The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-03-23
THE FORGED WILL.

nau TAKEN up my abode and entered
on the practice Of my profession as
solicitor to southampton.
In London Ihad a very dear friend,
my old friend, my college chum,
George Dickson, and as he was the
only person | 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 produced a change more
marked than had taken place in the
appearance and manner ofmy friend.
Our first greeting and friendly in
quiries over, | longed, yet forbore, to
ask the cause of my friends melan-
choly. 1 felt sure, in due time, of be.
ing made the confdantof the secret,
provided no motive of delicacy
prompted its concealment.
That evening, in my room at the
hotel, George told me his story. He
had formed an attachment for a
young lady, whose graces of person
and mind he portrayed with all the
fervor Of a lovers eloquence. She
had returned his affection, but her
father had opposed his suit, having
set his heart on the marriage Of his
daughter to a nephew of his.
This nephew was young surgeon,
of profigate character, my friend
assured me-but that may have been
prejudice-who had long, but unsuc-
cessfully, wooed his cousin, TO whom
his offers were as repugnantas to her
father they were acceptable.
Some months since, Mr.. Parsons,
the young lady's father, had gone in.
to Hampshire on business, accom-.
panied by his nephew. At South
ampton, he had been seized by asud.
den 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 dispositions
of the attesting witness) containing
solemn request that his daugter, to
whom he left the whole of his estate,
should accept the hand of his nephew
IN marriage, coupled with the pro-
vision that in case the latter offered,
and she refused within a specified
period to enter into the proposed
union, the whole estate devised for
the daughter should be forfeited to
the nephew.
To sacrifice her fortune to her
hearts choice would not have cost
Julia Parsons a moments hesitation;
and nothing more could have de-
lighted George Dickson than SO fair
an opportunity of showing how su-
perior his devotion was to all thought
of personal advantage. But her
fathers dying request, in Julia's
eyes, was sacred. 1t had surprised
and stunned, it is true, for in their
conferences on the subject he had
never gone beyond the most kindly
circumstances, and had never limited
at anything like coercion.
Young Parsons, the nephew, had
not the magnamity to forego his I'm.
generous advantage. He might have
been content with his Cousins for
tune alone, but his right to that de.
pended on his offer and her rejection
of an alliance which she felt in con-
science bound to 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 con-
demnation of two lives to hopeless
misery.
At the conclusion of my friends
narrative, in which, for reasons that
may hereafter be developed, l felt a
peculiar interest, prevailed upon
him to accompany me to place Of
amusement, to which l had previous.
lyprocured tickets.
When we reached the theatre the
performance had already begun, but
we succeeded in finding seats which
commanded a fine view both of the
stage and the audience.
In few minutes George touched
my elbow.
"Observe the gentleman nearly op-
posite, in the front row, seated next
to the column, leaning his arm on
his cane" he whisnarad