The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-02-19

my mind is made up, mother" said
young DR.. Delaney, 80 let us enjoy
our breakfast and not spoil our digcs-
tions by thinking of the old curmudgeon
who could not even let his eccentricitS
die with him, but must dispose of his
fortune in this idiotic manner"
But, my dear Arthur" demonstrated
Mrs. Delaney, lone hundred thousand
dollars is too large sum to refuse with
out much consideration.
Il know that, mother mine, but still
refuse it, or rather refuse to accept it
with the condition attached to it. Ipre-
fer to choose my own wife"
" Is there no alternativeP"
None"
"What are the exact words of the
letter."
"These," answered Arthur, taking
up a ponderous letter which had been
lying on the table, and reading from it,
my dear sir-Now that the estate OF
the late Tobias Queerby is settled, it be-
comes my duty to inform you that he
had imposed a condition upon his be-
quest to you. He beqdeaths to you
property to the value of one hundred
thousand dollars, on condition that you
marry Miss Fidelia Fairfax within two
years e after his death. The same
amount has been bequeathed to Miss
Fairfax, and l have this day notified
her that the same condition is attached
to her share of the estate. This condi-
tion 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 y on and her, as you are upright
h Ii 10 b l.
earned wealth unless you do as he de-
sired. | 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 lett you in case you
do not yield to the conditions imposed,
and in case you decide to act as man of
honor. Lam, sir, yours, ETC., Greenfield
Kent, attorney for the estate of Tobias
Queerby."
"There!" cried Arthur. sis not that
terrible condition to imposep OF
course / am a man of honor and ! must
yes, must give up this fortune"
But one hundred thousand dollars,
Arthur, is"
g Is one hundred thousand dollars,
know. But marriage to one l do not
care for would be misery for a 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 Won well
provided for, mother, and | will soon
get q practice, and so | snap nv fingers
at the old fellows matrimonial schemes
and will make happy a 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"
"She may be a very nice young lady
Arthur" mildly suggested Mrs. Delan
cey. "When your father was alive h,
often spoke of the pretty girl Mr.. Fair
fax married, and daughters general,
resemble their mothers, you know"
Undoubtedly she is a nice yoan!
lady, mother. as society ladies are.
dare say she can rattle off the first con
jugation in French, recite Tennyson b,
the hour, lead german, tell just whicl
corner of her card to turn down for
call ofcondoience or a party call, raw
about majolica and the art decorative
give the points of pug, yawn interest
ingly behind fan, extol the opera
write mawkish poems, each one with al
Envoi and, in short, be credit TO he
family and the seminary where she wa
graduated. j can see her now," con
iinue Arthur, shaking his yellow curl
and laughing. "She considers me a