Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-04-28
100000,
And the Three Marriages Caused Thereby,

ssMy mind is made up, mother, " said
young DR.. Delaney, $50 let us enjoy
our breakfast and not spoil our dlges-
tions by thinking of the old curmudgeon
who could not even let his eccentricity
die with him, but must dispose Of his
fortune in this idiotic manner
s'But, my dear Arthur, demonstrated
Mrs Delaney, Zone hundred thousand
dollars is too large a sum TO refuse wish
out much consideration. .
"I know that, mother mine, but still
I refuse it, or rather refuse to accept it
with the condition attached to it. I pre-
fer to choose my own wife. .
6 Is there no alternative %
"None"
s'What are the exact words of the let
ter %
"These," answered Arthur, taking
up ponderous letter which had been
lying on the table, and reading from it:
s'NIY DEAR SIR:-Now that the estate of the
Late Tobias Queerby Is settled, 1t becomes my
duty to inform you that he had imposed a con-
d1tion upon his bequest to you. He bequeaths
to you property to the value of one hundred
thousand dollars, on condition that you marry
Miss Fidelia Fairfax within two years after his
to Miss Fairfax, and I have this day notified
her that the same condition is attached to her
share of the estate. This condition 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 desired enclose a copy
of the letter to me asking 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 III case you do not yield to
the conditions imposed, and in case you decide
to act as man of honor. | am sir, yours, ETC.,
GREENFIELD KENT,
Attorney for the estate of Tobias Queerby.
"There, cried Arthur, is not that
a terrible condition to impose? Of course
L am a man OF honor and [ must-yes,
must give up this fortune"
"But one hundred thousand dollars,
Arthus, is"
els one hundred thousand dollars, I
know. But marriage to one I do not
care for would be misery for life time
Therefore, as I 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 [ will soon get
practice, and so [ snap my fingers at
the old fellows matrimonial schemes and
will make happy a half dozen orphan
asyluns, to say nothing of Miss Fairfax,
who, though she hasn never seen me, must
detest me as she reads her letter this
morning"
tShe may be 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
resemble their mothers, you know"
Undoubtedly she is a nice young
lady, mother, as society ladies are. [
dare say she can rattle off the first con-
jugataon in French, recite Tennyson by
the hour, lead a German, tell just which
corner of her card to turn down for
call of coincidence, Or party call, rave
about majohca 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. [ can see her now," con-
tinued 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
confdante (chums no longer exist, they
have been massacred by oonfdantes and
bad French), 3 I suppose I'll have to
marry him, the practical wretch. ,"
Now, Arthur, you are not just;
neither are Won kind to speak So of a erir1
you do not know, and have never seen, %
said Mrs. Delaney.
sBy jove, mother!' cried Arthur,
bringing his open hand down on the table
with force sufficient to make the china
and his mother jump simultaneously, 81
have an idea"
"What Is it, my SOC % asked the lady.
81 see by this letter." explained the
young physiciap, "that Miss Fairfax
lives IN Metroville. New, a train leaves
here at eleven and reaches there at two.
Jack Merton, my college chum, lives IN
MetrovilIe. and I'll go there, see him,
and try to see Miss Fidelia Fairfax with
out being seen by her. If 1 like her
hooks III introduce myself, if not I'll
come home, bid farewell to the fortune
and settle down to bachelordom and
physic."
@You forgot that your cousin Uriah
comes to-day and may be offended if you
are not here, urged the widow.
Mother" returned Arthur, mock
earnestly, "if anything could drive me
away from this comfortable home with
more speed than my curiosity to see
Miss Fairfax it would be the knowledge