At the Mercy of TiberiusEvans, Augusta J. (Augusta Jane)
History
At the Mercy of Tiberius
Evans, Augusta J. (Augusta Jane)
Rome -- History -- Tiberius, 14-37 -- Fiction
"Nothing had occurred to justify suspicion. My curiosity was aroused.
Several hours later I was again at 'Elm Bluff' on legal business, and
found Gen'l Darrington much disturbed in consequence of an interview
with the prisoner, who, he informed me, was the child of his daughter,
whom he had many years previous disowned and disinherited. In referring
to this interview, his words were: 'I was harsh to the girl, so harsh
that she turned upon me, savage as a strong cub defending a crippled,
helpless dam. Mother and daughter know now that the last card has been
played; for I gave the girl distinctly to understand, that at my death
Prince would inherit every iota of my estate, and that my will had been
carefully written in order to cut them off without a cent.'"
"You were led to infer that Gen'l Darrington had refused her
application for money?"
"There was no mention of an application for money, hence I inferred
nothing."
"During that conversation, the last which Gen'l Darrington held on
earth, did he not tell you he was oppressed by an awful presentiment
connected with his granddaughter?"
"His words were: 'Somehow I am unable to get rid of the strange,
disagreeable presentiment that girl let behind her as a farewell
legacy. She stood there at the glass door, and raised her hand: 'Gen'l
Darrington, when you lie down to die, may God have more mercy on your
poor soul, than you have shown to your suffering child.'
"I advised him to sleep off the disagreeable train of thought, and as I
bade him good night, his last words were:
"'I shall write to Prince to come home.'"
"What do you know concerning the contents of your client's will?"
"The original will was drawn up by my father in 187-, but last May,
Gen'l Darrington required me to re-write it, as he wished to increase
the amount of a bequest to a certain charitable institution. The
provisions of the will were, that with the exception of various
specified legacies, his entire estate, real and personal, should be
given to his stepson Prince; and it was carefully worded, with the
avowed intention of barring all claims that might be presented by
Ellice Brentano or her heirs."
"Do you recollect any allusion to jewelry?"
"One clause of the will set aside a case of sapphire stones, with the
direction that whenever Prince Darrington married, they should be worn
by the lady as a bridal present from him."
"Would you not deem it highly incompatible with all you know of the
Gen'l's relentless character, that said sapphires and money should have
been given to the prisoner?"
"My surmises would be irrelevant and valueless to the Court; and facts,
indisputable facts, are all that should be required of witnesses."
"When and where did you next see the prisoner?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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