San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-05-25

tering; "she has given proof OF it Ma
rio will only have the prayer book"
The notary, who seemed scarPei,
able 10 contain his indignation, later
upted the titterer. what lot do yor
choose, madameY" said he.
"The eight thousand pounds"
"AIadame Morsnville, you are rich
and your cousin IL very, very poor
Cannot you leave this lot, and take the
prayer.book that tbis-this-" he
seemed for a moment at loss for al
expression -"this strange will has put
in the balance with the other lotsW
"Are you Joking, Monsieur DnDoisr
cried Madame Moranville; "or don
lyon see that my honored cousin has
made her will in the express intention
that her prayer book should fall to Ma,
RE, who was to have the last choice =
.And what do you conclude from
that?"
II conclude that she desired her
niece should understand that pray er
and repentance were the only succors
she ought to expect in this life. All,
she was saint, that dear women'
"Saint, quothap cried the notary,
Indignantly; "mGy heaven defend me
from such saintsl An unforgiving,
unnatural woman / am wrong; do
her injustice. Her intention, 1 am
sure, was to give you and Monsieur
D'Arlemont an opportunity of doing q
good, noble action by dividing the
property equally with her poor niece"
monsieur D'Arlemont will do as he
pleases; l repeat that my choice is
made"
"And so is mine," said D'Arlemont;
II shall take the chataeu and all it con-
tains."
an that case" said the notary, ad
dressing Marie, 81 can only give you,
my poor Madame LIE Fevre, the prayer
book" ..r ... ....
She took the book, and. pressing it
to her lips, she held it to her son, who
cried out with childish delight at the
sight of its richly gilded cover:
"Oh, mamma, let me have it?"
eyes, my boy, you shall have it; it
will be the only legacy I can leave you.
But never-never will part with it. 1
thank heaven she has pardoned me.
She has said it. and she was truth it.
self"
The notary turned away his head.
"Dont go, Madame LIE Fevre," said
he, 81 must speak to you by-and by"
At that moment the boy, in playing
with the book, unclasped it, and cried
out: .
"Oh, mamma, look at the pretty pict-
uresl But why ar, they all covered
over with this nice thin paper2"
ut is to keep them from being
soiled."
"But why put six papers to every
picture?"
His mother looked. She uttered O
piercing cry and fell, fainting, into the
arms of Monsieur Dubois, who said to
those present: ...a.
Let her alone, it is nothing; she
will not die this time. Give me that
book, child; you may do mischief to it,"
The two rich legatees went away,
not very charitably on
Marie's swoon, and the evident interest
the notary took in her. !
About month afterward they met
Madame LIE Fevre and her son, both
we'll dressed, riding in very pretty
carriage and two horses.
This unexpected sight led them to
make inquiry after her, and they found
that she had purchased handsome
house, and was living in quiet but
very good style.
Thunderstruck at this intelligence,
they went together to question the no.
5ary. They found him ut his desk.
do we interrupt your" said the
.ady.
IL am not particularly busy, only
making out an account of bank stock
have just been buying for Madame LIE
Favre."
"And for heavens sake where does
it come from?" ..
Why, don't you know?"
"No; how should ?"
Did you not see what was in the
book when she fsinted?" .r 4 H.
"No." ...... ...-
well, then, I must tell you that the
prayer book contained sixty engrav
ngs, aud each was covered by six bank
notes OF fifty pounds each"
Good heavens!" cried the gentle
nan.
"Oh, if 1 had but known!" said the
ady.