Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-11-08
OLD JEFFRIE'S WILL.

When old Hiram Jetirlcs died
contrary to all expectations, there
was no will found. That there had
been one was a fact testified to BY
lawyer Sharp, who had always
transacted the old mans business
lie bad prepared the document foI
him, years before his sudden death
in favor of his widowed niece, Ma
ran Moore, Lawyer Sharp dcclar.
ed. But nowhere was il 10 be
found. Many were the spcCula.
tions concerning it's disappearance
Some said the old gentleman had
destroyed it in Il fit of anger with
his niece on account OF her MARI
age with the poor music master,
Albert Moore, sixteen years be-
fore. Some said he never made a
will; others, and Lawyer Sharp IL
mong them, believed that some
one had stolen il. Few believed
this, however, for who could have
any object in so doing? No one
was allowed to live in the house by
old Jcll'rics but Mrs. KCutOn, the
housekocpcr, who was greatly at
tached to Marian, and the cook, an
Irish girl, who took no interest in
the affairs of her strange old mas
ter. Aside from these no one en-
tered the house but the doctor, the
lawycs, and his sister, Miss Tabi-
tha Jellrics, who visited him occa-
sIonally.
But then it was not Miss Tabitha,
OF course. She was above such
things of so little importance to
herself; at least she strovo hard to
make the world believe such was
the case. She was an old maid of
about fifty, tall and angular, with a
voice like the north wind, aud Il
terrible temper, added to which
she had a pcnurious disposition, be
ing almost miscrly in her business
transactions. She owned and su-
pcrintendcd millinery store in
the hourishing town of Blockvillc,
She appeared greatly surprised AT
the Wills disappearance, saying
that Brother Hiram had always
declared his intention of leaving
his property MariSn: and, as tol
herself, she had no wish to be en-.
numbered with 80 much of this
earth's goods But rs ne will WA,
brought up in Mrs. Moorc's favor
aud only Lawyer Sharp's tcstimo
ny went to prove that there hac
been ono, she WIS allowed 10 take
possession of kcr late brothers cs
tate, which consisted of tine
house in BlOckvillc, and beauti
ful farm near tho suburbs.
Miss Tabitha evinced much re
luctance in accepting her good for
tune, aud even went SO far as to dc
clare that she would not take NJ
her abode in the old mansion unit
one year after her brothers death
She did this for twO-fOld reason
First, she found her business so lu
crativc that she wished to contiuu,
in it for some time to come; and
rs she could not very well attcn,
to both places, she determined I,
gain attention from her townspcO
| pie rs one being very kind and con
sidcratc to her niece and four chi
drcn.
Poor Marian Moore, she had no
thought much of her uncle Hiram
properly. She had been hor ur
| cie's pet before she had met tn
! handsome dark-cycd musician, IN
given him her hand and heart
When the old gentleman heard {
the relation between them, he too
onc of his 'quict passions and il
formed Marian that If she marie
that fellow, with such an Uutlunt
ish name, she need never expect
J enter his house during his lil
time
This did not trouble Marian niue
however; she was willing to Cndu
D much for her young husbands SAX
They had 20 need of asking he
from the old gentleman for ten La
Ply years, during which Abe
Moore kept his family in MOI
than comfort. His death WAS q $;
blow to his poor wife. Added
this they found themselves withol
anything TO support themselves o
us they had lived entirely upon Il
music masters labors.
In this extremity Uncle Jcftri,
D came to their assistance. He d
not take them to his house, howe
cr; he erected - pretty cottage
the suburbs to which nc remove
them, aiIowiug them the interest
few thousand year during lIi
time.
Perhaps you'll get somethir
more, some time he would 5;
when he visited them in their &c
nomically kept home; but for Il
present, Marian, you had bett
stay where you are, for l don't su
lpOse l could ever get along wi