The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-07-31
THE SEALED WILL.

$50 @A4@AAA1D WILL
Do you suppose, mamma, in case the
money goes from me that it will be given to
youi''
Dear child, how can ever guessl Your
aunt, remember, is your fathers sister, not
mine; so It is scarcely likely she has thought
OF me. am afraid the heir in the sealed
win is John Garland"
SIS BIammap'
. It IS only guess-work, DEAR
But he Is unfit to have the responsibility
Of money; man known to be a gambler
and o. drinking man, if not an actual
drunkard, -
: .sss'Y very true. Yet he is the nearest rela-
tive your aunt Jessie had, excepting only
yourself
can scarcely think Aunt Jessie would
leave him $50, co.,"
Ny dear, she has left it to you, her
niece and namesake.n
- But upon the condition that shall
/, never marry. If / do, the sealed win in
the hands Of her lawyer is to be opened,
and the money pass from me to the heir OF
heirs named therein. You must know me
well enough to be sure that the money
aYouldnever tempt me to break my engage
ment yet for your sake / wish-oh, why
did Aunt Jessie leave it to me at all2n
DO not think Of me. / can live as we
have done since father died. But, Jessie, y
and Mrs. Markham's face looked grave and
sad, there Is one view of the matter YOU
do not take"
~ dare say there arc fifty. Remember
we have now had only an hour or two to
think, since the letter came from the LAWYER.
But what is the view you meant"
"Charlie.n
"Charlie8r
Jessie's large brown eyes were opened to
their widest extent as she repeated the
name, adding:
why, l haven't thought of anything but
Butt mean-dear mep said the
mother, shrinking from uttering her own
thoughts. You know, dear, you have
always been considered your aunt's heiress /;
and Charles is young and only commencing
the practice Of his profession. It may be
TINT he will
BE false to me for the sake of money p
interrupted Jessie, with the rosiest of
cheeks and brightest of eyes. 1--WE will
soon test that, - and she drew writing
table 70 her side. 81 will send him COPY
Of the lawyers letter. andn-here her voice
ana eyes soitened-"the assurance that
Aunt Jessie's viii will make no difference
to me-"
Mrs. Markham made no objection to this
step, but after the letter was signed. sealed
and dispatched to the village BY Polly, the
only servant Of Mrs. Markham's household.
she called Jessie again to her side.
Over the fair, sweet face of the Young
girl there had crept shade Of gravity and
perple1ity since the arrival Of the LAWYERS
letter that clouded the brown eyes and gave
the sensitive, mobile mouth a firmer pres
sure than was quite natural. Life had not
been all sunshine for Jessie Markham. vet
hers was one Of those buoyant natures that
ind the silver lining for every cloud. and
coax some sweetness from every bitter dose.
Der father had been dead for six years. and
his business Affairs having been compli-
Gated In some way not comprehensive to
feminine lntelects, his widow and child
found themselves reduced to an income
that barely covered tie necessities Of life
they let the city, and took small cottage
IN the small village Of Merton. where Mrs
Markham soon procured a class of music
scholars, and herself gave Jessie lessons in
the higher branches Of English studies. Ger
man, French and music, till, at eighteen. her
daughter also procured few pupils in lam
gfN9s4 tneT were very happy il their mu-
toai affection, IN the love OF their pupils.
and tho cares Of their little household
4 had been understood from the time
Jessie was a tiny baby that She wouid IN
herit TIE fortune Of her maiden aunt. for
whom she was named, and who came from
the city every summer 20 spend a month or
Two ~ the little cottage, always bringing
pretty presents TO brighten the home oil her
nfothers widow, and layishinq the tender
est affection upon her neice.
Yet though Jessie herself had known ~
her nnmIf1 orl1.r,..1aI1 -.
nor her mother had ever made calculations
upon fortune dependent upon The death ~
the one for whom they felt the war1aesf A.
icction, and the idea that Others could he in
nQcneed by Il was new thought 70 the
young girl
She had given 10 her bcrothed. Charlie
ecalon, the first love Of her Young heart
believing his lore was all her own. In the
six wears she had lived at Merton. child ana
maiden, Charlie Seaton had been her dcvo-
ted admiFpr from the frs, aud had recently
In1o8 lbs course az law study and been
admitted @ lhe bar. His fortune. inherited
nom his father, was very small. barely car-
eiin MS expenditure Tor board and cloth.
At, nNt - was energetic. Industrious. and.
Nifa9at pflihani talent q clear.hcadcd.
Intelligent siadent promising to make 3
s.e 'ANtef 2 not shining light a.
Answering her mothers can. Jessie nes-
tied down in her farorite seal * her fe~i
syire diy
Charlie nas Influenced hi any Inns, 81
Aunt 4essies mon1y, manea. Sc IS bette, S.
know & NOW. hod supposed Ne would
have 81 uali Ger oar welding dae nnta -
BAG some nf1ei'fe and YnD know have
NIIlt tNIt 90 nl QiEn toward fftl expense.
It11Io HFe hClc 1nlI-thffr am nal