The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-07-02

''My mind is made up, mother" said
young DIR. Delaney, $50 let us enjoy
our breakfast and not spoil our digestion
by thinking of the old curmudgeon who
could not even let his eccentricity die
with him, but mustdispose of his fortune
In this idiotic manner"
''But, my dear Arthur" demonstrated
Mrs. Delaney, zone hundred thousand
dollars is too large sum to refuse with
out much consideration
81 know that, mother mine, but still 7
refuse it, or rather refuse to accept it
with the conditions attached to it. I
prefer to choose my own wife,"
els there no alternatives"
|'None."
'What are the exact words of the let
ter?"
''These," answered Arthur, taking up
ponderous letter which had been living
on the table, and reading from it:
"There," cried Arthur, sis not that
terrible condition to impose? Of course
am man of honor and L must-yes.
must give up this fortune"
''MY DEAR SIR:-Now that the estate of the
late Tobias Queerby is settled, it becomes nv
duty to inform you that he had imposed a con-
to you property to the value Of one hundred
thousand dollars, on condition that YOU marry
Miss Fideia Fairfax within two years after his
death. The same amount is bequeathed to Miss
Fairfax, and have this day notified her that
the same condition is attached to her share of
the estate. This condition was not mentioned
IN the will, as it would not have been recognized
as valid by the courts You need not obey his
request unless you wish. and your legacy will
remain unaffected, but he charges you and her,
as you are upright and honorable not to enjoy
his hard-earned wealth unless You do as he de-
slres. L enclose copy Of the letter to me ask
ing me to acquaint you with his desires, by
which you will see to what charitable societies
he wished you to give the money he left YOU in
case you do not yield to the conditions imposed,
and i'll case you decide TO act as man of honor
am, sir. yours, etc,
GREENFIELD KENT
Atty for the estate of Tobias Queerby."
80 But one hundred thousand dollars.
Arthur, is"
g Is one hundred thousand dollars. I
know. But marriage to one | do not
care for would be misery for life time.
Therefore, as / said before, my mind is
made up. What Did he think simply
because he was the friend in youth of
father and this Mr., Fairfax, he can force
their children, who have never seen each
other, to marry whether they love or
hate? No. Father has left you well
provided for, mother, and I will soon
get practice, and so / snap my fingers
at the old fellows matrimonial schemes
and will make happy half dozen orphan
asylums, to say nothing of Miss Fairfax,
who, though she has never seen me,
must detest me as she reads her letter
this morning"
80 She may be n very nice young lady,
Arthur" mildly suggested Mrs. Delan-
cey. "When your father was alive he
often spoke of the pretty girl Mr.. Fair
fax married, and daughters generally re-
semble their mothers, you know"
Undoubtedly she is a nice young
lady, mother, as society ladies are. 1
dare say she can rattle off the first con-
the yard, lead German, tell just which
corner of her card to turn down for
call of coincidence, or party call, rave
about majolica and the art decorative,
give the points of pun, yawn interest
ingly behind a fan, extol the opera,
write mawkish poems, each one with an
Envoi and, in short, be credit to her
family and the seminary where she was
graduated. L can see her now" contin-
med Arthur, shaking his yellow curls and
laughing "She considers me as her
property, but hates me because she feels
sure of me. YES she says to her con-
1idante (chums no longer exist, they
have been massaered by confdantes and
bad French), L suppose I'll have to
marry him, the practical wretch. >"
Now, Arthur, you are not just;
neither are you kind to speak so of girl
you do not know, and have never seen, +"
said Mrs. Delaney.
"By jove, mother" cried Arthur,
bringing his open hand down on the
table with force sufficient to make the
china and his mother Jump stimuli
'taneously, 81 have an idea"
"What is it, my SOM" asked the
lady.
CT see by this letter." explained the
young physician, that Miss Fairfax
lives in Metroville. Now, train leaves