart.
ure, Mr.. Dean sat lost in thought, then
arousng himself, he took up the morn
ing paper, and turned to the financia
column. He had just finished it, ant
was carefully cutting out the article
when the door opened, and young cir
entered, her fresh face bright will
smiles.
"Ah, my dear. just in time" said Mr.
Dean, fondly. "Get the mucilage."
"Oh, papa that everlasting, must!
financial !" laughed the girl with noel
horror. "Why don't you let me cut yol
out love story. or a bit of poetry, an,
paste in here? Who but you would eve
have thought of a scrap-book of tnan
cials?'
"You need not laugh, my DEAR" smil
, ed the old gentleman: those 'tinancials
have had something to do with you
future"
p With my future?' exclaimed hi
adopted daughter, raising her eyes fror
the book she had just drawn toward hel
: and opening them very widely on th
old gentleman
eyes, my dear; they have helped m
make fortune, and that fortune wi
some day be yours. | have made 20
Z my sole heir-have willed you my whol
4 property. Remember that, Mamie, ant
if need be, fight for your rights. M
u brother is no friend to you, as you we
. know"
, Nannette sprang to her feet, and thre
) herself on the gentleman's bosom.
NOW, papa," she murmured, choking
n ly, "dont say will to me again. | wal
d you, and nothing else"
e In few minutes she returned to ht
e task. but it was with the feeling tn;
>. the shadow of death had settled ovt
the house. All that day, and all tt
& next, this miserable feeling clungt to he
!, and at the close of the next the substan'
>, was there as well as the shadow. III
;. hale old gentleman had, through
s strange casualty, passed into the spirl
ual world.
e The one near relative IA wealth
d d brother), and various remote ones, gat
10 cred to pay the last token of respect al
H. hear the will. But no will was foun
70 Consequently Mr. George Dean was tt
umphant, without the need of blacke
p ing his hands and conscience.
il Night after night had been secret
p and fruitlessly spent in rummaging t
" escretoires, ETC. , of his departed broth
<. with the firm determination that Ma
IL nette should never touch dollar OF tn
ID brothers. money, The morning ait
le the funeral he sent for Nannetts to mt
him in the library.