Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-01-08
MISS sHIPPEN's FORTUNE,

Said Mr., Shippen, rising in his bed a
little.
Mrs. Petting ~
Yes, sir. Is there anything could
do for you sir ?"
" Yes, Mrs. Petting, send for my
niece"
" Yes, sir; right away, sir ?"
No. After I'm dead, for the funeral
and the reading of the will"
La, sir; dear me, sir! What a turn
you gave, Mr.. Shippen. Surely, hope
that"
"Now, don't be nonsensical, Mrs. Pet
ting, if you please" said Mr.. Shippen.
You know Pm going to die, and you
knew that when you came here to nurse
me. DR.. Protert told me what was be.
fore me point blank, and understood me
well enough to know it wouldn't frighten
me. I've made my will, set things to
rights, and am ready to go when my time
comes. What l tell you to do is to send
for Anna Maria Shippen, as soon as the
something. Here, get card. Write the
name-Anna Maria Shippen-, No. -,
Green street, Hopkinsvile,- and don't
forget to tell her I've left her something" ;"
No, sir, | WON'T" said Mrs, Petting,
putting her handkerchief to her eyes.
Then she wrote the address of Anna
Maria on card, put it in her pocket, and
very soon found an opportunity to COM
municate the news to the landlady.
" Mr.. Shippcn has made Miss Shippen
hio heress," she said, stirring the broth
for the invalid, in n little stew-pan, while
the landlady looked on. "Mss Anna
Maria-he gave me her address awhile
ago, and told me to send for her rs soon
as the breath was out Of his body. De
you know her Mrs. Smith ?"s
:" know her ?" said Mrs Smith, :"
should think did, of all perked-up, con-
ceited creatures. And thought he hat
ed her, but there now, you can't ever
tell, and / suppose, anyhow, as he don't
want too see her before he dies, it's all
for relationship, not love. You see II
man likes to leave money in his own fam
lily. How much did he say Mrs. Pet
ting ?'
He didn't mention tie sum-" said
Mrs. Pettng." He's worth considerable,
| suppose ?"
Oh, yes," said Mrs. Smith, "at least
two hundred thousand. Poor ms he dress
ed, and going about with that big blue
cotton umbrella, with string round it,
and brass knob on the end like pair
of tongs-ony you never see pair OF
tongs nowadays, do you And that
white hat OF his, you know, with long
hair on it, and altogether like poor per-
son, ma'am. Indeed, many poor per-
son looks forty times rs fine For all
that, ma am, two hundred thousand amt
by no means all he's worth. Dear me, |
wonder he never thought Of marrying"
and Mrs. Smith looked at her round,
pink face in the glass and settled her
widows cap. A wife of II suitable age
would have quite made different man of
him and if he'd been taken off, as he
seems to be going to be, she'd have had
all that's going to this Anna Maria, there
is no doubt. We'll, some people have
luck, don't they Mrs. Petting ?"
- Yes" said the nurse, with sigh,
but, whatever you do, thank your stars
you haven't been obliged to go out nurs-
ing"
Then she poured the broth into bowl
and carried it up stairs. 1t was the last
the poor invalid ever swallowed, lie
had always been an eccentric man, and
about sunset he turned his face to the
wall, said aloud in a strong voice
Well, here goes. Good luck to you,
Sam Shippen, and comfortable jour
ney," and gave long sigh. Mrs. Pet
ting ran to the bedside at once. He was
dead.
Before morning note was in the post
office, addressed to Miss Shippcn, inform
ing her of her uncle's death, of his state
ment that he had left her something, and
his wish that she should be present at the
reading of the will, as well as ut the fun =
eral.
The answer was telegram, bearing
these words Expect me at once"
We must get the best room ready for
her, said Mrs. Smith, " heIresses amt TO
be sighted, and / tell you, Mrs. Petting,
that it would be good idea for you to
get in her good graces. An heiress is
likely TO marry, you know, and in a
large family there's deal Of nursing to
do. | drop the hint because you have
your own living 70 make and good con
nection is everything"
Indeed, it is," said Mrs. Petting.
The deceased man meanwhile lay at
rest in the supper room, white and still,
with his hands crossed over his breast,
and pleasanter smile than people who
had known him Of late had ever seen
him wear upon his quiet face. Once,
doubtless, he had been handsome and
happy-a very different parsonage from
the queer old bachelor, in his odd attire
of whom people were now talking. Yet
he had been generous 10 the poor, and
liberal to any one who worked for him,
and all his virtues had become prominent
now that he was dead.
' / suppose he was attached to that old
white hat and that blue umbrella" said
one. "I'm sure it wasn't meanness that
made him wear them"
And really" said the paper man on
the corner. / miss 'em going by, do,
though used TO laugh at them at first"
&" Il think it's dignified for old folks not
TO change with the fashions" said Mrs.