The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-06-15

and am the only one my parents ever
had. Oliver set down our wedding day
and our two boys birthdays"
"And our OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
record of his death is there?"
81 don't know; you nay see. Wait,
I'll call my husband"
Going to the door, Hannah took down
horn, used for that purpose, and
uttered call, which brought Oliver
Gneldt home from the field at once.
He also felt alarmed, but explanations
uuieted him. Almost as much astonished
as his wife, he brought out the bible"
''Tbe death of my wife's great-grand-
father, Zebulon Burns, is not here" he
said. "The first record is in his hand, I
believe. 1t is the birth of his eldest
child"
So it proved, and the lawyer looked
disappointed.
"You cannot remember the day of his
death?" he said. II mean the date
of it."
'He died long before was born, "
said Hannah, land though rich, left
nothing to grandfather. They had quar-.
relied, I believe. He told odd stories of
him. He must have been very eccentric,
and servant or housekeeper had great
influence over him; she had the prop
erty. Margery-Margery-"
"Margery WILDER, think" said the
lawyer.
"Yes," said Hannah. II remember
now"
= "You are quiet people, not likely to
talk too much," said the lawyer. Il
will tell you something. We have found
something. We have found will
among the effects of legal gentleman
who died very suddenly in fit OF apo
plexy. Don't hopo too much, mind. A
will in your favor, as your fathers only
child" Hannah clutched her husband g
hand. "It was written by one on his
death bed, dated the 10th Of March, IT.,
and leaves all his property to your
father, his grandson, then boy. Hush!
don't hope too much. Margery WILDER
or her heirs now holdpthis property I'M
der will dated March 18th, II"
"a later will" said Oliver. 'Then of
course they are the rightful possessors.
What need Of all this? the latest must
stand"
sNot if it is forgery, said the lawyer.
Oliver laughed, the bitter laugh of
care and disappointment.
"Who can prove that" he said.
mo one. Yet the record of his death
might. A man whose dying hand signed
q will the tenth of March would scarcely
make another on the 18th. We believe
the will forgery, written on old parch.
ment since the discovery of the one
have spoken of. Margery WILDER took
possession with legal forms, for no one
appeared to test her title. Where was
your great-grandfathr buried?"
Here" said Hannah. ''They say he
was brought down at his request Mrs.
WILDER as chief INQUIRER, and his SON
-grandfather-note even sent for. An
old grave yard somewhere. 0. Oliver!
Oliverr She turned quite white, and
uttered cry. "Oliver, that must be
the graveyard ON Gray's place that he
dug over last winter in the warm spell. u
''Then il is gone" said Oliver. "And
our last hope with it. No, gentlemen,
good luck could never come to us.
Poverty means TO cling to us to the last.
I wish You had better clients"
"Oliver Oliver r gasped Hannah
Gneldt, tell me one thing. Zabulon was
my great grandfather's name. Zebulon
is spelled with 2 isn't it? Oh, do
speak !"
IT think you are going mad; Hannah
of course it is"
Oh, the big z, remember it so we'll,
and know 1t was q; and it would have
been broken to pieces before now.
Oliver, don't you remember my door
step that you were SO angry at? l be-
lieve it is my greatgrandfather's tomb.
stone. And not to know it when
started at the great 2 I"
Oliver Gneldt said nothing. He
feared his wife's brain was turned, and
that made him faint and cold as he fol-
lowed her into the garden, and there
watched while the three others lifted at
the fat slab.
Il lay before them on the green,
spring grass, black letters on the white
ness. and, bending over it, they read
aloud:
"Zebulon Burns. Born May. Died
March IA, IT," With eugolistic verses,
with long SIS underneath, as in duty
bound.
Its poor grest-grandfather's." said
Hannah.
The lawyer extended his hands, grasp
ing those Of Oliver and his wife.
1.-THE proof is foundl" he said. 1.-THE
latest will is forgery, for it Is dated the
day after the old mans death. Mrs.
G6eldt is heiress TO large property. 1