Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-05-01
The Leisure Hour.
M.4RI<tN'iS FORTUNE.

George Hallowell, Of Elmsborough, died
at the age Of so, worth 100000. People
generally thought he had lived very long
time; but they could not deny the fact that
he had improved the time, aud got together
3 very respectable fortune.
Early in his young manhood he had mar
ried Estelle Cleaves, the daughter of a poor
actor; and some incongruity Of taste or
temper-nobody knew which, for Halo
well kept his own secrets, aud death long
ago had sealed the lips of his wife-had
separated them afler about ten months OF
married life
The wife had gone forth nobody knew
whittier and Hallowell had lived on in his
sour, crusty, and monotonous life in the
old home, where he was born, and where
before him were born his father and grand
father.
He never went into society, he received
no company, he had no friends and 1t 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 pricked
up his or her ears, and the wonder grew.
Three old servants-nearly as old as him
selr-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 Mr.. Hollowell had
left his will.
The funeral was largely attended by the
whole neigLborhood and, at its close, Gil
bo. IN a1i inf aH n a N
and hear the will read.
or course, in matter like this, every
body was Interested, and old Gilbert had y
good audience.
Lawyer SecorS read this will. 1t seems
he had drawn it up the year before for the
testator. DiveNted of IFS formalities, 1t he
uueathed 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 eat, which the old man
held in high regard, and all the rest of the
property lands, stocks and money
was bequeathcd, without reserve, TO Ma
rian Esterly, the village school mistress.
They were all stricken dumb with aston
ishment, and Miss E,terly was, perhaps
more surprised than any Of them.
| A few words in pencil, in old Hallowell's
own handwriting, on the margin of the
will, explained his reason for this disposi-
tion of his property.
''I have been friends with nobody"-sC
ran the marginal reference-"and people
have looked upon me as being destitute oI
the attribute of humanity, and 1t was my
own fault. l make no complaint. Only
one of all my town people have seen deer
enough below the surface TO surmise tha
old Hallowell 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 think of her always
when / see them. And so, as Marian Es
terly has treated me as if had soul,
bequeath TO her the property which it ha
taken me a lifetime to gather, and ma.
heaven bless hel in its possession"
All the villagers were jealous OF Mis-
Esterly, and all thought sho had been yer.
well repaid for few kind words and
bunch of pansies. But no one could dis
pute old Hallowell's right to do as he chos
with his own and so the poor school-mls
tress passed peacably into possession.
Miss Eslerly was an orphan, twenty
three years of age, tall and tinc-looklne
and with more character than is general
given to one individual. Now that she ha
the power she asserted herself grandly.
The Hallowell home place was put IN
der a series of valuable Improvement
which soon changed its entire aspect. d.
caying trees we're cut down, fresh youn
ones were planted, spacious flower gal
den, with extensive graperies and green
houses, flourished where had been only
stretch of dismal heath the stock in th
stable was overhauled, and great change
made, and Hallowell House was rebui
and remodelled until II was the finest resi-
dence in the country round.