Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-07-19
UNCLE JEFFRIES, WILL.

will found. That there had been one
was fact testified to by Lawyer Sharp,
who had always transacted the old
gentleman's business. He had pre-
pared the document for him, years be-
fore his sudden death, in favor of his
widowed niece, Marian Moore, Law
yer Sharp declared. But nowhere was
it to be found. Many were the specu-
lations concerning its disappearance.
Some said the old gentleman had de-
stroyed it in fit of anger with his
niece on account of her marriage with
the poor music master, Albert Moore,
sixteen years before. Some said he
had never made a will; others, and
among them Lawyer Sharp, believed
that some one had stolen it. Few be-
lieved this, however, for who could
have any object in doing so? No one
was allowed to live in the house by
old Jeffries but Mrs. Kenton, the
housekeeper, who was greatly attached
to Marian, and the cook, an Irish girl,
who took no interest in the affairs OF
her strange old master. Aside from
these no one entered the house but the
doctor, the lawyer, and his sister, Mrs.
Tabitha Jeffries, who visited him oc-
casionally.
But then it was not Miss Tabitha, of
course. She was above such things of
so little importance TO herself; at least
she strove hard to make the world be-
lieve that such was the case. She was
an old maid of about fifty, tall and an
gular, with a voice like the north wind,
and terrible temper, added to which
she had penurious disposition, being
almost misery in her business trans
actions. She owned and superintend-
ed a millinery store in the fiourishing
town of Blockville. She appeared
greatly surprised. at the Wills disap-
pearance, saying that, Brother Hiram
had always declared his intention of
leaving his property to Marian; and,
as for herself, she had no wish to be
encountered with so much of this
carth's goods" But as no will was
brought up in Mrs. Moore's favor, and
only lawyer Sharp's testimony went 10
prove that there had been one, she
was allowed to take possession of her
late brothers estate, which consisted
of fine house in Blockville, and a
beautiful farm near the suburbs.
Mrs. Tabitha evinced much reluc-
lance in accepting her good fortune.
and even went so far as to declare that
she would not take up her abode In
the old mansion until one year after
her brothers death She did this for
a twofold reason: First, she found
her business so lucrative that she wish
ed to continue in it for some time to
come and, as she could not very we'll
attend to both places, she determined
to gain attention from her townspeo-
pie as one being very kind and consid-
crate to her niece and her four children.
Poor Marian Moore she had not
thought much of her Uncle Hiram S
property. She had been her uncle's
pet before she had met the handsome,
dark-eyed musician, and given him her
hand and heart. When the old gen.
tleman heard of the relation between
them, he took one of his quiet pas
siOns, and Informed Marian that IF
she married that fellow, with such an
outlandish name, she need never ex-
pect to enter his house during his life
time"
This did not trouble Marian much,
however; she was willing to endure
much for her young husband sake
They had no need of asking help from
the old gentleman for ten happy years,
during which Albert Moore kept his
family in more than comfort. His
death was a sad blow to his poor wife
Added to this, they found themselves
without anything to support themselves
on, as they had lived entirely upon
the music master labors.
In this extremity Uncle Jeffries
came to their assistance. He did not
take them to his house, however; he
erected pretty cottage in the suburbs
TO which he removed them, allowing
them the interests of few thousands
a year during lifetime.
Perhaps you'll get something more,
some time" he would say when he
visited them in their economically
kept home; but for the present, Ma
rian, you had better stay where you
are, for | don't suppose could ever
get along with your children, two of
them boys, too"
And so eccentric Uncle Hiram would
take his leave.
Thus they had lived for six years
until death had claimed Uncle JEFF
fries. Then they thought of his will,
and hoped he had remembered them,
as their yearly annuity ceased at his
death. But the property reverted to
Aunt Jeffries, and she never limited
word to the young widow concerning
its being renewed. She treated Ma
rian like an utter stranger when they
met "out of society,"" and Marian
would have begged from door to door
before she would ask her aunt for a
dollar. So she gave up the pretty cot
tage and went to live in a tenement,
where, with the help of Ollie, her ell
dest child, she managed to support her
family by sewing.
One day, about year after Uncle
Jeffries' death, Ollie found that she
could not live any longer without a
new hat, as her old one had been trim
med and retrimmed until she could
not possibly wear it any longer. So,
having little spare money, she went
TO Miss Jeffries' shop, as it was nearer
than any other, and ordered hat A
few days after, she called for it, but
the shop and house adjoining were in
great confusion, in consequence of the
fact that the mistress was that day re-
moving to her brothers house. She
was finishing up her last days work
in her shop, or, rather, she was seeing
that the superintendent, Mrs. Whittle,
did. And between Miss Jeffries or
ders and the confusion which reigned,
she was almost crazy.
Miss Moore has called for her hat, "
said Miss Tabitha's shrill voice; lis it
ready?"
Yes, only | know it is too large for
the lady" said Miss White, hesitat-
ingly.
Here, slip this under the lining
around the crown, said Miss Tabitha,
impatiently kicking some pieces of old
paper which came blowing past her
into the room.
At that moment caller was an
nounced, and, to Mrs. Whites great
JOY, Tabitha hurried away, leaving her
in peace.
II guess this will do, she muttered,
selecting an old yellow piece of parch-
ment, and dextrously fitting it into the
crown. 1T must, she added decis-
lively.
SO Ollie got her hat, and was well
with it.