The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-10-28
DISPOSSESSING A WIDOW.

DISPOSSESSING A WIDOW.
II have mind to put up a job on your
client, Truesdell,'' said Charlie Monier
to his law partner, Sam Norton.
II have observed that you were bccom-
ing demoralized lately, but did not sup
pose you would be ready to sell out a
CLIENT replied Norton. "Let US know,
however, what the job is, and if it has an
innocent look perhaps I will go in for
chances and shares"
Allen Truesdell, against whom this
plot was forming, had been in the hands
OF those lawyers only a few weeks. He
had lately come from another part of the
State, land had been buying through
them, valuable paper-mill property, 10
| Gated on the river few miles below the
city. Monier s. Norton had been his at
torneys in the transaction, and had real
lied handsome professional fee. In
connection with that business there had
also been some collateral transactions
through which an overdue mortgage of
eleven thousand dollars had come into
the hands Of their client The property
held by the mortgage was handsome
homestead, belong ing to a widow lady,
Mrs. Trowbridge, young-or at least not
| very old-not more than thirty-two-and
a beautiful woman.
Mr.. Truesdell had not yet seen the
property or its owner. The mortgage
had been taken on the assurance of his
attorneys that the security was ample.
The lady's deceased husband, Charles
Trowbridge, had died suddenly three
years before, and left considerable real
estate in a badly entangled condition.
He had been bold, ambitious operator,
and not very prudent; made new pur-
chases continually with money raised by
mortgaging anything on which a mort.
gage could be placed, until even his fam
! lily residence, the property of his wife,
had, by her consent, reluctantly obtained,
became involved 70 the extent of more
than half its real value.
] Mrs. Trowbrldge had one child living,
her little boy. Ruby, now six years old,
and for his sake she had been doing he1
utmost to save what she could Of the
property her husband LETT and she had
managed so successfully thus tar that
when sale was inevitable she had been
able to effect it herself, and not leave
that ceremony to be performed by the
sheriff.
The reader has probably suspected by
this time that the job those lawyers were
preparing to put up on their client was
not likely to be very serious or damag-
ing. They had learned from incidental
remarks Of his that he had been widow
er for several years, and had small
family consisting Of two little daughters
and his youngest sister, also q maiden
aunt Of his deceased wife, who was man
aging his family affairs, but not in very
satisfactory way. E-...
"The Trowbridge property" said Mr.
Monier to his partner, "will just suit our
client for a residence, and the right and
easy way for him to get it, will be to
bid it in under foreclosure sale, and then
dispossess the widow"
"a charming idea," said Norton, "bu.
of course he must see the property in
the first place, and determine how much
he will be willing to give for it,"
Il
"Mrs. Trowbridge, believer"
A graceful bow was the lady's answer
and the visitor added: "Mr. Truesdell."
II am pleased to see you, Mr.. Trues
5ell," said the widow, as with a motion
Of her hand, she invited HIM to resume
, the seat from which he had risen On her
entering.
"I have called, madame. to look al
this property, which as I understand il
for sale,'' said the gentleman
eyes sir, will show you the property
with much pleasure. But I must first
ask you to excuse me for few moments.
My little 10y will entertain you until
RETURN" and Ruby came forward witt
ready confidence, and signifed his will
ingness to make himself agreeable.
| II hope you will bny our place, SIR
| be ssid, as they were alone. ''If my dear
papa had lived, we would have kept it
but now mamma says we cannot
Glow long has your papa been dead,
said Mr. Truesdell.
1 ..'Three years, SIT. Did you ever see
my father?''
mo, dear child. I have been living
more than hundred miles from here, anC
have made no acquaintances in this vicin
ity until lately" the visitor answered
smiling.
/ Mamma has told ne Of some cousins
Of papa's that I have never seen, and sc
when I first looked at you thought you
might be one Of them, because it seems
to me that you look like my papa. He
had side whiskers just like you have, and
his hair was the same color, and he was
about as large as you. Here is his pic.
ture," and be pointed to fine oil paint
ing on the opposite wall.
Mr.. Trusdell was standing before the
picture studying it with much interest,
when Mrs. Trowbridge returned and an
nounced that he might now see the house
and grounds. An hour or more was spent
in this way, afording an opportunity fol
such casual and incidental remarks as
the occasion called for. Ruby was one
of the party, of course.
] aIs this little boy your only child, mad.
am?' asked Mr.. Truesdell.
j s'The only one living. have lost two
dear little girls, one younger than Ruby,
i and the other two years older"
/ 81 have two little girls" said Mr.. Tru.
esdell, ssand had one boy, who, if living
| would be about the age of yours. He
died three years ago, soon after the death
4 Of his mother