The daily gazette., 1882-04-28
The Pictorial Prayer Book,
BY GEO. PARKINSON.

1t was many long year ago, and
the scene Of my story lie the office of
one of the most respectable notaries in
Paris, Monsieur Dubois--a man of the
old school, universally respected for
his good sense, prOhTty, and benevo-
lence. There were present (beside
the notary himsslf) lady of middle
age, richly dressed; she could never
have been handsome, but, perhaps,
had her countenanoe been less proud
and .dIsdainful, she would not have
appeared as she did-positively ugly;
an insignificant-lo looking little mau;
and a woman, very shabbly dressed,
who sat at some distance from the
others, holding the hand of beauti-
full little boy.
"Her death was rather sudden"
said Madame Moranville, the richly
clad lady, to the little man ia black.
"Yes," replied he, cody; but ne
doubt she was well prepared"
"Have you any idea of the contents
of the willP"
"Not the slightest; but we shall
soon know. Dubois will open it di-
rectly.
f.Pray, who Is that shabby. looking
womans What business can she have
here ?''
lob, don't you know her2 IL is
the runaway niece, Marie, who made
such disgraceful match some years
ago with lieutenant in the army--a
man of low BIRTH"
At that moment Marie approached
the speakers; she was scarcely yet in
middle age, but sorrow had beenbefors-
hand with time in robbing her cheek
of its blooom, and her eyes Of their
lus.er.
"Pray, what brings you here :"
said Madame MorandViile, haughtilp.
madame" replied the poor widow,
81 am not come to interfere with your
rights;I know have deserved noth-
ing from my aunt but her pardon,
and that l hope to hear she has left
me that"
"What r. cried Madame Moran
vile, apardon to yoI, the disgrace OF
your family, who fled from the pro
lection of your aunt-the best of
aunts-with a low fellow 2"
''Madame, ] acknow ledge my fault;
| have been ungrateful and disobedient
Il know 1t; but my sufferings have
been 80 great that hope Heaven has
pardoned me; for have looked upon
the loss of my husband, and the pow
city and sorrow attendant upon it as q
punishment from above"
i'And you dest rVed-"
"Cease these reproaches, madame, u
said the notary, in stern tone; ''youI
COUSINS fault is not SO very grieViouf
as to call for them,"
"nut why she uld she insnlt us with
her pl essence p9
"She has right to be here" re-
piled The notary. 'tShe comes at my
desire.n
He then proceeded to read the will
in which, after the usual preamble
the deceased divided her property iptC
The three parts. The first was com
posed of q sum of eight Thousand
pounds in the hands of the notary
The second of a furnished country sea
of the same value, aud some famil!
Jewels; The third, of an illustrated
prayel-book, The will then proceeds
as follows:
ii desire that my property may b
divided into three lots; The first, to b
the eight thousand pounds; tn
second, the chateau, furniture an
Jewels; the third, my prayer-booh
which is still in the same state q
when took it with me in the imm
grafton, during the Reign of Terror
pardon my niece, Maria, for th
sorrow she has caused me; and, as
ploof of my sincerity, l mention be
in my will. My beloved cousin
: Madame Moranvllle, will have th
J first choice; my brotner-in-law, Nor
sleur D'ArlemOnt, the second, an
Maria the last"
"Ah, my sister-in-law was q sens
l BILE woman" cried Monsieur D'Arl'
|, mont.
"Yes," said Madame Moranville, u
tering; "she has given q proof If
Marie Will only have the prayer-book
The notary, who seemed scarcely alb
: to contain his indignation, interrupt
tho titterer. "What lot do you choos
r madsme?" said he.
"rhe eight thousand pounds"
:. .Madame hoTanVille you are ric
- and your eousln is very--very poor; CT
not you leave this lol, and take u
II pray er-boOk that this-thls-"
seemed for q moment at q loss for
xpression-"this strange will has p
in the balance with the other lots!"
10 care you joking Mol sleur Dubois
cr.tu Madame MoIsnville, or don't y
see that my bonored cousin has ma
=. ber wlllin the express intention th
Z her prayer book should fall to Mar