The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-07-15
VOLUME IX.

Judge.
81 know it because I know the dispo-
sition Of John Hardine r' was the scorn-
fuI reply.
The lock 10 the private drawer was
broken, but no will was to be found.
THANK God - said Lie, devoutly.
"Now we shall have no trouble among
ourselves, for all can be divided equally
among us, share aud share alike"
'Not much it won't! Not il the
court knows himself r exclaimed Judge
Hardpan, pulling out the drawer and
fetching from behind it huge buff en-
velope. "Here's Mrs. Hardness will. "
Silence fell at once upon the awaiting
aud expectant heirs. The news Of the
will, with vague rumors Of its contents,
had been circulating among them for
months.
81 hope poor Lie will get the lions
share this time, for she deserves it,"
said Tirzah, in fearful whisper, as
though speaking to herself.
$50 does the devil deserve il % ejacu-
lated John Hardine.
Judge Hardpan made slow and bung-
ling work Of reading the will, and il was
finally handed over, with apparent re-
luctanee, to Israel Sappington.
Again, as in the reading Of the senior
Hsrdine's will, 1 will pass over the
numerous technicalities and complex
verbOsity Of the legal document, and
content myself with interpreting for the
readers benefit the practical facts.
81 will and bequeath to my daughter,
Sally Hardine Ridgeway, my Jersey
COW Laura
"That cows dead - cried the beuef.
ciary, in surprise.
"If she survives me"
"The COW or the daughter ?" asked
John -Hardine, with d grating laugh.
"The old woman's proved herself crazy
already"
"But, should I survive her, the next
direct issue Of said COW shall be the said
daughters property"
THAT never was her way Of wording
au idea" said Lie, impatiently.
Whatever else my dear mother might
have passed for, nobody who knew her
would believe her an idiot"
"To my son, John Hardine, I be-
queath my spinning-wheel and my
blessing. He will fnd the wheel in the
loft Of the old cabin, in good state Of
preservation"
"a match for Lies loom - said Tir-
zah, laughing, in spite Of herself
John Hardine was livid with rage and
indignation. He trembled violently,
but did not attempt to speak.
Tirzsh's laugh was contagious Every
body caught it but John himself Lie
buried her face in her handkerchief and
reproached herself for the mirth she
could not restrain.
MAY the wheel be Of as much use Ia
John as my daughter Eiiza's loom has
been to her," continued the will, "and
may my son remember that with what
measure be metes it shall be measured
to him again"
"Strange wording for a will" SAID
Judge Hardpan.
81 told you my mother was mad p
cried John Hardine.
"NIo' mefod dan madness dab, sho -
exclaimed Dave, the oracle.
81 will and bequealh to my beloved
daughter Eliza, who took sole care o
me without fee or reward during the
years Of my paralytic helplessness, and
who, Of all my children, is the only one
who never spoke to me unkindly, my
homestead or Donation Land Claim oi
three hundred and twenty acres"
"WhelC yi' cried John Hardine.
"It is also my will that my daughter
Eliza should reside upon aud cultivate
the same, using at ali times her own
discretion in. its management. But,
should she not wish to reside upon the
land, then wish her to place a member
Of the Hardine family-no matter how
many generations removed, but always
a relative Through her mothers branch
AS a tenant upon the same; such 6
person as will keep the place in gooC
order, as a memento of the pioneel
whose home il has been since the day
when Oregon was a primeval wilder
ness"
didn't tell-you the old woman wa
crazy ?" cried John. "wby, she wa
crazier than a moon-struck bed-bug
, Whoever heard Of such a will ?"
Mother Hardine was eccentric an,
Z peculiar, but she wasn't daft quietl,
remarked Joe Ridgeway.
mo more daft in her will than II
anything else" responded Tirzah Har
dine. "Mother always was peculiar
but don't know Of anybody who had
} better right to be. Il was always
hobby Of hers to keep her home in be
} family, and thus perpetuate her name.
"rm sure 'Liza's welcome to th
5 homestead If she wants it," said Sail
Ridgeway. "The rest OF have more Ian
} than We can cultivate, the Lord know.
$ and Liza hasn't any. For my part,
consider these provisions OF mothers a
? being wise 10 the extreme. Peter Tubb
can never oust Liza from this home, fo
{ the conditions Of the will will proteC
' in her her rights.n
e "D-n the will % said John Hardint
D "You interrupt the reader" midi
; expostulated Judge Hsrdpan.
{ 81 further bequeath TO the said Eliz