The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-09-14
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Henry GladWin' s Will.
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S1SS friends interested gathered in
the library of the old family man
sion, a month later. to hear the con-
tents Of his last win and testament.
The principal mourners we're Mr..
Edwin Gladwin and his daughter,
Evangeline; and the natural suppo-
sition was that to them, the broth
er and neice of the deceased, would
fall the larger portion Of the vast
property.
Such had been the expectation Of
all; so that, when the seal was bro-
ken and the document found to
contain a bequest of only one thou
sand dollars each for Mr.. Gladwin
and his daughter, every one ap-
peared astonished and looked to-
ward his neighbor for an explana-
ton of the mystery.
No one was made wiser by the
movement, for the facts were plain
ly before them, to the effect that,
on the brink of eternity, with long
life, not in all respects satisfactory
as he looked back upon it, Henry
Gladwin had bequeathed his valu-
able property to several well-known
charitable institutions, giving a few
small presents to the kindred, and
the two bequests mentioned. %
It seemed very strange but there
were the facts in legal form, and
Lawyer Sharpe read it, in distinct
rapid voice, so that it was impossi-
BILE to mistake its import.
True, it had left Mr.. Gladwin
without a home to shelter him;
and as he was a cripple, the disqp-
pointment was keenly felt. He had
shared the good fortune of his bro
ther for several years-indeed ever
since the stroke Of affliction which
took from him a devoted wife, and
left to his care a little daughter,
ten years Of age.
That brother had ever displayed
toward him the utmost kindness
and consideration.
What could be the meaning of
this singular will?
Another strange feature was that
Lawyer Sharpe was, by the viii,
appointed executor and admins
traitor.
When the father and daughter
were left alone together, that even
ing, the old gentleman bowed down
by grief and a sense Of utter help
lessness, said:
"Eva, my darling, do you under
stand brother Henry's will? and
that we are without home to shell
ter us, and with almost nothing to
provide for our actual necessitiesP
Eyes, father" replied the young
lady, with as cheerful a tone as she
could command, while she took one
of his delicate hands and kissed
his care worn brow" 81 understand
the import of the will, but you
make a very sombre picture of the
future. True, it viii be hard to
give up our old home, and leave
scenes around which so many pleas
ant associations cluster Still we
are not destitute. We have two
thousand dollars, which will pur-
chase a little cottage, and we have
furniture enough Of our own to
make it very comfortable. 1 have
health, snd, thanks TO your efforts
in my behalf a good education, so
I have no fears, for can. easily cam
enough to supply our few wants,
and it will be a pleasure to feel that
I can make myself of some use to
you"
you are a blessed child" said
the old gentleman, as he stopped to
kiss the rosy cheek SO near his own,
''but you have had as yet, only a
tinted view of this cold world" !"
"Oh! I'm not a child, father, ycu
forget that I am almost eighteen"
$50 you are, dear-so you are;
and yet it seems but a short time
since I took you upon my knee
and taught You the alphabet from
a book of bright pictures. Well,
well, we will not discuss this nm
/ pleasant subject further tonight.
Let me hear you sing and play a
little now"
Eva obeyed, and soon her fair
fingers were sweeping over the ivo-
ry keys of the piano, while her
sweet, melodious voice echoed
through the old mansion with some
of those peculiarly sweet old Scotch
airs, Of which aRobin Adair' was
Mr.. Gladwin's favorite.
"By Jove, she sings like a night
ingaler' said Mr. Sharpe to him
self, as he stepped out from beneath
the window where he had been lis
tening, and passed down the street.
ats a pity she must leave this
fine cage, though" he continued,
with a shrug of the shoulders and
a quiet chuckle. "Perhaps, she