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

had taken up my abode and en-
tered on the practice of my profession
as solicitor at Southampton.
In London had very dear friend,
my old college chum, George Dick
son; and as he was the only per-
son knew in the great metropolis of
course lost no time In looking him up.
Three years had passed since our last
meeting, but ten could have scarcely pro-
duced change more marked than had
taken place in the appearance and man
ner of my friend.
Our first greeting and friendly in
qulries over, 1 longed, yet forbore, to
ask the cause of my friends melancholy.
l felt sure, in due time, of being made
the con6dant of the secret, provided no
motive of dellcacy prompted its con-
cealment
That evening, in my room at the
hotel, George told his story. He had
formed an attachment for young lady,
whose graces of mind and person he
portrayed with all the fervor of a lovers
tlOIuOnOCs NDlC ACNulhOu LhD oiNO-
ton, but her father had opposed his
suit, having set his heart on the mar
riage of his daughter to q nephew of
his.
This nephew was young surgeon,
of prohigate character, my friend as
sured me-but that may have been pre-
judice-who had long, but unsuccessful
ly, wooed his cousin, to whom his offers
were as repugnant as to her father they
were acceptable.
Some months since, Mr.. Parsons, the
young lady's father, had gone into
Hampshire on business, accompanied
by his nephew. AT Southampton he
had been seized by sudden illness,
which terminated fatally in three days.
On the day preceding his death he
had executed will (which had since
been duly proved by the depositions of
the attesting witness) containing
solemn request that his daughter, to
whom he left the whole of his estate,
should accept the hand of his nephew
in marriage, coupled with the provision
that in case the latter offered, and she
refused within specified period to enter
into the proposed union, the whole es-
tate devised for the daughter should lie
forfeited to the nephew.
To sacrifice her fortune to her hearts
choice would not have cost Julia Par
son moments hesitation; and moth
ing could have more delighted George
Dickson than so fair an opportunity of
showing how superior his devotion was
to all thought of personal advantage
But her fathers dying request,in Julia's
eyes, was sacred. 1t had surprised and
startled her, it is true, as in their confer
ences on the subject he had never gone
beyond the most kindly remonstrances,
and had never hinted at anything like
coertoin.
Young Parsons, the nephew, had not
the magnanimity to forego his ungener-
GUS advantage. He might have been
content with his Cousins fortune alone,
but his right to that depended on his
offer and her rejection to an alliance
accept. The brief season of grace which
she had been compelled to beg even
with tears, had already almost passed,
and few more days would witness the
condemnation of two lives to hopeless
misery.
AT the conclusion of my friends
narrative in which, for reason that may
hereafter be developed, felt peculiar
interest, prevailed upon him to ac-
company me to place of amusement,
to which l had previously procured
tickets.
When we reached the theatre the per-
formance had already begun, but we
succeeded in finding seats which COM
manded fine view both of the stage
and the audience.
In few moments George touched my
elbow.
"Observe the gentleman nearly op-
posite, in the front row, seated next to
the column, learning his arm on his
cane" he whispered.
/ looked in the direction indicated,
and saw face whose striking resem-
blance to one had seen before caused
me to start with surprise.
"Who is it ?" L asked.
Ethridge Parsons" was the reply.
"The nephew of whom you spokel"
Does he resemble his uncle 2" l was
on the point of enquiring, but just then
the sfran nDer drew the uloUa from his