American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-04-12
The same heavy style of writing that
was without is within.


was without is within.
RICHARD Roy, ESQ.,: Dear Sir:-I have
pleasure in informing you that the will of
the late Arthur Roy, Esq, of this city, be-
queaths to his great-nephew and great
niece, Richard and janet Roy yourself and
sister,. each the sum of fifty thousand dol
lars. These amounts are invested in
United States Government bonds. and shall
be forwarded to you in due course.
have the honor to be your obedient serv-
ant, j. MADISON PERRY, Executor.
The effect of the reading on Janet is
quite the reverse of that on her brother.
Instead of breaking forth into joyous
shouts, her sensitive nature causes her
to burst into flood of tears.
Dick looks at her in establishment.
What can she be crying forP he thinks.
A legacy OF fifty thousand dollars he
does not consider a cause for weeping,
and concludes that his sister has become
mystified in regard to the time to weep
and the time to laugh.
"What is the matter with youp" he
asks, when the first outburst has subsid-
ed into occasional suppressed sobs.
"Oh, Dick I" cries Janet, wiping her
eyes, I" I believe you have no feeling at
all. just to think what a dear, kind
uncle we have lost! How good of him
to remember us!"
"Very good of him, indeed" adds
Dick; but can't see that that ought
to make one sad. Rather cause for
rejoicing, should say. Poor fellow, he
was so old he couldn't enjoy it, and
dare say he's better off where he is; that
is, if he was as good as his will makes
me think he was'
Janet is really grieved; her nature is
so intensely sensitive that great kind
ness invariably has this effect upon her.
She refuses any more breakfast, and
goes hastily up to her room, where she
spends the morning in trying
to picture her uncle as he was when, SO
many years ago. she sat on his lap, and
child-like ran her tiny fingers through
his long gray beard.
What an addition the legacy will be
to her income, how many luxuries il
will secure her, scarcely comes to her
mind. Her whole thought is conferred
on him who from the kindness of his
heart remembered her.
All through the morning, as, think
ing thus, she sits diligently sewing, tears
ever and anon well up in her eyes and
go trickling down her cheeks before she
is aware of their presence. As natur-
al consequence, IL O'Clock finds hel
with very red eyes and nose, and gen.
eral appearance of having gone through
a most heart-rending affection. This is
her condition when Sarah knocks at the
door, and on entering announces thai
Miss Taylor is in the drawing-room.
"Oh, what shall 1 doP" exclaimi
Janet, in perplexity, as soon as the maid
is out of ear-shot. "She will see have
been crying, and will want to know all
about it; and really can't talk of il
now. I wonder where Dick is; he
might go and see her, and explain that
I'm not well; but, dear me''-getting
up and smoothing back her haiI
with both hands-"I suppose he is out
somewhere. He never is about when
he's wanted, bat is sure to be here when
he's not. So, wiping her eyes for the
hundredth time since breakfast, and
giving her nose the fftieth gentle blow,
she goes softly down to the drawing.
room in search of her visitor. Nellie
Taylor-a rather short, plump girl, with
q charmingly pretty pink and white
face-rises quickly as Janet enters.
"Oh, Jean!" she says, going to meet
her, and presenting countenance that
for signs of weeping is not a whit better
off than Miss Roy's, az do 50 sympa.
thize with you'll"
Janet is much surprised at these
words. On what account does she sym.
pathize with herr Surely she can not
know why she has been spending the
morning in tears.
"Come and sit down by me-" Nell
goes on, taking her hand and drawing
her to the sofa. "Trouble comes to all
of US some time, you know"
But" begins Janet, thoroughly puz-
zled, as they sit down together "my dear
Nell"
"There, now," interrupted she,
"don't speak to me of it; don't tell me
how much worse you feel than 1.
know you think so; but, indeed
the tears began to trickle down her
cheeks again-''you do not know how
loyed him.
Suddenly it comes to Janet that per-
haps her great-uncle was related to the
Taylors also.
"Was he" she begins; but before
she can finish the question Nell answers
her:
"Yes" (sobbing). Didn't you
know itP Oh, why didn't some one let
me know that he was so illP 1 would
have so liked to be with him!"
Janet looks pityingly at her young
friend. Surely her uncle must have
been a very lovable old gentleman to in
spire this affection.
"But how strange it is" she thinks,
" that never knew we were even dis
family connected with the Taylors. Per-
haps Dick knew it, but I'm sure he new
er told me-" Then she begins sobbipg
again for mere sympathy, and for mo-
ment not word is spoken.
"Was he so very dear to youP" asks
Janet, bringing the cambria into play
again.
"Oh, Jean," Nell answers, also
wiping away the tears, "you can not