The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-09-15
THE PICTORIAL PRAYER BOOK.
By GEORGE PARKINSON


bois-a man of the old school, universally re-
spected for his good sense, probity and be-
! nevoence. There were present. besides the
notary himself, lady of middle age, richly
! dressed she could never have been hand
some, out perhaps had her countenance been
less proud or disdainful she would not have
appeared as she did-positively ugly an In
significant looking little man and a woman,
very shabbily dressed, who sat some distance
from the others, holding the hand of beau
tiful little boy.
Her death was rather sudden, " said Ma
dame Moranvile, the richly clad lady, to the
man in black.
Yes" replied he coolly; "but no doubt
she was well prepared"
Have you any idea OF the contents of the
| will?"
mot the slightest; but we shall soon
know. Dubois will open it directly
pray, who is that shabby looking woman I?
| What business can she have here p"
'Oh don't you know her? It's the runa-
way niece, Marie, who made such a dis
graceful match some years ago with lieu
tenant in the army-a man Of low birth"
At that moment Marie approached the
! speaker; she was scarcely middle age, but
sorrow had been beforehand with time in
! robbing her cheek of its bloom and her ewes
of their Iustre
| Pray, what brings you here % said Ma
/ dame Moranville, haughtily.
Madame" replied the poor widow. s1'm
not come to interfere with your rights; I
/ know have deserved nothing from nv aunt
! but her pardon, and l hope to hear she has
| left me that"
"What 20 cried Madame Moranville. s'par-
| don to you, the disgrace of your family, who
/ fed from .he protection of your aunt-tbe
best OF aunts-with low feuow7"
! Madame, 1 acknowledge my fault I
have been ungTateful and disobedient, l
( know it, but my sufferings have been so
( great that 1 hope Heaven will pardon me :
for l have looked upon the loss of nv hus-
band, and the poverty and sorrow attendant
! upon it, as punishment from above"
/ "And you deserved"
! Cease thy reproaches, Madame" ," said the
/ notary in stern voice; 'your cousins
! fault is not so very grievous as to call for
] them"
but why should you insult me with her
! presence %
''She has right TO be here" replied the
| notary. ''She came at my desire"
! he then proceeded to read the will. in
! which, after the usual preamble, the deceas-
/ ed divided the property into three parts.-
| The first was composed of a sum of eight
/ thousand pounds I'm the hands of a notary .
| the second of furnished seat of some value
/ and some family jewels the third of an H.
lustrated prayer-book. The will then pro-
| ceeded as follows
! q desire that my property NAV be divided
/ into three lots the first to be the eight
/ thousand pounds the second the chateau.
/ furniture and jewels the third nv PRAYER
/ book, which is still in the same state as when
1 took it with me in the emigration during
the reign of terror. I pardon nv niece
Marie, for the sorrow she has caused me :.
and, as a proof of my sincerity. I mention
her IN my will My beloved cousin, Madame
Moranville, will have the first choice, nv
brother-in-law, Monsieur d'Arlemont, the
second, and Marie the last
''Ah my sister r-in-law was sensible wo-
man" cried NJ. d'Aremont
Eyes, " said Madame MoranviIle, tittering.
'she has given proof of it. Marie will only
have tie prayer book"
The notary, who seemed scarce able to
contain his Indignation, interrupted the tit
terer
"What lot do you choose, Madame ?" said
he.
THE eight thousand pounds"
Madame Moranville, you are rich and
your cousin Is very poor cannot YOU leave
this lot and take the prayer book that this
this'-be seemed for moment at a loss for
an expression-''thiss strange will has put in
the balance with the other lots ?''
Are you joking, Monsieur Dubois or
don't you see my honored cousin has made
her will with the express intention that her
prayer-boOk should fall to Marie, who was
to have the last choice"
"And what do you conclude from that? ?''
"I conclude that she desired her niece
should understand that prayer and repent
ance were the only soccors she ought to ex-
pect in this life. All she was a saint, that
dear woman"
saint, quotha 20 cried the notary indig-
nantly "may Heaven defend me from such
saints An unforgiv;ng, unnatural woman !
am wrong. do her injustice. Her inten-
toni am sure, was to give yOu and Monsieur
d'Arlemont an opportunity of doing good,
noble action by dividing the property
equally with her poor niece
Monsieur d'Arlemont will do as he pleas
es 1 repeat that my choice is made
"And so is mine" said NJ. d'Arlemont :;
81 shall take the chateau and all it contains" 3"
''In that case. - said the notary addressing
Marie, 81 can only Pive you, my good Ma
dame LIE Feyre, the prayer book"
She took the book and pressing it to her
lips, she held it to her sons, who cried out
with childish delight at the sight of its rich
ly-gilt cover; 80 mamma let me have it,
Yes my boy, you shall have it; il will be
the only legacy 1 can leave you. But never,
never, will | part with it. Thank heaven,
she has pardoned me. She has said it, and /
know she was truth itself"
The notary turned away his head
Don't go, Madame lie Feyre," said he;
81 must speak to you by and by"
AT that moment the boy, in playing with
the book. unclasped 1t, and cried out "Oh,
mamma, look at the pretty pictures. But
why are they all covered over with this nice
thin paper?''
''It is to keep them from being soiled."
But why put six papers to everv picture ?'
His mother looked she uttered piercing
cry, and fell fainting into the arms of Men
sieur Dubois, who said to those present
"Let her alone, it is nothing she will not
die this time. Give me that book, child
you may 90 mischief to it,
The two rich legatees went away, com
menting not very charitably on Marie's
swoon and the evident interest the notary