The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-06-03

fore I'd begin 10 talk about the Will il
her presence, If was half starved.
see no reason why father should have
made a will. II mother had died, il
wouldn't have been necessary. Aud
think it is nothing more than our duty
to put a will aside, If there is one, till
after mother has no longer use for the
property that would have been father:
without a will until his death, II she
had died before her husband"
That's all a woman knows about
business % exclaimed John Hardine
"What do you say, mother2 Have you
any objection to the will being read
here and now?"
"What did you say ?" the mother
asked in reply, as though the question
had failed to address itself 20 her senses.
81 want TO know II you've any objee-
tion to our opening and reading fathers
will to-day ?"
"Whose l0hat3 WIU, did you say?"
Evidently her mind was wandering.
Fathers will. The mOuarch's will"
She understood him now. John had
never called his father by any other
name than "the monarch" since he had
grown too big 70 be fiogged for it.
"Do as you please. It's nothing to
me-"
"But say it is, mother. It's every
thing to you" said Lie. "You ought
to control the property that father left
at his death on precisely the same terms
that would have legally been fathers
right If you had died. For my part, I
protest against this will business"
"It won't make any difference il you
do protest, mom," said Sam Hardpan.
who had for long time carried the title
of "Judge," an appellation which he
was exceedingly anxious to perpetuate.
The reader must not think that there
has been no outcome in Judge Hardpan
during the intervening years since he
last beheld him. He is not only poll
tician but a lawyer now; and, though
his grammar is faulty, his logic murky
aud his apprehension obtuse; though
be smokes and chews and drinks whisky
and "damns IL" like a guerrilla, yet he
occupies a leading position among his
constituents, who would not hesitate 10
vote for Dagon or Centaur il they were
nominated by their party" so be has
fair prospects for a continuation in high
place and almost absolute power, at
least till / shall have done with him in
connection with the important facts
hereinafter to be dealt with in relation
to the principal characters herein con-
cerned. He is called a good judge OF
law, is Judge Hardpani but, upon my
word, / differ with meh who say so.
For it seems to me so potent as 10 need
no further declaration, that he is merely
a good judge Of a hand bargain and
cheap whisky.
"Aud Why won't it make any differ
euce if I protest, Judge Hardpan ?"
asked Lie, imperiously. Then she
turned with a flial kindness that was
beautiful to behold and silently caressed
her dazed aud staring mother.
Because, you see, you're only a
woman, and women amt s'posed to
know anything pertlckler about law"
Lie looked at the learned Judge with
a eontemptuouss sneer. How she loathed
the man, she could not imagine words to
express, and she wisely held her peace.
The will was then produced from the
cavernOus depths Of one Of the Judges
coat pockets, aud opened with exceed
ing pomposiiy.
Passing over the inierminable verbi-
age with which legal documents are
usually so densely smothered as to rem
der their meaning sufficiently absiruse
to make the employment Of several at
torneys necessary 10 discover their real
import, I will content myself and graf
ify the reader by interpreting the YER
bose platitudes Of the great expounder
Of common law, in whose hand writing
it was, and whose orthography, if ia
nothing else, had the merit Of being
original.
81 will and bequeath TO my eldest
son, John Hardine, my individual do
nation claim, comprising three hundred
and twenty acres, more OF less.
II further bequeath to the said John
Hardlne all the notes, bank stock
transportation Interests, aud other prop
erty not including horses, sheep, swim,
and cattle Of which I may die possessed
81 bequeath to my daughter Sally
wife Of Joseph Rldgeway, five cows, t,
be selected for her by John Hardine
and not to exceed in value two hundred
dollars.
II bequesth to my daughter, Eliz
rubbs, my weaveT's loom, with all th,
necessary fixtures thereunto belonging
At this juncture Judge Hardpal
paused and asked for a drink Of water.
'Lize buried her face in her hands an,
-tified back the hot tears that woul,
force themselves 10 her eyes. She ha,
thought that she bad not Iotted upol
her fathers estate, or any portion Of il
as she had well known his coutempt @
Peter Tubbs after q few Of his specula
tions had ended in disaster; but sh
suddenly remembered that she la,
hoped TO secure a few cows, or fey
hundred dollars, either Of which in tn
form Of bequest just now, would be /.
Ter of Invaluable assistance in her ardu
GUS struggle for daily bread.