Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-03-21
Stlrttea Storp.
THE SHELMIRE WILL,
H0t0 "a Deep Plot Was Foiied.

- suO O0tcoldleu Sneimlre
viii case. TIE principal credit OF this
success was not due TO me however. but
70 Young man almost boy, who was
al The time clerk in my Office. lie was
ADMITTED to the bar soon after, and has
no" 20, aonrishing practice. His
name Is William Wsyman.
Jscob Shelmire whose will was in
controversy, was an old man of eighty
and upwards, who had lived many Years
IN the CITY doing small mercantile
business. He was thrifty economical
Old fellow, and the value OF his property
al the time OF his death aad grown 10
about &Z5,OOO. The old mau had lived
IN humble WAY, known only to the few
with whom he did business. . harmless,
unimPor,ant old body with uo,hing
noticeable about bin except his thrift,
and therefore bis death WAS an event
which, in n city Ike this Sas no. calcu
lated "a attrsc, much attention. had
known Ny- Sbelmire merely as q passing
acquaintance, tor some Years; bat inst
became aware OF his death upon the visit
OF youcg lads dressed N mourning TO
my CtfiCc o. consul; me about the estate.
She was 3 pretty, thoughtful looking
clrl OF twenty oU ihercab0uis, bu, an
entire stranger TO me. She U.entioned
Ter business, ,snd as was much engaged
=, tic moment with o,her clients. | aske d
her 10 be seated Tor hall al hour. and
tod WayIuan 20 ljnd her = chair. During
nv conversation with the men with
whom | was occupied. l looked coca.
sionsliy into the mex, room. the door
being open. and saw Ihst nv clerk had
for once broken through his habilual
reserve, and u as standing by the young
giTl. taking 10 low tone with her. But
then did not kaow that viii had an
acquaintance with her OF some weeks
standing, and thA, lhe presen, call was
made pursuant 10 his advice.
A. las; The office was cleared Of all but
US three and approached the lwo young
people.
Now. Mr.. Wayman." said you
have been talking 10 this young lady.
and have probably ascerlained her BUSH
ness aud as time IS likely 10 be valuable
TO Us to day. perhaps you can tell me
wha. she wishes great deal quicker
than he can"
shouldn't have veniured 10 say as
much before an elderly lady. who might
have lelt called upon TO resent my words
as an imputation upon her garru.ity;
but could not see that there was the
slightest danger oil that there.
The youog lady smiled. giving me to
understand she understood my meaning
aud viii explained tha. she was The
grand daughter Of the late Mr. Shelmire
aud bis only relative as lar as she knew,
aud therefore entitled 10 his estate; and
she desired 10 take such legal steps 10
secure il.
This, as / have said, Was my first
intimation that be had any family. \
few moments talk with the girl put ME
70 ish:s abou, the fact. Her name was
Virginia Garyin; her mother had been
Mr.. Shelmi,e's only daughter. The old
mans wife had died years before. and
the daughter. Vlrginia's mother. also
died ia = distant town, q widow, when
Virgiuia was but eight years old. Lett
I 10 poverty, without relatives, and almost
without friend she resolved 10 seek her
grandfather. whom she had never seen,
but OF whom she had often heard her
mother speak. sac found him and he
welcomed her warmly 10 his home. Viz
giuia knew that he bad purchased several
adjacent houses very cheapiy, aud they
bad Increased in valne. and she supposed
be had deposited in the bank 10 bis own
name. several thousand pounds. 10
sholt. tue total value ot the estate real
and personal. as l afterwards discovered
was rather above than below t25 600.
Virginia stated that she did not know
Of another iiviog relative OF the deceased
bssiIes herself. and believed there was
uo.e. Size said her grandfather had
often told her tha, she should have all
tha, be had when be died, and that he
had given her the same assurance when
he wGs il bis last sickness
Bot there was a viii ?"
"Sbe said. in answer 10 this question,
,ba, lie had never said q word On this
subiect, aud she was suIe he would have
mentioned il had be made one, as be had
no secrets from her. bade her 90 nome
and make a careful search for such an
instrument. and return to me when she
had done so.
She was back the same afternoon. Sue
had searched the house thoroughly. and
particul larly toe little desk where her
grandfather kept his papers, aid she
brought me all she could find in his
handwriting. There was nothing more
than q hook OF accounts, three bills oi
goods sold, and some unimportant men,
orsuds about his business hastily
serawled upon slips OF paper OF uneven
sizes. la looking these things over
observed that the handwriting OF the