Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-03-08
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III.
executor Of this testament and dispense him from
giving bond, and i direct him to make partition
OF my estate by hcitstion within one year after
probate and deliver TO said Estelle Latiolsis her
share IN gold money its equivalent In interest
bearing securities to be approved BY the parish
Judge
This testament has been dated, written and
signed by me on one sheet OF paper "a one writ
ing. HoR,s. oAErpsL
So intense was the shock be expert
enced from this perusal that his head
fell forward, and for a moment his
state was one OF semiconsciousness
But rage, bitter, unspeakable rage, sent
the blood surging hot from his heart
The veins of his neck and temples
gorged; his face grew livid. Had he
been OF full physical habit be would
have died in the tempest OF wrath
which burst within him. An hour he
sat motionless except for the witch
ings Of his countenance. like those OF
an an@sthetized patient under the sur
geon's knife. But one thought was de-
fined In bis dazed, congested mind, and
that took the form of an infinite, malig-
naDt curse upon the brother who
thwarted him even from his undiscov-
cradle grave. Exhausted. weak as a
child coming out OF q cataleptic spasm,
he tottered across the room and fell
painting upon his bed. The calmness
Of collapse came upon him, bringing q
gradual return OF connected thought
In bis view Horace's malevolence to
him was manifest The purpose OF the
bequest Of half the estate to Estelle
was so TO burden the conscience OF the
sentimental girl with a weight Of graf
itude to his memory that the bestowal
OF her hand to another would to her
seem the basest OF crimes. He had
sought to make her life one OF virgin
widowhood or religious seclusion. The
plain anlmus was to battle the suit
which he anticipated that Evariste
would press. The latter would not ad-
NIT that his passion was unknown to
Horace. How was this stroke to be
parried2 Now. II ever. was the crisis
out Of which his boosted cunning the
gift Of his Latin ancestors. should bear
him victorious. What was this weapon
used against his life's Iife7 What was
the character of an Geographic will?
What was his status without the will,
no living person but himself having
seen It'll
he dared not consult q lawyer No
one of the craft known to him possess
ed the degree OF secretiveness to In
vlte his trust, Rising and borrowing
strength from decanter OF brandy, he
took down the civil ,~ode OF Louisiana
and. turning over the leaves every one
OF which bore the pcu notes aud thumb
marks OF his brother. rested Ills eyes
upon these lines:
Article 1881. The Geographic Testament IL ,hs,
which Is written by the tes ate, i,,nIsrIf In or.
der to be valid IL must br entirely written dated
and signed by the tcsts,a u !, subject to no
other form and may Ice mace snywhere even eat
OF the state.
Article lo4s. The Geographic testament shall be
opened II II be sealed. ~ must be scknowl-
edged and proved by the GO, latstiun Of Two cred
Tile persons. who must an tl.st they recognize
the testament as being sntirrly written dated
and signed In the tesisturs handwriting. as hav-
ing often eeen him write sign during his
lifetime.
''The perfection OF SIMPLICITY Ev1
riste muttered. and .rum all the forms
o. testament aEo we'd 10y the law Re
has deliberately selected this one for
my discontinue. Si.an ! suffpr u TO
wreck my hopes! SHAH 1 no; sirangle
II before IL sees the light What would
be the effect OF THAR Let me look fur.
Their"
Delving again into the code. he found
that ne. though only half brother.
would have Inherited the whole estate
TO the exclusion of other collateral
heirs had Horace died IntrStatr
"Oh. Horace, you stupid American
dolt," he sohIoQuiZPd gloatingly. Ito
leave In my hands this cursed inStru-
ment OF your Ill will and expect nae TO
turn il upon myself-to roinmii suicide
with IT, You never understood me-
You never tried TO understand me. II
Is too droll, Between me aud success
stands only this tliInsy barrier. erected
by stolid mind. and away IL vanisbes
IN smoker
he seized the will and struck a
match. when he was startled by q
sharp knock at his door,
Throwing away the match and
thrusting the will into his pocket, he
dema nded:
"Who Ia there?''
att is l." Mrs. wyley answered. "a
letter has been brought by a messen-
required"
He opened the door and received the
following note:
Come to Dede's at once. Matters Of Importance
require consideration and action now.
QUILLEBERT.
"Tell the messenger, please, that I
will come" he said to Mrs. Wyley, and
then to himself: perhaps this is for
tunate. 1t may be well for me to
breathe fresh air and get back to the
normal, possibly to consult Qulllebert,
before taking steps which could never
be retraced. He is an expert on all
matters Of this complexion"
He was soon at the cabaret and seat
ed in the rear room with Quillebert.
Il have news for you" said the lat
ter.
Tell it,
'The LatioIais girl wants to become
a num-"
"She will forego that wish when /