Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-07-17
MIscElLAHE GUS.
MISS BARCLAYS WILL.

"5s HERE was a will leaving you this house
aud twenty thousand dollars, said Nee
kun, looking Gown Ut the sad face of Miss
Magdeiine Barclay. who stood before him.
II drew it up myself. The remainder of
the properly was TO 90 to Your cousin but
il the will can not be found, he will inherit
all under the previous one drawn up before
you were born. Dear-dear this comes of
people keeping valuable papers in their own
possession. Now. il your aunt had given me
the will, it would have been forthcoming to-
day. Do you think she could have destroyed
it p
Il am sure she did not She hid it. She
told me so, some days ago, and when the last
spasuis came on tried to tell me where it was.
But we have searched the house, Hannah
and myself, and it cannot be found"
''H m! What kind OF man is your
cousin, MIR. Stephen Barclay p
II never saw him. He has lived in New
York all his life, believe. [ don't think
he ever came to see Aunt Mary. C, rtainly he
has not been here since she gave me n home,
SIX years ago"
ell. he will come to the funeral. for he
teegraphed TO that effect. He will have
about fifty thousand dollars under the new
will. and perhaps II III" for the old lawyer
suddenly concluded tha. it might no. be wise
to raise false hopes. While lie was speak>
ing, the door bell rang, and there entered a
gentleman Of about fifty, tall, Iauk and grim,
with face as genial Us cast iron.
"My name is Barclay" he said II pre-
Burclay's lawyer p
Mr.. Meekum bowed, and the stranger,
turning to Mardeliue, fairly snarled:
Aud you are the cocks daughter ?"
Sir :" cried the girl, Indignantly.
oh. you need not ut on any airs to me
Your father married his cook. and she made
ducks aud brakes of tidy fortune for him,
and then died. lie died. too. which was
the best thing he cou'd do. and his sister.
who very properly refused 10 associate with
the cook, rock you up, out of charity.
presume she has left you some money!"
But Magdeline was too indignant to an
swer. and Mr.. Meckum explained the state
of affairs, more than hinting that it would be
a praiseworthy act for the heir to carry out
his aunts intentions.
THAT would be a joke ~ said Mr.. Bar
clay. savngely. 81 present the girl with
fortune She is nothing but psuper! Let
her cook as her mother did. and perhaps
size can meeu another such fool as her faith
err"
With her eyes blnzing and her cheeks
like twin roses. MaydelIne marched ont of
the room, every drop OF her blood boiling
at the in-uIrs offered to her parents. She
crossed the hall to the kitchen, where Ilan-
nah was cnuking dinner, and weeping. with
regular alienation in the employments.
Hannah, Mr. Barclay has come" said
MapdeIine, shortly; put on an extra plate"
Then she went to her own room aud had
good cry.
She was only eighteen, and she had loved
her aunt dearly. She was engaged to be
married to q youug clerk in large whole
sale house, and she had Intended to use
part of her legacy to buy him partnership.
while her home was 10 be the house her aunt
had willed her.
Now-now that hateful cousin would take
all, and she must work and wait till Franks
salary could support two. which it certainly
could not do vet She wondered. when her
angry tears had subsided into firfnl ones, what
work could she do. Her aunt had kept her busy
reading to her, PLAYING the piano for her,
writing her letters, and had allowed her to
attend the village seminary. But she had
studied girl>fashiou, without any /: dghf of
making her education bread winner. She
could sew pretty we'll, and could keep house
"But don't know how to cook, even If |
would" she thought. with her anger rising
again. Aunt Mary did not intend should
live BY mental. 1 wonder if my mother was
cook. Nobody ever told me SO before
Oh. We must find the will ~
But in vain she racked her brains TO think
Of one nook or corner which she had left nm
explored. Her aunt had expressly told her
that the will was concealed, though the mo-
tive for her secrecy was never revealed. but
where in the small house could it be hid
den?
Hannah had searched faithfully, for she
was remembered also. and five hundred dol
lars was well worth a liffle trouble. But
the will could not be found.
The next day the inner"l brnneht friends
from far and near, for Miss Barclay had
heen greatly beloved and Magdeline was of.
fered more than one home. until she decided
wha, tn do. The story of the lost will was
pretty widely spread. and Mr.. Barclay knew
that he was expected to do something for
his consin.
But he was hsrd man. one who had
made money an object of positive Worship.
and be had no intention Of parting with one