Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-05-15

| NHcIt, tlOChtliS HlIfIScll III, III
would pace the floor and groar
laloud.
"You won't give me anything
from that tiny bottle, john! say
you viii notl" the poor woman
would say; and then, as if feel.
ling obliged to explain, John Al
len would repeat the story that
when she was first deranged, he
used to give her medicine (from
a small bottle) that was very bit
ter, and like a child she remem-
bered it. This seemed plausible.
| No, John Allen feared no in
terruption from his wife; so he
turned into the sick room, and
took his chair again by the sick
mans bed.
"John, / haven't felt like this
before; do you think I'm dying?'
ooh, / hope not-I trust notp'
John took his hand as he
spoke; his pulse was very slow.
"John, you won'tmind-you'll
bear no i'll will when I'm gone
to know-that Pve made new
will?"
GA new willr' John Aliens
face blanched. "No, certainly
not; your money was yours to
do what you choose with it."
"I've given all to the boy"
"Yesp'
"Well, I feel better, John. |
thought perhaps you might be
angry, and / wanted You to
know from me; it's a natural fa-
therly feeling, eh, John? And
the two wills are side by side in
my secretary"
Every good"
Disappointment was torturing
John Allen too much for him to
say more than a word or two.
Then the sick man lay quiet; af-
ter a few moments he said faint
ly: IS
81 think / can Sleep"
John Allen rearranged the pill
low, and in a few moments the
even breathing gave notice that
the sick man slept. Tempted
by all that was base in his sor-
did nature, the watcher arose
and went to the secretary; with
little searching found the two
wills.
81 must burn the last" he said
to himself in a guilty whisper.
(Which is the last?" There was
no clew. 81 will break the seal, !"
he thought. But no, he could
not do that; he could not get his
brothers ring without discovery.
"It is a shame! If / had ever
thought of this | should have
marked it, and it was not sealed; !;
it was unsealed last April" He
studied both seals eagerly; one
was stamped with his brothers
ring, the other bore the date of
December, 1873. "Ah! this is
the last" he cried, inaudibly, and
hastened with it to the fire.
Before the document h a d
crumbled to ashes he heard An
ME without and step heavier
than hers ascending the stairs
with her. He hastened to the
sick mans side, and was in a
Ifeigned sleep when Annie cau-
tioasly opened the door.
'sPapa = uncle" she sal d,
breathlessly," ,"Here is cousin Hor-
ace. Isn't it funny he knew me,
when he saw me last | was only
ia school girl"
John Allen grew pale, very
pale, if only his half-brother
would not tell Horace of the new
will! lie arose and welcomed
the young man.
"You have come, Horace, only
/ in time to see the last of your IA
ther, / fear.''
90, uncle! tell me you do not
think my wickedness hastened
this"
The young mans voice was
husky with sobs.
"No, | trust not" said John,
with cruel coldness, "William,
brother, don't be startled but
here is some one come to see
you"
The sick man stirred in his
sleep, and murmured:
"Horacev'
I sIYes, father" And the lad
fell upon his fathers feeble
breast.
4 "Now / can die happy, if you'll