By the will of my father, which is on record, he left all of his property to my brother.

He, as far as is known, died intestate.

As next of kin, I am the legal heir; but the proof is yet wanting.

My mother's cousin, a Colonel Willoughby, of whom we have before spoken, came over from England, on the strength of some vague rumors that reached the family from Jamaica, and was successful in discovering the only survivor of his uncle's family.

She saw it best to abandon her husband, as you know.