The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-09-16
THIS LEGACY :.
: is for my dutiful and beloved nepbew q:
: Arthur Pease. JOSHUA PEAsE.

For moment Arthur was stunned
as If he had received a violent blow on
his skull which had paralyzed his brain
Then the room seemed to be TURNING
round. What did the lawyer mean by
telling him that his uncle had left him
a large sum of money in his will? All
that was doubtless part of the plot in
order that his disappointment might be
the more complete!
1t was evident enough that the eccep.
trio and whimsical old gentleman had
taken this method to punish his nephew
for depriving him of leg. This old
timber leg in the box was the long-ex.
pected legacy!
For some minutes Arthur felt himself
crushed to the very earth How hi,
friends, who had envied his good for.
tune, would triumph now. He almost
imagined that he already heard the ser.
| pent-hiss of his enemies.
At length he began to recover from
his despair. Augusta had certainly
seemed to love him; her father had
money enough for them both, and 50
tenderly had the young lady hidden
him adieu that the thought struck him
that his very misfortune and disappoint-
ment night increase her love for him by
exciting her pity.
81 will not despair" cried he, 'for
this event may hasten instead of defer
ring our union"
He set out for the great house quite
early in the evening. He rang the bell
and a servant appeared. He inquired
for Augusta, who was in. He sent up
his name, and the servant very soon re-
turned, saying: "A1isS Augusta is sorry
to say that she has an engagement which
will prevent her from seeing Mr.. PeaSe
this evening.
The servant, at the same time, STARED
in Arthur's face with a saucy grin on
his own countenance, and as he slammed
the door in the youths face the latter
overheard him saving to somebody in
the vestibule: did Sam Harris tell YOU
bout that wooden leg in de box? Guess
Miss Augusta heard all about it, Mind
my words, Mr.. Pease has got de mitten
for sartain."
Arthur did not yet despair: but when
he went on the next evening and re-
ceived the same answer he knew that
the tidings of his uncle's singular legacy
had overcome the love of Augusta F.
1t was evidently not himself but the leg
acy with which Augusta had fallen in
love. She had, in common with 9TH
ers, imagined that il was hundred
thousand dollars instead of wooden leg
that Arthur was to come into possession
of.
Arthur felt that he was well punished
for the trick which he had, at an early
age, played upon his uncle. The wood
en- leg in the box was a sad reminder.
That evening, after his return from the
great house, was the saddest of his life.
But, just before nine O'Clock, Arthur
heard gentle rap at his outer door
He opened it, and found there poor
ly dressed girl who handed him let
ter
From whom could the letter have
come? Had he still friend?
Arthur opened the letter. 1t read as
follows:
"DEAR FRIEND: 1 have heard OF your mis-
fortune. 1t is little that can do 10 remedy II.
but the enclosed check for SI,0O0 may relieve
you from any present distress. beg that you
will have no scrupie about accepting Il. a.
sure yOu that can do without it. have an
nrm. and she requests me 10 come ana iNt
with her. shall wait upon her ana she Is
able to supply all my wants.
81 shall be very unhappy if you do not a.
cept this money. II is. indeed, but 1.-THE ia
comparison with what you had right 10 eH-
poet; but still. Il is better thHn nothing. had
hoped. at one f+Tne thar you and would share
known that you could never bring your mind
to live with one of my condition. | start for
Montpelier tomorrow. Farewell. .
LUCINDA W"
In penning the last few words Arthur
could perceive that Lucinda's hand had
trembled.
He could not doubt that the poor girl
really loved him; but how could he re-
new his attentions to her after having
shown his preference for Augusta
How could he say to her, in acts If not
in words: LAS Augusta has discarded
me L come back to you?''
One thing he was fully resolved upon
he would not receive the thousand dol
lars of Lucinda, and, without minutes
reflection, he tore the check into frag-
ments and threw them into the fire.
Lucinda did not go to Montpelier on
the next morning as she intended, for
she wanted to make sure that Arthur
had taken out the money from the bank.
On learning from the cashier that her
check had not been presented, she could
think of no recourse, but to obtain an
with Arthur, and beg him TO
accept the Thousand dollars, fondly sup
posing that, after full explanation ol
her prospects she could prevail on him
10 accept the money.
Lucinda called at Arthur's house. As
soon as he saw her all his former love
returned, infiamed by this recent PROOF
Of her generosity and disinterestedness'
He clasped her in his arms, called her
an angel, and q great many other hhe
things too numerous 10 mention.
~ IL ~