Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-04-22
The Legacy Hunters.

HE Legacy hunters.
; 1t was Abigail Varlcy's threescort
? and-tenth birthday. She was ric
widow, childless, and with no know
, relations save two gentlemen cousins.
, Never was cousinly attachment ulor
, beautifully illustrated, or cousinl
; Jealousy less amiably exempted, tina
r In the daily walk and conversation C.
these two collateral kinsman. The
bestowed so much affection on thei
common relative, that they had non
left To waste between themsel YES. -
Both were several years younge
than the lady, with a fair prospect, &c
cording to the course of nature, of sur
viving her; and how to supplant eacl
other il; her will, which she had a
last begun to talk seriously of making
was the problem which at present en-
gagged their attention.
On the morning in question, wher
cousin Roger called to wish Cousin Alb
igail the usual many happy returns,
he was not a little chagrincd to finC
Cousin Dick there before him. How
ever, he presented his annual gift, anG
went through his annual speech with
out missing a word; and seeing Tab
by, the cousinly cat, perched snugly on
his riVal's knee, by way of not being
ontdone in cousinly attention, he took
up Pompey, the cousinly poodle, though
dogs were his abominati0n.
Well, Cousin AL igail, / hope youl
health confines gocd,' said CI usin
Roger, .patting Pompey's head, and
gianclng suspiciously at Cousin Dick,
whom he devOutly wished at Jericho.
Not so good latterly as it has been.
.he fact is, the old lady continued, i
Lave been thinking seriously of send
ing for Mr.. Parker, with a view to set
Ting my worldly affairs without de-
lay
| oh, there is no need of haste, cous-
in broke in Dick, you have many
years before you YETI mentally adding,
what has possessed the old ninny to
put it off SO Ion p
well, well, suppose there's no bur-
ry about it, said Cousin Abigail.
And yet,' Cousin Roger ventured to
hint, 1T is always well to be prepared;
none of US can tell the minute or the
hour, you know
And, after all, calling in lawyer is
not so serious matter as calling in q
DOCTOR said Cousin Dick, faeetiOusly.
The conversation was interrupted by
the entrance Ofa young end beautiful
girl, at whom Cousin Dick stared with
Il surprised and troubled look.
Pardon me, ma'an,' she said, in
voice remarkably sweet and gentle;
rot knowing you were engaged, /
came to see if you wished me, rs usual,
to read to you to-day
Presently, DEAR Mrs. Varley an
swered, In tone that plainly hinted
her visitors would not be pressed to
stay if they offered togo.
After an awkward pause, the two
cousins took their departure together.
Who is that girl?' inquired Roger,
as soon as they had reached the street.
You may well ask said Cousin
Dick; and, STOPPING, he whispered
something in his companions ear, at
which the latter started suddenly.
Good heaven! the resemblance is
certainly striking. But what is to be
done? Do you think the old-Cousin
Abigail, mean, suspects anything%
Not yet, think; but no time is to
be lost; have plan which it would
be well for US to talk over together
And the two hurried rapidly aloLg.
Mrs. Varley had occasionally found
time hang heavy ON her hands, and so
had advertised for a person to fill the
post OF 'cOmpaniOn1 to an aged lady.
1t was thus that Hester Darling had
become an inmate of the house.
At as early an hour as was seemly ON
the morning following that on which
we introduced them to the reader, Ro-
ger and Dick again presented them
solves before their cousin.
we have thought it our duty, cous-
in hogan Dick.
'Onr bounden duty put in Roger.
AS painful as it is Imperative Dick
continued.
TO put you on your guard, ma'am,'
Roger adned.
Against deceitful and designing
person. exclaimed Dick.
who is no better than she should
be = shouted Roger, indignantly.
Upon my word, cousins, / do not
comprehend syllable you have ut
tered said Mrs. Varley; nor shall be
likely to if you both keep talking at
once. Come, Dick, you seem least ex-
cited. What is the meaning of all
this?'
what means, may venture to ask, i
said Dick, did you take to ascertain
the character and antecedents of the
young woman at present sheltered be-
meath your roof?'
why, none,' replied the good lady.
Her young and truthful face was re-
cOInmendatiOn enough on which to
give her trial.
we have ascertaiued her to be a
most abandoned creature proceeded
Dick, 'and have deemed it proper at
once to apprise you of the discovery.
she deny the accusation, we are
prepared with abundant proofs +
Aud the two cousins took their leave,
with an air of exalted virtue.
Mrs. Varley was lady of the strict
est prOpriety and severest morals.
Much as she pitied the poor and friend
less girl, she must be promptly freed
from this foul and dreadful charge, or
cross her threshold never to return.
She went directly to Hester's cham
Der.
You must tell me your past history,
child said Mrs. Varley, in a deter.
mined, but not unkindly, tone.
oh, madam, pray you pardon me;
but cannot, cannot tell itv
Then it has been ooe of shame and
guilt?'
For time, of shame, madem,' an
swered the young girl, with flushed
cheek, but nerer Of guilt
What was il that caused Mrs. Var
ley to start so suddenly, and stagger
hall fainting to seat at Hester's dress
ing-table:
'Who-whose likeless is that?' she
exclaimed, in a scarce articulate voice,
pointing to an open miniature on the
table.
= My Mothers Hester answered.
Then you are Florence Marvin's
child?'
That was, indeed, my mothers
More, you are the daughter of my