Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-01-06


the sitting-room of their generous rela-
tive.
Well, boys, said the old gentleman,
with benevolent smile, why do you
think l have sent for you?
Without knowing, my dear sir. be
assured that it gives US pleasure at all
times to come and see you.
1t was Benjamin Temple, the lawyer,
who said this, with smooth smile, and
an air of affectlonate respect.
My cousin is quite right, chimed in
Thomas Lawrence, afraid that the law.
yer would distance him in the competi-
tion for their relatives favor. MY cous-
in expresses my sentiments exactly.
Thank you, boys, said the old gentle
man, whose superior age led him employ
this youthful mode of address.
Well, not to keep you in suspense any
longer, 1 have got tired of taking care
of my property, and as it would 60 to
you eventually, l might as well let you
have it now.
The two cousins endeavored not to
indicate their excessive delight at this
announcement.
Robert Morton continued: / want to
treat you as nearly alike as possible,
having no reason to prefer one above
the other. l have some ten thousand
dollars in mortgages, which | will trans
fer to you, cousin Temple. Your legal
education will enable you to take good
care of them. The assessors tell me
that this estate is worth about so much
and this l will make over to you, cous-
in Lawrence. l have observed that the
house you at present live in is not alto
gether commodious.
How very kind and generous you are
exclaimed the cousins in concert.
Not at all, l am going to saddle you
with myself in return. If you take the
property you must take care of me. l
propose to live with each of you six
months during the year, and as | shall
need to repair the defects in my ward
robe, will trouble each of you for an
annual allowance of one hundred dollars,
which will suffice for my moderate
wants.
1t is the least we can do for you. said
the lawyer. But why not make the al.
lowance larger?
If | need more, my dear fellow, l
know you will be perfectly willing to
give it. But 1 trust the sum mentioned
will suffice. And, by the way, these
stlpulations | have mentioned 1 de- n0'
-~-- !" --I--~~ .n WRITING. L trust lm-
plicltly to your generosity. l prefer
to make free gift of the property to
you.
The cousins poured out fervent pro-
testations of their gratitude and affec-
tion, and congratulated themselves on
the prospect of their dear cousins socie-
ty for six months in the year.
Mr. Morton-good easy man as he
was-believed them implicitly, and
when they had left the house. the trans
fer having been effected, said to the
lawyer:
There, Burdick, do you not feel
ashamed of your suspicious Confess,
now, how far wrong you are.
Just wait while, was the lawyer'
wary reply, I have seen nothing to dem.
onstrate the futility of my suspicious as
yet. We will, if you please, wait and
see what the future shall develop.
Mr.. Morton grew almost angry with
his friend, for what he styled his absurd
suspicious, but being a good natued
man quickly recovered from his moma-
tary irritation.
1t was arranged that Mr.. Morton was
to alternate between the two houses ev.
cry three months; spending the first
three with Thomas Lawrence, who had
received the estate. At first he was
treated with great consideration, and
regarded as the master of the house
although he had given it up. As week
followed week, the attention diminished
but not sufficiently to be marked.
At the house of the lawyer, Mr. Nor
ton at first met with considerable atten
ton, but in course of time his wishes
came to be less studied. At one time
when some company arrived from New
York, Mr.. Morton was asked to give VI
his room to them, aud take mucl
smaller and more inconvenient one
Mrs. Temple apologized in rather
lame way, when the old gentleman fix
ed his eye steadily upon her, but per
sisted in her requisition.
He yielded without a word. At th
close of his stay with the lawyer, he az
piled for portion of the annual sui
r which his cousin had agreed to furnis
< for his occasional expenses.
1t isn't convenient now said the Law
/ Ter carelessly.
? The sum is only fifty dollars, sal
5 Mr.. Morton, significantly.
v dare say my cousin will oblige yo
r returned the lawyer. At present 1 ha,
just made an investment, and can't we