Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1881-03-04
An uNwELCOME VISITOR.
ley was in many respect
Gen STD

>..ey WAS in many respects Z
singular old man: but for all this he
was noble. true-hsarted and generous
Though only 81. he had survived hi.
wife and three children. and was alone
in the world. unless two rival nephew.
who were contending for the slu0.U0a
the general had TO leave when he died
might be regarded rs the 1mpanioN'
of his pilgrimage, They certainly were
very devoted to him. and did everything
for his comfort-eNccpt to love and es-
teen him.
The existence of a 100000 is a sad
danper upon any feeling Of di>inter'
estness which pious heirs desire TO eN
hibi;. John Sidney and Joseph Bowie.
no doubt tried to be disinterested. and
if he had been poor man they might
have found it qnite easy to do so. They
were cousins. and both members of the
church. If they tired to love each 9TH
er. in obediance to the divine command
they did not succeed very well. tor ev-
en- superficial observer might have
seen through the shallow protestationS
of affection
Gen. Sidney was not very close OBJ
server. and probably knew less of the
real character of his nephews than any
man in their circle Of acquaintance
Blu: he had succeeded in finding out
John rSidney. Either the pious heir
expectant lacked in shrewdness. or ior-
tune deserted bin. for his rich uncle
suddenly turned against him. In vain
John tried to conciliatc HIM: the gen
eral was as stubborn as Il mule. and
would net interpret any Of his kindly
Offices as the evidence of genuine es-
TEEN.
When the heart Of the rich man had
banished one of his nephews, the other
more perfectly filed it. As John Sid
ney was hated so Joseph Boyles was
loved The former perSevered in his
attempts to win back the lost favor. and
the later as persistently labored TO de-
feat his intentions.
The old gentleman health began to
fail him. and Bovles was untiring in
his efforts TO make him comfortable and
contented. Every forenoon he went
up To the invalid's room and read the
morning papers to him, informing him
of the condition of stocks. and related
all the gossip and sandal that was
atioat in the street In the ewing he
visited him again, read the evening pa
pers. told him funny stories and never
left him till he had seen him comfort
ably in bed. joseph Boyles was
shrewd person. and fully comprehend
ed the nature of his position.
1t was Surmised that the general had
recently mad. a will. and the favored
nephew was satisfied that he had won
the victory.
The general grew worse, and Boyles
spent nearly all his time with him
Protesting the deepest solicitude for
his health. he urged various remedies
upon him, all of which his uncle adopt
ed with implicit faith jim thei r efficacy:
but in spite of Boyles' specifics. and ev-
en- Of the prescriptions of the most skill
full physicians in the city, he continued
to fail, and finally dropped off sudden
ly.
The work Of Joseph BoyleS was fin
ished. His uncle was dead. and he had
every reason to suppose he should in
herit bis prlncely fortune. There was
no longer any occasion to disSemble.
and after | had put the body in the cof-
fin, was not little surprised to be in
formed that the funeral would take
place at II o'clock on the following
day Boyles said the heat of the wealth
er would not permit us to keep the
corpse another day. and, though; | diff
fered in opinion, made no objections
Boyles wac 2 stingy man. preverbial-
ly so, and the arrangements for the fun
eral were very simple. Even the coffin
was cheap affair, and only four car
riages were provided. But Geo. Sid
ney was dead and could find no fault
with the simplicity Of his burial cere-
monies. He was put in the family
tomb, and the friends turned their at
tention to the more important matter
of the distribution of his property.
As many had supposed, Boyles was
the sole heir. a paltry legacy wa all
the notice taken of John Sidney. who
had expected something handsome"
at least, at the death of his uncle. When
the lawyer had left with the will in his
hand-it was the day after the funeral
the two cousins were left alone. Il
was not the nature of John Sidney TO
rest content with the provisions of the
will. He had failed to detatch his rival.
but he was not prepared to be virtually
disinherited
.Yon may think it is just, said he in
a surly tone to Boyles-
That is not for me to decide re-
piled tine heir. Il can only say tina; |
had no hand in making my uncle's will:
neither did | know Its contents until
now
"Humph." sneered Sidney.
He was my uncle, and / did what |
could to make him comfortable IN his
last hours" added Boyles.
"Yes and you put him in the ground
before his body was fairly cold.
What do you mean bv that
Il mean Just what | say. People
wondered that you should order the
funeral the very next day after his
death. | suppose you were in hurry
to get hold of his money
No more of this: you need not insult
ME.
Il suppose not, now you have got the
fortune. sneered Sidney.
well. have got it, replied Boyies ,
IF you don't like it, You can't help your
self. you know"
The haunting tone of this remark ag- |
gravated the disappointed man more
deeply, and he uttered some violent
threats. which. IN turn. reused the ire
of Bovles. Hot words ensued. and I
there was moment when physical force I
seemed to be the on y resort for the set
Element of the dispute.
While they were thus angrily ap- t
preaching each other he door opened, I
j,+ ", ono antaraJ R,vl.c laurhai nj