Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1880 — THE FORGED WILL. [ARTICLE]

THE FORGED WILL.

It wab my first visit to London since I bad taken up my abode and entered on the practice of my profession as solicitor of Southampton. In London I had a very dear friend, my old friend, my college chum, George Dickson, and as he was the only person I knew in the great metropolis, of course I lost no time m looking him up. Three yean had passed since our last meeting, but ten could have scarcely produced a change more marked than had taken place in the appearance and manner of my friend. Our first greeting and friendly inquiries over, I longed, yet forbore, to ask the cause of my friend’s melancholy. I 1 felt sure, in due time, of being made the confidant of the secret, provided no motive of delicacy prompted its concealment. That evening, in my room at the hotel, George told me his story. He had formed an attachment for a young lady, whose graces of mind and person he portrayed with all the fervor or a lover’s eloquence. She had returned his affection, but her Cither had opposed his suit, having set his heart on tne marriage of his daughter to a nephew of his. This nepnew was a young surgeon, of profligate character, my fnend assured me—but that may have been prejudice —who had long, but unsuccessfully, wooed his cousin, to whom his offers were as repugnant as to her father they were acceptable. Borne months since. Mr. Parsons, the young lady’s father, had gone into Hampshire on business, accompanied by his nephew. At Southampton, he had been seised by a sudden illness, which terminated fatally in three days. On the aav preceding his death he had executed a will (wnich had since been duly proved by the depositions of the attesting witness) containing a solemn request that his daughter, to whom be left the whole of his estate, should accept the hand of his nephew in marriage, coupled with the provision that in case the latter offered, and she refused within a specified period to enter into the proposed union, the whole estate devised for the daughter should be forfeited to the nephew. To sacrifice her fortune to her heart’s choice would not have cost Julia Parson’s a moment’s hesitation; and nothing could have more delighted George Dickson than so fair an opportunity of showing how superior his devotion was to all thought of personal advantage. But her father's dying request, in Julia’s eyes, was sacred. It had surprised and stunned, it is true, for in their conferences on the subject he had nevdb gone beyond the most kindly remonstrances, and had never hinted at anything like coercion.

Young parsons, the nephew, had not the magnanimity to forego his ungenerous advantage. He might have been eontent with the cousin’s fortune alone, bat his right to that depended on his offer and her rejection to an alliance which she felt in conscience bound to accept The brief season of grace which she had been compelled to beg even with tears, had already almost passed, and a few more days would witness the condemnation of two lives to hopeless misery. __ At the conclusion of my friend’s narative, in which, for reasons that may hereafter be developed, I felt a peculiar interest, I prevailed upon him to accompany me to a place of amusement, to "which I had previously procured tickets. When we reached the theater the performance had already begun, but we succeeded in finding seats which commanded a fine view both of the stage and the audience. In a few minutes George touched my “Observe the gentleman nearly opposite, in the front row, seated next to the column, leaning his arm on his cane,” lie whispered I looked in the direction indicated, and saw a face whose striking resemblance to one I had seen before caused me to start with surprise. “Who is it?" I asked. “Etheridge Parsons,” was the reply. "The nephew of whom you spoke ?” Yes.” •'Does- he assemble his uncle F’ I was an the point of inquiring, but then the Granger drew the glove from his right hand, and I saw that the first joint of the tnidqle finger was gone, a circumstance which, for sufficient reason, absorbed my attention.

"Do you know the exact date of Mr. Parson’s death F’ I asked, when we had rained the street at the close of the per. fonnance. r “Yea,” said George, “it was the 23d of December. His daughter received a telegram from her cousin announcing the feet the same day. But why do you aakF’ “I have a reason which may or may not prove a good one,” I returned; ana stating that I had business engagements for the whole of the next day, I parted with my friend, promising to meet him an the following evening. Next afternoon found me at the house of Mr. Parsons, the nephew. “Mr. Parsons, I presume F’ were the words with which I accosted the gentleman I had seen at the theater. “Yea, sir.” “You may not remember me. Mr. Parsons, but I believe we have met before." “I beg your pardon for not recollecting the occasion.” “You were in Southampton last winter, were you not?” “‘I waa,”he replied, with some embarrassment. “I am the solicitor to whom you called to make a draft of a will.” He turned pale, but made no reply. “I saw a record of that will at Doctors’ Commons this morning,” I resumed, “and—” “You speak of my uncle’s will,” he hastily interrupted. “And yet,” I continued, “you said it was yours when you applied to have it written. You represented yourself deairious of executing such a document, preparatory to embarking on a voyage. The paper was drawn in accordance with K instructions leaving the date to be in at the date of signing. Your locks were gray then, and you certainly looked old enough tn have a marriagaa-

tilated finger. a desperate tone. 2&drfDecenrt>er. that effect is in,existence. It was the day before Christmas that you called on me to prepare the document now on record as nis wilt The inference is plain; you undertook to manufacture this spurious testament after your uncle's death, and wishing to clothe your villainy in legal form, you procured from me the required draft. You, or some one at your instigation, simulated the signature of the deceased. The witnesses, who have since perjured themselves in their depositions, were procured in some manner best known to yourstr,” he ejaculated, placing his back against the door, “you have shown yourself to be in possession of secrets the custody of which prove dangerous.” “I am not unprepared for your threats,” I replied. “In the first place, I did not come here unarmed; in the next I have prepared a full written statement of the Suits to which I have alluded, with information, besides, of my present visit to yourself. This paper win be delivered to the friend to whom it is directed, unless, within aa hour, I reclaim it from the messenger, who has been instructed to retain it for that length of time.” His face grew livid. His frame quivered with winded fear and rage, ana his eye gleamed like that of a wild beast at bay. “What is your purpose?" said he in a voice hoarse with suppressed passion. “To keep your secret while you live.” I answered, “on one condition.” “Name it” “That you write instantly to Julia Parsons, renouncing all pretentions tp hei hand, and absolutely withdrawing your proposal of marriage.” After a moment’s pause he penned a brief note, which he submitted to my inspection; it was quite satisfactory. iV'Be so good as to seal and address it,” I said. He did so. “I will see that it is delivered,” I said, taking it up and bowing myself out When I met George Dickson next evening, his old college look had come back. He had great news to tell me. The next thing was to take me to see Julia; and it is needless to say whata evening we spent together anl what a happy marriage followed not long after. Etheridge Parsons, I have just learned, emigratea for Australia, on board of the London, and went down in that ill-fitted ship.