Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-10-02

/ lily upon his mind that II at last gave
way beneath the strain, and he died a
raving maniac, leaving his wife and
child in abject poverty. His wife's grief
at his loss was intense, and two years
later the grave closed over her.
was at that time in very cramped
circumstances, and unable to do any
thing for my orphan niece, who was tax
en- and caped for by a widowed sister Of
her mother, who was reputed to be quite
wealthy. No mother could have been
kinder to the poor orphan girl than this
truly good but somewhat eccentric wO-
man. Nho was often heard to say that
she intended that Maud should inherit
her means at her death. After my faith
er died, we were obliged to sell the
homestead. The purchaser was one Har-
vey Highly. the only brother of Maud's
benefactress. He offered his sister and
her charge home with them. Accept
ing his offer, they came to live in this
/ house
About eight years ago Maud's adopt
ed mother was thrown out of aecarriage
and killed. A search was made for her
will, but it could not be found, and tho
! she often remarked that Maud should
be her heiress, her fortune came into
possession of her brother Harvey, from
whom purchased back the place.
Maud was at that time member of
Higby's household, but knowing her to
be far from happy-for he was a cold,
hard man, who seemed to look upon his
niece IN the light of an intruder Of
fered her home with me. Ny offer
was cheerfully accepted.
Now comes the most singular part of
my story. | was some time ago rum
maging in the attic, when l came across
box of rubbish, which had no doubt
been left by the Higbys. l was looking
over its contents, when found this pa
per-" and taking a stained and crumpled
piece of paper from the drawer of his
desk, he placed it in my hand. l un-
folded it and read:
The will is nowhere to be found. Have
hunted everywhere to-day. She could
not have destroyed it, for Hannah, Mr..
Thornby and myself witnessed it only
the day before her death.
Dec. 22d, 18- Thomas WALLING.
at is evidently the page from dia-
ry," l remarked.
"Yes, !" replied my friend, 'tand con-
v;---zs4nA 49, -I---a will made
a will making Maud the heiress.''
"And the witnesses ?" l asked.
"They are all dead, +" answered George.
nicholas Thornby died about a year
since, but he told me himself that he
placed his name as a witness to the doc
ument, about eight years ago. in the
very room where you slept last night.
The scene l had witnessed the night
before arose to my MUD. | sprang tc
my feet and rushed from the room, leav.
ing George staring at me in amazement
When returned, three minutes later
it was with diseolOred paper in ny
; hand, which upon examination proved
to be the lost will, which l found be
J meath the bricks of the hearth in tn
room had occupied.
l told George everything have al
, ready related to the reader, and to sa,
that be was amazed but poorly expresse
, the state Of his mind.
, Harvey Highly was waited upon tn
t next day, and, after offering many oh
! jectiOns, he finally consented to pay owe
E to George, as Maud's guardian, the en-
tire sum to which she was, under th
E will, entitled. rather than to incur tn
expense of a lawsuit brought by hi
7 niece to recover her own.
e Maud is still unmarried, but as ! al
!. becoming tired of bachelor life | hav
e had several serious talks with her late
: ", and she agrees with me that the bes
e thing we can do to complete the happi
: ness of both is to become man and wife
J, so we have decided that the weddin
e shall take place next month. But ther
5 is one thing which puzzles me greatly
7. Did / dream that night at George
l. house. or actually see the spirits Of Il
dead 4?
ie Books AND NEwsPAPERs.-Books an
newspapers are not made for furnitur
J. but there is nothing else that 50 beaut
/" fully furnishes house. The plaine
'e row Of books Is more significant Of :