Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-04-24
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MARIAN'S FORTUNE.

George Hallowel, of Elmsborough, died
at the age Of 80, worth 100000. People
generally thought he had lived very long
time but they could not deny the fact that
he had improved the time, and got together
very respectable fortune.
Early in his young manhood he had
married Estelle Cleaves, the daughter of
poor actor; and some incongruity of taste
| or temper-nobody knew which, for Halo
vel kept his own secrets, and death long
ago had sealed the lips of his wife-had
separated them after about ten months of
married life.
The wife had gone forth nobody knew
whittier, and Hallowell had lived on his
sour, crusty and monotonous life in the old
home where he was born, and where be-
fore him were born both his father and
grandfather
He never went into society, he received
no company, be had no friends and it was
a great wonder to whom he would give his
property when he was dead.
And when the announcement came that
the old man was gone, everybody prieked
up his or her ears, and the wonder grew.
Three old servants-nearly as old as
himsef-a man and two women, had al.
ways been with him, and constituted all
the family he had.
The old male servan. was named Gilbert.
IN, l.,
his will.
The funeral was largely attended by the
whole neighoorhood and, at its close, Gil
bert requested all those interested to re-
main and hear the will read.
Of course, in a matter like this, every
body was interested, and old Gilbert had a
good audience.
Lawyer Secors read this will 1t seemed
he had drawn it up year before the testa-
tor died. Diyested Of its formalties, it be.
queathed handsome life anEuities to each
of his three servants, two thousand pounds
to each of the two churches in the village :;
two hundred pounds for tie support of
Jim, a large striped cat, which the old man
held in high regard, and all the rest of the
property-houses, lands, stocks, and mo-
ney was bequeathed, without reserve, to
Marian Easterly, the village schoolmis.
tress.
They were all stricken dumb with aston
ishment, and Miss Esterly was, perhaps,
more surprised than any of them.
4 few words in pencil, in old Hallowell's
own handwriting, on the margin of the
will, explained his reason for this DISPOSE
ton of the property.
! II have been friends with nobody''-so
ran the marginal reference land people
have looked upon me as being destitute of
the attributes Of humanity, and as it was
my OWN fault, make no complaint. Only
one of all my tOwns-people have seen deep
enough beneath the surface to surmise that
old Hallowell might have feelings of his
own, and she has never passed me by with
out kind good day. And once when l
passed her little garden she gave me a
bunch of pansies. One | loved in youth
was fond Of pansies, and l think of her al
ways when see them. And so, as Marian
Esterly has treated me as if had n soul, |
bequeath to her the property which it has
taken me lifetime to gather, and may
| Heaven bless her in its possession.
Al the villagers were jealous of Miss
Esterly, and all thought she had been very
well repaid for a few kind words and Il
bunch of pansies. But none could dispute
old Hallowell's right to do as he chose with
his own and so the poor schoolmistress
passed peaceably into possession.
Miss Esterly was an orphan, twenty
three wears of age, tall and fine looking,
and with more character than is generally
given to one individual. Now that she
had the power, she asserted herself grand
ly.
The Hallowell home place was put under
a series of valuable improvements which
soon changed its entire aspect. Decaying
trees were cut down, fresh young ones were
planted, a spacious flower garden, with
extensive graperies and greenhouses -four
ished, where had been only a stretch OF
dismal heath the stock in the stables was
overhauled, and great changes made, and
HalIoyeIl House was rebuilt and remodeled
until it was the finest residence in the
country round.
Miss Esterly kept the old servants who
shortly learned to adore her, but she added
new ones to the menage, and entertained
the visitors, who hastened to honor her, in
gracious and liberal style.
As q matter of course, the mistress oi
HalIowell House was not long wanting for
=; lovers they came thick and fast some few
J perhaps, by her beauty and grace, but