The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-08-26

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"Yes, sir, Hannah Burns"
/ "Do you remember dates wellf"
/ "No, sir."
/ "You have, perhaps, record o
family events your own birth, yoal
parents marriage, your grandfather
death7"
Hannah Gneldt wondcringly replied
~ have mothers Bible, and they tel
me It's all there"
"How far backi"
'sTo grandfather's birth, believe
Grandfather Burns. He hal ons
child; and | am The only one my
parents ever had. Oliver set down
our wedding day snl our two boys
birthdays.'
..Ans your grrat-grandfslhor-- the
record OF bis death Is thorsr
II don't know; you may SEQ. Wait,
III call Oliver"
Going 70 the door, Hannah took
down q horn, used for that purpose,
and uttered call which brought
Oliver Gneldt home from the field at
once.
lie also felt alarmed, but explana-
tions quieted him. Almost as much
astonished ~ his wife, he brought out
tho old Bible
"The deaf. Il my wifs's great-grand-
father. Zsbulon Barns. is not here"
he said. "The Inst record IL in
his hand, / believe. IL is tho birth
of his eldest child"
So it proved, and the lawyer looked
disappointed.
"You cannot. remember The day Of
bis deathr' be said. "I mean the
date Of H."
"He died long before I was born"
said Hannah, land though rich, left
nothing 10 grandfather They had
luarellej, / believe. He told odd
stories of him. lie must have bsen
eccentric, and servant or housekeeper
had great influence over him; she had
the property. Margery Margery-"
"Aiargery Wilbur, / think" sAid the
lawyer
"Yes," said Hannah. 81 rsnember
now"
"You are quiet people, not likely 10
talk TOO much" said the LAWYER. 81
will soll You something. We have
found q will among lhe Effects Of q
legal gentleman who died very sud.
denly in lit OF apol,l.xy. Don't hope
too much. mind. A will in your
favor--thaE il nov Ia Your favor. A.
your fathers only child.
Hannah clalche.l hrr hHsl,and's
hand,
sIt il written W ono on his death
bed. dated tns 10Th Of March, IT,,
aud leaves all hts property ta yoar
father, his grandSon then boy. Hashi
don't hope too much. MArgery Wilber
or her heirs now hold this property un-
der will dated March Is, H."
"a later will, " said Oliver. "rhen.
Of course they are the rightfnl posses
sora. What need Of all thisi the lat
est must stand"
"Not If IL is a forgery" said the law
yer.
Oliver laughed, the bitter laugh Of
care and disappointment.
"Who can prove that" he sAii.
mo one, perhaps. Ye. the record
Of the oil mans death might"
"a man whose dying hand signed a
win on the 10th Of March would
scarcely make another on the 10Th.
We believe the will q forgery, written
on old parchment since the discovery
Of the one have spoken Of. Mar
gerry Wilbur took possession with legal
forms, for no one appeared 10 test her
title. Where was your great grand
father buried r.
"Here. said Hannah. "Thcy say
he was brought down Al his request
Mrs Wilber as chief mourner, and his
son on--grandfAtker-not even sent for.
An old graveyard somewhere. oh,
Oliver Oliver !"
She turned quite white, and uttered
cry.
SOLVER, that must be the graveyard
on Gray's place that he dug over last
winter in the warm SPELL"
'rrhen IL is gone" said Oliver. "And
our last hopo with it. No, gentlemen
good luck could never come TO us
Poverty means TO cling TO us to the
last. / wish you had better clients"
"0liver | Oliver" gasped Hannah
Gneldt, "teli no one thing. Zebulon
was great grandfather's name. Zsbu
Ion is spelled with Y, isn't it Oh
do speak r.
81 think You are going mad, Han
nah Of course IL il"
"Oh the big z, / remember it st
welll ] knew it was y; and il woult
have been broken to pieces before now
Oliver, don't you remember my door
step that you were 30 angry att | be
lieve it was my poor old great-grand
fathers tombstone. And not to know
it, when / stared at the great Zi'
Oliver Gneldt said nothing. HI
feared bis wife's brain was turning, ant
that made him faint and cold as he fol
lowed her into the garden, and ther
watched while the three others lifted a
the fat slab.
1t lay before them on the green
spring grass, black letters ON the white
ness, and, bending over it, they rea
aloud:
| "Zsbulon Burns. Born May
Died March IA, IT," With ealogii
tic verses, with long t'a underneath, q
in duty bound.
"It's poor great-grandfather," sal
Hannah. Aud the lawyer extende
his hands, grasping those Of Oliver an
, his wife.
!, "The proof is soundl'' he said 9TH
latest will is = forgery, for it is date
the day after the old mans death. Mr.
Gneldt iaheiress to q large property.