Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-02-15
How ! Made my Fortune.

ing kindness"
This was the only part Of the will especial
ly noticed. So be sure realized, in sort of
way, that nearly all my forty or City cousins
had been iu some way remembered, but for all
that, my thoughts had been wOolgatbering, or
somewhere else, until my name was mention
ed.
And so the old lady was dead. I remember
ed that had ssrt of bad feeling that had
not tried to make her life happy one. Nat
urally fault-fnding, and especially suspicious
Of fortsne-hunters, | bad kept proper dis
tance only writing once year, and calling as
often. I was quite surprised that was re-
membered at all, and even when my name was
mentioned could hardly realize it,
But owning thing raises ones curiosity as
70 what it is like; so when the rest were at
last satisfied looked around for my property.
Upstairs aud down stairs searched, bat no
escritoirc could be found, until at last | was
beginning TO think it all hoax, when some
one suggested looking in the garret, So with
slow, Indifferent steps crswled up the queer
old stairs, aud the first thing that beheld
was my escritoire, but sad to relate, more
dilapidated-looking affair never saw. The
knobs were broken of, and the doors bali
hanging by few rusty screws. In fact my
first thought was that my aunt had insulted
me. But, cut Of respect for her, had it TAX
en- to my" bacheler's hall, as called it, Per-
haps, with little fixing, it might be made
to look quite respectable.
So that same afternoon found me with ham
mer and screws, doing my best at it. But
even with all my pains-taking, it was not
beautiful, aud half fsuced my dreary room
locked al the more dreary for my new pos
session
At that time | was bookkeeper in a bank
with a small salary, AMI no prospects of ad-
vancemeut. Not hat could have done any
thug else, but there seemed to be a sort OF
fascination in bank to one who had been
employed for a long time, which keeps them
there even when they know they could Dc
better somewhere else.
As general thing, ! was quite contented
Ny pay came regularly, and by being ecOnomi'
cal kept NE quite nicely. OF course undel
present circumstances, | could never think o.
marrying, aud the prospects Of always living IL
hose dull rooms slune, was not over pleasant
But remember this particular night al
the blue devils were loose on me- was com
/ pletely discouraged. / think there are time
/ in the life Of every one, when they are left t
c.utrnd alone with all the horrors Of darkness
when some imp, boder than the others, dare
whisper in his ear
Your life is a failure The world weul,
be better without you"
endured such thoughts as long as possible
thea concluded that it would never do, au,
looked around for something to help disposses
| myself from my iormentors. Ny eyes fol
upon my newly-possessed property. ba
never looked it carefully over; Sc began t
pull out the drawers, aud soon was quite sur
prised tu 6ud how interesting il was. Ther
were a few old papers, and in one drawer
found a pockage of old letters, yellow an
wriuked with age On the outside was writ
ten in my aunt's weIl-known writing. Los
at Sea" So even sne had had her story.
had always wondered why she had never mar
RED, aud that - Lost at Sea" explained th
whole mystery. Putting them back CAREFUL
continued my explorations until had con
cuded that had looked it all over, aud wa
Just going to retire when happened to thin
that sometimes such Old-fashioned Affairs ha
secret springs.
So went over to it again, trying wit
thumb aud finger every place that might pos
siby open, aud at last was rewarded. SUI
enough there was a side, aud back Of that
sort Of box from which drew out paper.
remember | felt little ashamed to find N
hands trembling as opened the paper
glanced at the date. 1t was only the week b
fore my aunt died The words blurred befoT
my eyes, bat managed to read. II SCENE
to be continuation Of the will, and read q
follows:
Also to my nephew will and bequeat
the sum Of forty thousand dollars, to be pal
at the end Of three years, provided be shall a
that time be able, Trough his own exerton
to add thereto the sum Of ten thousand dollar
At the same time the greatest secresy must
preserved concerning bis future prospects,
Also, at the eud Of that time he must be abl
to swear that be has never revealed the posses
sion of the will, or tho money will be left ;
charitable institutions"
Then followed her name in full, and ais
that ot a prominent lawyer.
Well, here is food for reflection. l coul
scarcely realize, at first, that it could be tru'
but thought knew enough about forms !
he sure it was will that would stand in J. 4
if | kept the conditions. II was tie odde
thing had ever heard Of. But she was a!way
up to odd things besides, thought she wa
not pleased With my easy way Of taking lif
aud had taken this means to waken me III
trusting to my wel-known curiosity for fuC
ing the will
She had certainly succeeded in arousing nj
Sleep forsook my pillow that night; one mC