The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-01-14

ments for the whole of the next day,
parted with my friend, promising to
meet him on the following evening.
Next afternoon found me at the house
of Mr.. Parsons, the nephew.
Mr.. Parsons, l presume ?" were
the words with which 1 accosted the
gentleman / had seen at the theatre.
"Yes sir"
You may not remember me, Mr..
Parsons, but believe that we have met
before.
II beg your pardon, sir, for not recol-
lectlng the OCCASION"
"You were in Southampton, last
Winter, were you not 2"
C. was" he replied, with some en-
barrassment.
81 am the solicitor on whom you call
ed to make draft of a will"
He turned pale, but made no reply.
:" 1 saw record of that will at Doc
tors Commons this morning." l resum-
ed, and"
" You speak of my uncle's will" he
hastily interrupted.
"And yet, 1 continued, "you said it
was yours when you applied to have it
written. You represented yourself de-
sirous of executing such document,
preparatory to embarking on perilous
voyage. The paper was drawn in ac-
cordance with your instructions, leaving
the date to be filled in at the date of
signing. Your locks were gray then,
and you certainly looked old enough to
have a marriageable daughter; but your
disguise was not perfect" And point
ed to the mutilated finger.
"What do you mean ?' he shouted in
defiant tone.
Simply that your uncle's signature
to that will is a forgery!' L answered,
rising and comforting him. "He died
on the twenty-third of December. Your
own telegram to that effect is in exist
ence. 1t was the day before Christmas
that you called on me to prepare the
document now on record as his will.
The inference is plain; you undertook
to manufacture this spurious testament
after your uncle's death, and wishing
to clothe your villainy in legal form,
you procured from me the required
draft. You, or some one at you insti-
cation, simulated the signature of the
deceased. The witnesses, who have
since perjured themselves in their de-
positions were procured in some manner
best known to YOURSELF
Enough, SIR" he calculated, placing
his back against the door, 'you have
shown yourself to be in possession of
secrets the custody of which proves
dangerous"
clam not otunpreparedf for your threats"
1 replied. " In the first place did not
come here unarmed; in the next, 1
have prepared full written statement
of the facts to which l have alluded,
with information, besides, of my pres
ent visit to yourself. This paper will be
delivered to a friend to whom it is di-
rected, unless, within an hour, L reclaim
it from the messenger, who has been in
structed to retain it for that length of
time"
His face grew livid. His frame quiv-
cred with mingled fear and rage and his
eye cleaned like that of wild beast at
bay.
"What is your purpose?" said he, in
voice hoarse with suppressed passion.
"To keep your secret while you live,"
1 answered, ION one condition"
"Name it."
'Tbat you write instantly to Julia
Parsons, renouncing all pretensions to
her hand, and absolutely withdrawing
your proposal of marriage"
After moments pause he penned a
brief note, which he submitted to my
inspection; it was quite satisfactory.
&C. Be so good as to seal and address it,"
I said.
He did so.
81 will see that it is delivered" 1
said, taking it up, and bowling myself
out.
When l met George Dickson next
evening, his old college look had come
back. He had great news to tell me.
The next thing was to take me to see
Julia; and tits needless to say what
happy evening we spent together, and
that a happy marriage followed not
long after.
Ethridge Parsons, have just learned,
emigrated to Australia, on board of the