Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-03-05
The Sealed Will

\ our aunt, remember, Is your fathers sis
ter, not mine so it is scarcely likely that
she has thought of me- am afraid the
heir in the sealed will is John Garland. -
Mamma !"
4" 1t is only guess work, dear"
a" But he is so unit to have the response.
bility Of money; man known to be q
gambler and drinking man, if not an &C.
iu,l drunkard."
Very true. YetLe is the nearest rola-
tive your Aunt Jessie had, excepting only
yourself"
" | can scarcely think Aunt Jessie would
leave him fifty thousand dollars.
my dear, she has left it to you, her
niece and namesake."
" But upon condition that never marry.
IF do, the sealed will in the hands Of
her lawyer is to be opened, and the money
pass from me to the heir or heirs denig.
mated therein. You must know me well
enough to be sure the money would never
tempt me to break my engagement; yet,
for your sake, wish-Oh, why did Aunt
Jessie leave il 10 me at all?"
:" Do not think of me- eau live as we
have done since your father died. But,
Jessie" and Mrs. Markham's face looked
grave and sad "there is one view of the
matter you do not take
d" | dare say there are fifty. Remember
We have only had an hour or two to think
since the letter came from the lawer. But
what is the view you mean ?"
Charlie"
Charlie !"
Jessie's large brown eyes we're opened
to their widest extent as she repeated the
name, adding
Why, | haven't thought Of anything
but Charlie -
"But-l-mean- Dear me :" said the
mother, shrinking from uttering her own
thought, You know, dear, you have al.
ways been considered your aunt's heiress /;
aud Charlie is young, and only commencing
the practice Of his profession. 1t may be
that he will"
" BE false to me for the sake Of money!
interrupted Jessie, with the rosiest of
cheeks and brightest of eyes. /" We will
soon test that" and she drew a writing
table to her side. will send him copy
Of the lawyers letter, aud"--here her
voice and eyes softened -" the assurance
that Aunt Jessie's will makes no difference
to me-"
Mrs. Markham made no objection q
this step ; but after the letter was signed
sealed, and dispatched to the village by
Polly, the only servant of the Marx ham
household, she called Jessie again to her
side
Over the fair sweet face Of the young
girl there had crept shade Of gravity and
perplexity since the arrival Of the lawyer's
letter, that clouded the brown eyes and gave
the sensitive mobile mouth a frmer pressure
than was quite natural. Life had not been
all sunshine for Jessie Markham yet hers
was one Of the buoyant natures that find
their silver lining for every cloud, and
coax some sweetness from every bitter dose
Her father had been dead six years, and
his business affairs having become compli.
Gated in some way not comprehensive tc
feminine intellects, his widow aud child
had found themselves reduced to an in.
come that hardly covered the necessarie.
of life. They left the city, aud took a
small cottage iu the pretty village of Mer.
ton, where Mrs. Markham soon procured o
class of music scholars, aud herself gave
Jessie lessons in the higher branches oil
English studies, German, French, and
music, till, at eighteen, her daughter also
procured few pupils in languages. They
were very happy in their mutual affection
in the love Of their pupils, and the cares OF
their little household.
1t had been understood from the time
Jessie was tiny baby that she would in
herit the fortune of her maiden aunt, fol
whom she was named, and who came frou
the city every summer to spend month OIL
two IN the little cottage, always bringing
pretty presents to brighten the home of hel
brothers widow, and lavishing teuderes
affection upon her niece.
Yet, though Jessie herself had known O.
her aunt's supposed intentions, neither sh,
nor her mother had ever made calculation
upon fortune dependent upon the deatl
of one for whom they felt the warmest affec
ton, and the idea that others could be 10
huenced by it was a new thought to tn,
young girl.
She had given to her betrothed, Charli,
Seaton, the first love Of her young heart
believing his love was all her own. In tn,
six years she had lived in Merton, child anc
maiden, Charlie Seaton had become her de-
voted admrer from the 6rst. He wal
young, only twenty-three, and had recently
finished his course Of law study. and beer
admitted to the bar. His fortune, inherit
ed from his father, was very small, barrel,
covering his expenditure for board ant
clothing-but he was energetic, industrious
and, without brilliant talent, a clear head
cd, intelligent student, promising to max,
a capable lawyer, If not shining light a
the bar.
Answering her mothers call, Jessie nes
tied down in her favorite seat at her feet
saying sadly;
rlf Charlie was Influenced by any hop,
Of aunt Jessie's money, mamma, it is bette
to know it now. | had supposed we woult
have to wait for our wedding-day until h,
had some practice, aud you know | have
little sum of my own toward first expenses
We could live here, and-There, | will no
think Of it any more till the answer come'
to my letter"
while you wait, dear" said her moth
er, "sball l tell you what think is the er
planation Of your aunts singular will
You, who knew her only as the gentle, sa'
woman Of her later years, can scarcely re
alize, presume, that she was once a
bright, hopeful and sunny tempered a
yourself. think il is to save you frou
the power of giving wealth to mere for
tune hunter. She would have you wooe
aud won for yourself alone, aud as she nev
er positively said you were to be her heir
ess, she has probably never supposed Char
lie biased by that hope. Still, dear, it
possible
"Yes, it is possible said Jessie, slowly
but tell me about aunt Jessie"
"Your grandfather Markham, Jessi,
was one Of the leading merchants Of Me-
York, when your aunt, his only daughter