The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-02-13
Select Story.
WIDOWS AND WILLS.

Simsn Maitland lay on his death bed. He
had been hard man during his lifetime.
and there were dark rumors concerning the
| manner in which he had acquired his for
| tune but he was rich--oh, so rich people
| put their hands on their mouths and bowed
| down in the dust before him, saving their
| virtuous Indignation for criminals of n low
er grade.
Some mems sins go beforehand to judg-
ment Simons were not of that kind,
| troubling him very little during his lifetime
or even in his dying hour, his thoughts be-
ing more intent on arranging the fortune OF
| his daughter Helen (who stood by the bed
side), for with characteristic tyranny he
wished to rule, even in his grave.
and SO you refuse to marry Robert Gran
ville?'
| 4 have no other choice, answered Helen;
not even to crafty a fathers dying wish
can be so utterly false to myself as to mar
ry a thoroughly deprived man whose only
recommendation is his immense wealth.
Don't preach If you have decided,
that's enough. You know me. | am a man
of my word, In my will I have made you
my heiress Internationally. Marry Gran
vile and you remain so still. Refuse, and
alter it 10 suit my pleasure, though doubt
if it suits yours
Father, if your last request has no weight
with me in the matter, you can scarcely
think | would be influenced by any other
consideration.
Very well you like your own way, and
disposed to pay high price for it, don't
blame you, only don't think 10 dictate to
me, have ruled all my life and will do so
still. Go out of the room, nd send up the
lawyer and the witnesses p
Argument was useless, 50 the people were
sent up, the will duly draw n, witnessed and
signed, the old man died and was buried
and decorous length of time having en-
sued, various friends and relatives of Simon
were assembled at his hollse to hear the read
ing of the will. -..
| Considering the intense interest manifested
by these good people in the old gentleman
even from the very beginning ofhis illness, and
the emotion displayed at his d. ,ath, it wa,
astonishing how cool they were towards hi'
daughter, who sat quite alone and disre
garded.
1t had been whispered that she was dis
inherited, and each and all w ere loud il
their demonstrations of the imE 'ossibility o
receiving her, at the same time manifestinl
small ingenuity Of their neigh bors, which
they were anxious to disclaim fo themselves
| Much breath was thus expend ed quite use
essy, as the reading of the te stament mad,
them aware, for, after few tri fling bequests
simon Maitland left the bnlk of his propert,
to his daughter, placing it, however, in tn
hands of Robert Gre .nville, who was to ac
as her guardian, and who, in the event @
her marrying witho' 1T his written consent
was to receive one nalf of it, while the res
Of 1t went TO ce rtaiu charitable institu
tions. ..
| As Granville h id long sought the hand {
Helen, and was, despite his immense wealt
extremely ayarit ious there was small poss
bility Of obtain ng his consent to marrag
with any other than himself so that Hele
saw herself CO ndemned to a union with
man she detes ted, or to celibacy, to whiC
she objected for various reasons the prime
pal one beip 6 six feet in height, and bros