San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-05-25
THE PICTORIAL PRAYER
BOOK.
by GEO. PARKINSON.

It was many long years ago, and the
scene of my story is 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, probity and benev-
olence. There were present, beside
the notary himself, lady of middle
age, richly dressed; she conld never
have been handsome, but perhaps, had
her countenance been less proud and
disdainful, she would not have APP
peared as she did-positively ugly; an
insignificant looking little man, and q
woman very shabbily dressed, who sat
at some distance from the others hold
ing the hand of very beautiful little
boy. .,
Madame Moranville, the richly clad
lady, to the little man in black.
"Yes," replied he coolly; but no
doubt she was well prepared"
"Have you any idea of the contents
of the will?" u..
mot the slightest; but we ahall
soon know. Dubois will open it d.
rectly."
"Pray, who is that shabby looking
woman? What business can she have
here?" ...-.
ooh, don't you know her? It is the
runaway niece, Marie, who made such
a 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 been be-
forehand with time in robbing her
cheek of its bloom, and her eyes OF
their luster
"Pray, what brings you here?" said
Madame Moranville, haughtily.
Madame" replied the poor widow,
81 am not come to interfere with your
rights; L know I have deserved moth
ing from my aunt but her pardon, and
that [ hope to hear she has left me
that" ~. ,...-.-.
"What!" cried Madame Moranville,
pardon to you. the disgrace of your
family, who fed from the protection of
your aunt the best of aunts with a
low fellow?"
Madame, 1 acknowledge my fault;
l have been ungrateful and disobedi
eut-I know it; but my sutferings
have been so great that hope heaven
has pardoned me; for l have looked
upon the loss of my husband aud the
poverty and sorrow attendant upon it
as punishment from above
"And Won deceived"
"Cease those reproaches, madame"
said the notary, in stern tone; your
cousins fault is not so grievous as to
call for them"
"But why should she insult lis with
her presence
"She has the right to be here" re-
piled the notary. "She came ut my
desire"
He then proceeded to read the will,
in which, after the usual preamble, the
deceased divided her property into
three parts. The first was composed
of sum of $4,000 in the hands of the
notary; the second of furnished
country seat of the same vAlue, and
some family jewels; the third, f an
illustrated PRAYER book. The will then
proceeded as follows:
Il desire that my property may be
divided into three lots; the first to be
the ES.OCO; the second, the chateau,
furniture AID jewels; the third, my
prayer-book, which l. still in the same
state rs when I took II with me ih the .
emigration during the reign of terror.
1 pardon nv niece. Marie, for the Sor-
roE she has caused me. md, as a proof I
Of nv sincerity, mention her in my I
viii. My beloved cousin, Madame I
MoraLville, Viil have the first choice;
uy brother in-iav, Monsieur D'Arie- /
mont. tie second, and Marie the last
All. NY sisteI-iu law was a sensible /
woman cried Monsieur D'Arlemont. /
"Nes- said Madame Meanwhile. :it- !