The Osceola times., 1878-04-06
OSCEOLA ARKANSAS SATURDAY, APRIL G. 1878

dare say It will support her very we'll"
"Why, no." said Mr.. Collett; briggs
died a bankrupt, and his widow and
children are very destitute.''
That does not alter the question:"
said Peter Finch. "Let Briggs family
do something for her themselves"
"To be sure" said Mr.. Collett, "Briggs
family are the people to do something for
her. She musn't expect anything from
US, must she, john"
Destitute, is shei' said John. "With
children, too? Why, this is another
case, sir. You surely ought to notice
her-to assist her. Confound it, Pm In
for letting her have the hundred year."
"Oh, John, John! what q break
down" said Mr.. Collett. 80 you
were trying to follow Peter Finch
through stony Arabia, and turned back
at the second stepi Here's . brave
tsavslar far you, Petsrl John, keep
your Arabia Felix, and leave sterner
ways to very different men. Good by,
both of you. I've no voice 10 talk any
more. I'll think over all you have said. "
He pressed their hands and they left
the room. The old man was too weak
to speak the next day, and three days
after that he calmly breathed his last.
As coon az the funeral was over the
will was read by the confidential man Of
business, who had always attended to
Mr.. Collects affairs. The group that sat
around him preserved decorous appear
ance of disintercstedness, ard, the usual
preamble to the will having been listened
to with bresthless attention, the man Of
business read the following, 10 clear
voice:
81 bequeath to my niece, Emma
Briggs, notwithstanding that she shocked
her family by marrying an Gilman, the
sum of "a 900, being fully persuaded that
her lost dignity, il she could ever find II
again, would do nothing to provide her
with food, or clothing, or shelter"
John Meade smiled and Peter Finch
ground his teeth, but in quite respect.
able manner. The man Of business went
on with his reading.
Having always had the opinion that
woman should be rendered q rational
and independent being land having duly
considered the fact that society practi>
cally denies her the right to earn her own
living--l hereby bequeath to Mary SUIT
ton, the only child OF my old friend,
Frederick Sutton, the sum Of 10000.
which will enable her to marry or to
remain single as she may prefer"
John Meade gave prodigious start
upon hearing this, and Peter Finch
ground his teeth again, but in manner
hardly perceptible. Both, however, by
a violent effort, kept silent. The man OF
business went on with his reading.
~ have paid some attention to the
character of my nephew, John Meade,
and have been grieved TO find him much
possessed with feeling Of philanthropy
and with general preference for what
ever is noble and true over what is base
and false. As these tendencies are by no
means such as can advance him In the
world, ] bequeath him the sum of
10000, hoping that he will thus be
kept out of the workhouse, and be en-.
bled to paint his great historical picture,
which, as yet. he has only talked about"
GAS for my other nephew, Peter
Finch, he views all things in 20 saga
cious and selfish way, and is 10 certain
to get on in life, that should only insult
him by offering an aid which he does not
require yet, from his afiectionate uncle,
and entirely as testimony of admira-
tion for his mental acuteness, | venture
TO hope that he will accept bequest of
$500 toward the completion of his ex-
tensive library Of law books
n IL l,l
nance, how John Meade broke into a
delirium of joy, how Mary Sutton cried
first and then laughed, and then laughed
and cried together; all these matters l
shall not attempt to describe. Mary
Sutton is now Mrs. John Meade, and
her husband has actually begun the
great historical picture. Peter Finch
has taken 10 discounting bills and bring
ing actions on them, and drives about In
his brougham already.