The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-11-21
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Bot yeur proposal Is unjust scandal
oasly so, said bis companion, younger
and better looking, bu, bearing sufficient
resssublanoe 10 the iirsi speshsr 60 mske
{, q Iisns thal they we're brothers
runlasti should lke TO hear you
prove tbst Am ! not following out
fathers directions 10 Ihe letter.
( Yes. bul no, 10 the evident intent.
That bare nothing TO do wllh take
The will as !, stands, and csrry out the
plain purport Of il.
Tbeo you Won't reconcile this unfair
partition
4 pcc iedly not.
4 Wali a monent, james don's be hasty.
/ Are yoa willing to submit Il 70 The arbi-
/ tration Of two of our neigbbcrs, one TO he
decided by me Atd one by yourself, and
sbide by their decisionf
4 am not willing | sm capsule of VI.
tending 10 my own affairs without calling
in any assistance.
Henry Ashley, justly indignant, turned
upon his heel aud walked away. lie bent
bis steps to a smsl Office situated upon
the village street, on the door OF which
might be read the name OF Edward Rob-
inson, Attorney at Law,
PausiDg moment, be said TO himself,
IL doesn't look well for two brothers 10
70 10 law, but there are occasions which
justify it.
Edward Robinson, the village lawyer,
was man OF fifty, sbrewd aud able In
his profession, but with q high sense OF
honor which forbade bis lending his SER
vices TO uphold a cause which he regard.
ed as unjust. "
Take seat, Mr. Ashley, said he, pleas.
anlly, How goes the world with you?
Not altogether pleasantly, was the re-
ply, Otherwise should not stand in need
OF your services.
Indeed Though II may be unprofes-
sional, regret that this should be 80.
However, II you will explain yourself,s.l
will give you the bsst advice in my power.
The matter stands thus: = Y ou wifi rec.
ollect that my fathers will devises bis
property In the following manner: be-
questh my farm to my eldest sou james,
by bin TO be divided equally between
himself aud his brother Henry. DO you
remember this!
do, the more readily because IL is
yefy unusual method of bequest. Your
brother does not refuse TO carry out the
conditions OF the will, does he7
No, according TO his Interpretation.
And what is thatI
The farm, you know, consists of one
hundred acres. OF these, fifty are upland
and admirably adapted for cultivation.
The remaining fifty consist Of pasture
land, equal In extent but OF not moro
than quarter the value.
The lawyer nodded.
Now, my brother, pursued Henry, In
terpreting the will, literally, offers me this
fifty acres of pasture, and contends that
this is an equal division.
Shameful exclaimed the lawyer.
SO consider IL, but fear that nothing
eau change bis purpose. lie says be is
fulfilling the conditions Of the will, and
that nothing more can be expected of him.
Furthermore, be rejects all arbitration.
Now como to you to know what is beat
to be done.
The lawyer musad moment.
II Is clear TO me, be said at length,
knowing as do the perfectly friendly
feelings that subsisted between your
father and yourself, that he intended the
two parts should be equal in value. But
he was unfortunate 10 he wording OF his
will. He threw a temptation IN the way
OF your brother which il seems the latter
found too much for his honesty.
suppose resort TO law Inquired Henry
what chance should have Of succeeding?
II law aud equity were identical, my
dear friend, said The lawyer. cautiously,
yonf chance would be excellent. As ii Ia,
| regret 10 say that the verdict would
probably 20 against yon.
Can such injustice receive the sanction
of the law exclaimed Henry, y,indignsutly.
Rather the law Is not able TO fesch aIi
forms of injustice, and this |. esse in
point.
Then suppose must tameIy accept
my brothers proposition, aud see him
enjoying what IL Of right mine
Not necessarily
Yet you say the law probably would
not right msy
/ So do, bat when law fails, we may
have recourse TO little innocent strata
gem.
Explain yourself.
will, II you will come into this inner
room.
/ The nature OF the conference will be
undtfs BY tbase who vlIl lake the
trouble 10 folIow the eoarse Of this story
TO the end.
One afternoon porliy man, with .
city air, knocked Al the door OF james
Ashley, say knocked advisedly, Tor 1t
the time OF which am speaking, bells
we're seldom met with in coantry towns.
! l. your father 10, my little man! be
inquired Of tbe boy who answered his
knock.
Yes, sir. WoHt you walk ing
Thank yod. Just tell your isther, II
you please. thst there's gentleman to
see hsm on basiness
Somewhat surprised at The caii, james
Ashley entered The rpom.
You will excuse my calling At this ua-