Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-05-06
Marian's Fortune.

Marian's Fortune.
George Halowel, of Elmsboro', died
at the age of eighty, worth 100000. Peo-
pie generally thought he had lived a very
long time but they could not deny the
fact that he had improved the time, and
got together a very respectable fortune.
Early 10 ais young manhood be had mar
ried Estelle Cleaves, the daughter of poor
actor; aud some incongruity Of taste or
temper nobody knew which, for Hallowel
kept bis own secrets, and death long ago
had sealed the lips Of his wife-had sepa-
rated them after about ten months Of mar
ried life.
The wife had gone forth nobody knew
whittier, aud Hallowell had lived on in his
sour, crusty and monotonous life in the old
home, where be was born, aud where be-
fore him were born his father and grand.
father.
He never went into society, he received
no company, he had no friends, and it was
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 pricked
up his or her ears, and the wonder grew
Three old servants--nearly as old as him
self-a man and two women, had always
been with him, and constituted the only
family he had.
The only male servant was named Gill
bert, and in his hands MIR. Hallowell had
left his will.
The funeral was largely attended by the
whole neighborhood 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 q
SVVu auulsnce.
LAWYER Secors read this will. 1t seems
he had drawn it up year before for the
testator. Divested OF its formalities, it be.
queathed handsome life annuities to each
Of the three servants, two thousand pounds
to each of the two churches in the village
two hundred pounds for the support Of Jim
large striped cat, which the old man held
in high regard, and all the rest of the prop
erty-houses, lands, stocks and money
was bequeathed, without reserve, to Marian
Esterly, the village school-mistress.
They were all stricken dumb with aston.
ishment aud Miss Esterly was, perhaps
more surprised than any of them.
A few words in pencil, in old Hallowell'l
own handwriting, on the margin Of the will
explained his reason for this disposition o
the property
4" | have been friends with nobody "-st
ran the marginal reference" and peopl,
have looked upon me as being destitute o
the attributes Of humanity, and it was ny
own fault. make no complaint. Only
one of all my town people have seen deel
enough below the surface to surmise tina
old IIallowell might have feelings of hi
own, and she has never passed me by with
out kind good day. And once when
passed by her little garden, she gave me
bunch Of pansies. One loved in you'll
was fond Of pansies; think Of her Away
when | see them. And SO, as Marian Est
erly has treated me as if had a soul,
bequeath to her the property which it ha
taken me lifetime to gather, and ma,
heaven bless her in its possession"
All the villagers were jealous Of Mis-
Esterly, and all thought she had been YER
well repaid for few kind words and
bunch OF pansies. But no one could dis
pute old Hallowells right to do as he chos
with his own; and so the poor schoo-mis
tress passed peaceably into possession.
Miss Esterley was an orphan, twenty
three years Of age tall and fne-lookinl
and with more character than is general
given to one individual. Now that she ha
the power, she asserted herself grandly.
. The Halowel home place was put unde
a series of valuable improvements whic
soon changed its entire aspect. Decayin
trees were cut down, fresh young ones wer
a planted, spacious flower garden, with ex
! tensiye graperies and greenhouses, hourishe
, where had been only stretch of disma
, health; ths stock in the stable was over
i hauled, aud great changes made, AID Hal
/ lowell llouie was rebuilt and remodeled VI
, ill it was the finest residence 10 the countr
, around
Miss Estsrly kept the old servants, VIII
q shortly learned to adore her, but she adde
! new ones to the manage, and entertaine
the visitors who hastened to honor her
gracious and liberal style.
As natter of course, the mistress {
n Hallowell House was not long wanting ft
a lovers they came thick aud fast-som
few, pcrhips, by her beauty and grace. br
most Of them keen on the scent after ol