The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-06-07

ness OF my case Is lUdt SJlll Dcllcfc INN
to be guilty, although his countrymen
have acquitted him.
II have had more opportunity for OBJ
serving his daily conduct than any 9th
er man in Gottingen, and what | have
noticed makes me fear he has foresworn
himself to-day. He would plead his
own cause-he would defend himself.
Yes! he was quite clever enough to do
it well. We were boys together, Jacob
and /, and wicked though he be, bear
him kindness still; can not endure
to let my mind dwell upon. his eternal
loss
II am i1npelled to write it down.
Probably everyone else who was pres
ent in the courthouse to-day has for
gotten the extraordinary curse by which
he bound himself, but the remembrance
of it keeps me restless in spite of my IA
tigue. He said, raising his hand towards
Heaven: Ii l am not speaking Gods
truth, may my body never turn to dust
in the gravel a. .s. e.s. Il
Poor jacob hated by all but me,
perhaps God in His mercy may yet
lead you to repentance.
"I am safe enough in writing down
what he said, because no mortal eye
will read the lines | have now written
until Jacob and | shall both have gone
to our account. / shall leave the MS.
sealed and directed to my son Franz;
he will do with it as he pleases.
JACOB Winterwerb has lived in the
house adjoining mine ever since his
marriage, thirty years ago. Our gar
dens lie side by side, separated only by
1 L.. L0I I;a oil hnr
man, was the richest merchant in Got
tingen, which is saying something
where all are wealthy.
"The brothers lived together until
Herman's death, which took place two
months ago. Their household consisted
of the two old men and two lads, Peter,
the only son of Jacob, and Gustel, the
son of their poor sister Meta, who
died young, leaving her little child to
the care of his uncles. Poor Meta
Winterwerb All. well, well! have
ever taken peculiar interest in her boy!
"My Franz and the two youths next
door were schoolfellows and playfel-
lows, Just as Jacob. Herman and ]
used to be many years before. Meta S
son was good lad, honest, kindly and
generous; but Jacobs boy inherited
his fathers mean and selfish qualities,
and these were fostered by the educa-
ton he received.
l 1.-THE rich uncle was an invalid for
three years before his death. 1t was
Gustel who tended him like the gentlest
nurse, who wheeled his chair about the
garden, who lighted his meerschaum,
or brought him his coffee, or rubbed
his cramped limbs by the hour. Walk
ing in my garden on these occasions,
often heard the sick man say: Good
boy, you do not get tired of me; you &c
not think me burden; but you shall be
rewarded. 1 shall leave you every
kreutzer 1 am worth in the world. You
shall be the richest man in Gottingen.
And / used to see the lads fine eyes
grow dim as he stammered forth: oh
my dear uncle, / do not want YOU
money; l take care of you because love
you--you are the only friend have or
earth .r. g.-r
\ a'''I know all that. Gustel, but you
are to be my heir, remember that
Then the father and son would en-
ter the garden, and seeing the uncle anc
nephew conversing so lovingly, used t.
be distraught with anger. Then hearC
Jacob say TO the young man: & y iV
"'See that sneaking hypocrite yon
der, worming himself into your uncle
favor, in hopes of inheriting his wealth
Go you and rub his equity foot ant
fetch his coffee, and you may supplan
Gustel yet. Go, / say, and speak hin
fair. Mop You are lazy fool! Yol
had rather break lamps on heNAnlag
with the students, or drink beer till yol
are like brute, than take littl
trouble to make your fortune. If tina
detestable Gustel is your uncle's heir i
. will be your own fault
"And Jacob used to give his son al
angry push towards the couple in tn
, arbor.
Z" Peter tried hard to please. his IN
: Gle, but he set about it in such al
: awkward manner, and got tired s.
soon, that he never made any progress
/ in supplanting Gustel. Half an hour
, conversation with the poor invalid wa
: more than he could put up with, an,
he was glad to rush away at the frs
opportunity to the beer cellars, wher
the students spent their time in gam
{ bling and drinking. | knew the Who'll
5 family history; how Gustel had bee
DOotOu anu " lduullCu OFcE ny JucO
. and Peter when he received sweet
, meats and toys from his uncle in hi
r childish days; and how, now that h
was too old to be beaten, they Shove
their hatred and jealousy quite a
a plainly, though in different way.
7 81 saw morethan liked TO see on
: OF my window, or while walking in m
garden, and Herman was wont TO com
$ plain of Peter and praise Gustel 20 m
r always ending with his intention c
a making the latter his heir.
. "There was something very like mul
9 der in old Jacobs eyes when he sa,
h his brother and nephew together. A
1 such times l trembed for my neigh
bors, so rich, but so little at ease G
1 content.
Q "At length Herman died. He ha
= not been able to leave his room fc
t some months before his death, an
# there (Iustal had attended, him with III