News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-05-18
THE PRAYER BOOK.

1t was many long year ago, ana tne
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 benevolence.
There were present (beside the notary
himself) a lady of middle age, richly
dressed; she could never have been
handsome, but perhaps, had her
countenance been leas proud and dis
dainful, she would not have appeared
as she did-positively ugly; an
insignifcant-looking little man; and a
woman, very shabbily dressed, who sat
at some distance from the others, hold
ing the hand of beautiful little boy.
"Her death was rather sudden" said
Madame Moranville, the richly-clad
lady, to the little man in black.
eyes," replied he, coolly; "but no
doubt she was well prepared"
Have you any idea Of the contents
of the will?"
"Not the slightest; but we shall soon
know. Dubois will open it directly"
"Pray, who is that shabby-looking
woman What business can she have
here ?"
"Oh, don't you know her? 1t is the
runaway niece, Marie, who made such
disgraceful match some years ago with
a 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 before
hand with time in robbing her cheek OF
it's bloom, and her eyes of their luster.
pray, what brings you here p said
Madarpe Moranyille, baughtily.
rs&rS~--su.-..s4 tie poor widows,
- 1 amfHot come to interfere With you.z
rights; know have deserved nothing
from my aunt but her pardon, and that
hope to hear she has left me that"
"Whatl" cried Madame Moranville,
pardon to you, the disgrace of your
family, who fed from the protection of
your aunt-the best of aunts-with
low fellow ?"
Madame, 1 acknowledge my fault;
have been ungrateful and disobedient-
1 know it; but my sufferings have been
SO great that I hope Heaven has
pardoned me; for 1 have looked upon
the loss of my husband, and the poverty
and sorrow attendant upon it as a
,>up;ebp,a,,h fro~,, ohora
"And you deserved"
"Cease these reproaches, madame"
said the notary, in stern tone; "your
cousins fault is not SO very grieyous as
to call for them"
"But why should she insult us with
her presence ?''
"She has right to be here, )" replied
the notary. "She comes at my de-
SIRE"
He then proceeded to read the will,
in which, sitter the usual preamble, the
deceased divided her property into three
parts. The first was composed of
sum of eight thousand pounds in the
hands of the notary the second Of
furnished country seat of the same value,
and some family jewels; the third, of
an illustrated prayer-book. The will
then proceeded as follows:
"I desire that my property may be
divided into three lots the first to be
the eight thousand pounds the second,
the chateau, furniture and jewels; the
third, my prayer book, which is still in
the same state as when took it with me
in the emigration, during the Reign Of
Terror. pardon my niece, Maria, for
the sorrow she has caused me; and, as
a proof of my sincerity, mention her
in my will. My beloved cousin, Madame
Moranville, will have the first choice
my brother-in-law, Monsieur D'Arle-
mont, the second, and Maria the last. :"
"Ah, my sister-in-law was a sensible
woman" cried Monsieur D'Arlemont.
eyes" said Madam Moranvllle, tit
tering; "she has given proof of it;
Maria will only have the prayer book.
The notary, who seemed scarcely
able to contain his indignation, inter.
rupted the titterer. "What lot do
you choose, madam ?" said he.
"The eight thousand pounds"
Madam Moranville, you are rich,
and your cousin is very-very poor !;
cannot you leave this lot, and take the
prayer-book that this-tbis seemed
for a moment at loss for an expression
-"this strange will has put in the bal
ance with the ether lots ?"
'Are you joking, Monsieur Dubois ?"
clied Madam Moranville; cor don't you
see that my honored cousin has made
her will in the express intention that
her prayer-book shGuld 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
repentance were the only succors she
ought to expect in this life. All, she
was saint, that dear woman r'
"Saint, quotha r. cried the notary.
Indignantly; may heaven defend me
from such saints An unforgiving, un-
natural woman I am wrong; do her
injustice. Her intention, am sure,
was to give you and Monsieur D'Arle.
mont an opportunity of doing good, q
noble action, by dividing the property
equally with her poor niece"
Mons ieur D'Arlemont will do as he
pleases; repeat that my choice is
made"