The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-03-29
Selfrf Story. :
The FORGED WILL.

II was my FIRST visit to London since
/ bad taken up my abode and entered
on the practice OF my profession as 80
licitor Of Southampton.
+ In London | bad very dear friend,
my college chnm, Gsorge Dickson, and
OF course I loat no time looking him up.
Three years had passed since on. last
meeting. but ten could have scarcely
produced change more marked than
had taken place in the appearance and
manner of my friend. - Il aeg 3
Our first greeting over, | longed to
ask the cause OF my friends melancholy.
felt sure. in due time, OF being made
the confident of the secret, provided no
motive Of delicacy prompted itsconceal-
ment. ie'
That evening Georges told me his
story. He had formed an attachment
for young lady, whose graces Of mind
and person be portrayed With all q low
er's eloquence. She had returned his
affection, but her father had opposed his
suit, having set bis heart on the marriage
Of his daughterso q nephew Of bis ssD
This nephew was q young surgeon oi
proHigate character, my friend assured
me-but that may have been prejudice
who had long wooed his cousin, to
whom his offers we're as repugnant as to
her father they were acceptable. eisY
Some months since, Mr. Parsons, the
young ladY's father, bad gone into
Hampshire on business, accompanied by
his nephew. At Southampton lie had
been seized with sudden illness, which
Terminated fatally in three days.
On the day preceding his death he
had executed q will containing solemn
request that his daughter, TO whom be
|left the whole of his estate, should &C.
cept the hand Of bis nephew 10 mar.
riage. coupled with the provision thai
| in case she refused within specified pc.
riod to enter into the proposed union
1.-THE whole estate should he forfeited tc
the nephew. . 1850 snA s u ss
To sacrifiee her fortune to her hearts
choice would not have cost Julia Par
sons moments hesitation. But hel
| fathers dying request, in Julia's eyes
was sacred. 1t had surprised and stun
ned, il is true, for in their conference OF
the subject he had never gone beyon'
the most kindly remonstrances, and ha,
never limited at anything like coercion
! Young Parsons, the nephew, had no
. the magnanimity to forego his ungener
, QUE advantage. He might have bee
content with his cousins fortune alone
hut bis right to that depended on hi
offer and her rejection OF an allianc
which she felt in conscience bound {
accept The brief season of grac
which she had been compelled to be
even with tears, had already almol
. passed and few more days would wi
ness the condemnation OF two lives {
hopeless misery. sa5
At the conclusion of my friends ma
ratiye, in which, for reasons that ma
hereafter be developed, / felt peculi,
interest, ! prevailed upon him TO aecon
PAW. me to place of amusement.
0 When we reached the theater the pc
lformsnce had already begun, but '
succeeded in finding seats which con
manded fine view of both the stat
and the audience.. nAe s'+
In q few minutes George touched n
elbow. a aa ssa, -, ,,,.s.-..
"Observe the gentleman nearly opp,
site, in the front row, seated next to Il
S column" he whispered. hssfl
looked in the direction indicate
and saw face whose striking reser
= blance to one I had seen before cause
d me to start With surprise. 80
= "Who is it?" ! asked.
> "Etheridge Parsons was the .repl
d "The nephew 7" ~ =. =
IL "Yes."
,. "Does be resemble his uncle :" / "
! on the point OF inquiring, but then !
stranger drew the glovefrem the rig
hand and saw the fret joint of t
middle finger was gone,. 9 circumstan