The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-11

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He set out for tho great house quite
early in the evening. lie rang the bell
and servant appeared. He inquired
for Augusta, who was in. lie sent up
his name, and the servant very soon re-
turned, saying: 'Miss Augusta is sorry
to say that she has an engagement which
will prevent her from seeing Mr.. Pease
this evening.
The servant, at the same time, stared
in Arthur's face with q saucy grin on
his own countenance, and as he slammed
the door in the youths face the latter
overheard him saying to somebody in
the vestibule: did Sam Harris tell YOU
bout that wooden leg in de boxp Guess
Miss Augusta heard all about it. Mind
my words. Mr.. Pease has got dc mitten
for sartain."
Arthur did not yet despair: but when
no went on the next evening and re-
ccived the same answer he knew that
the tidings of his unclc's singular legacy
had overcome the love of Augusta F..
IL was evidently not himself but the leg
acy with which Augusta had fallen in
love. She had, in common with 9TH
ers, imagined that it was hundred
thousand dollars instead of awoOden leg
that Arthur was to come into possession
of.
Arthur felt that he was well punished
for the trick which he had, ut an early
age, played upon his uncle. The wood
Ell leg in the box was q sad reminder.
That evening, after his return from the
great house, was the saddest OF his life.
But, Just before nine O'Clock. Arthur
heard a gentle rap at his outer door
He opened it, and found there poor
ly dressed girl who handed him let
ter.
From whom could the letter have
Gomez Had he still friendp
Arthur opened the letter. 1t read as
follows:
DEAR FRIEND: have heard Of your mis-
fortune. It is little that can do to remedy II,
but the enclosed check for $i,UO may relieve
you from any present distress. beg that you
sure you that can do without IL. I have an
aunt living in Montpelier who Is old and in
firm, and she requests me to come and live
with her. | shall walt upon her, and she Is
able To supply all my wants.
II shall Be very unhappy i you do not &C
cept this money. 1t Il, indeed, but little in
pcct; but still, it is better than nothing had
hoped, at one time. that you and would share
this little sum together, but ought to have
known that you could never , bring your mind Ind
"LUCINDA w."
In penning the last few words Arthur
could perceive that Lucinda's hand had
trembled.
lie could not doubt that the poor girl
really loved him; but how could he re-
new his attentions to her after having
shown his preference for Augustap
How could he say to her, in acts il not
in words: LAS Augusta has discarded
me come back to you?"
One thing he was fully resolved upon;
he would not receive the thousand dol
lars of Lucinda, and, without minutes
reflection. he tore the check into frag-
ments and threw them into the fire.
Lucinda did not go to Montpelier on
the next morning as she intended, for
she wanted to make sure that Arthur
had taken out the money from the bank.
On learning from the cashier that her
check had not been presented, she could
think of no recourse, but to obtain an
interview with Arthur, and beg him to
accept the thousand dollars, fondly sup
posing that. after full explanation of
her prospects she could prevail on him
to accept the money.
Lucinda called at Arthur's house. As
soon as he saw her all his former love
returned, infamed by this recent proof
of her generosity and disinterestedness.
He clasped her in his arms. called her
an angel, and q great many other fine
things too numerous to mention.
1t was soon settled that Lucinda, in
stead of going to live with her aunt in
Montpelier, should commence house,
keeping with Arthur in the village.
On the ensuing week Arthur and Luz
cinda were married.
While the happy couple were making
the best use of their thousand dollars in
furnishing a small tenement, portly
and elderly man, on stout black horse,
rode up to their door and dismounted.
On entering the humble dwelling the
old gentleman looked rather quizzingly
around upon the modest paraphernafia
of the apartment, and then announced
himself as the executor Of Arthur's I'M
Gle.
You received the wooden leg, sup
pOsc?' said she stranger, laughing
heartily.
Arthur could have told him that 1t
was no laughing matter; but he simply
nodded his head, and looked grave.
Your uncle had his own peculiari-
ties" continued the executor. "He de-
termined to punish you for the follies Of
your early life. and, therefore. after
having led you to believe that he was
going to leave you large sum Of mon
ey. he disappointed you by sending an
old wooden leg instead of a hundred
thousand dollars"
but" said Lucinda, "was it alto
gether right to raise false report by
pretending that he was going to leave
his nephew all that money when he had
no such intentionp".
"You are wrong there" replied the
gentleman. ..Mr. Joshua Pease was no
liar. He spoke the simple truth"
Both Arthur and Lucinda stared, and
seemed to be much puzzled by these
words Of the executor.
"Where is the wooden legF demand
ed the latter.
Arthur produced the timber leg. The
old gentleman took small key from his
pocket and inserted it in q small crevice
In the bottom of the foot. He then
turned the key, the leg few open, dis
closing two separate halves, where q
roll of paper dropped to the floor, the
paper having been confined In the CEN
for of tho xyOOden Loo
The executor picked up the paper and
handed it to Arthur. ''Read!" said he.
Arthur took the paper. opened it, and
saw that it was his uncle's will, and
that his uncle had really left him leg
acy of q hundred thousand dollars.
Thus, it appeared that his uncle had
contrived to punish Arthur and tell the
truth about leaving him portion of his
wealth at the same time,
Truly" said Arthur, sit may be
said of this old wooden leg that it was
sent to me a blessing in disguise
Arthur and Lucinda never repented
their marriage. They lived together
many years. rich and prosperous. and
blessed with family of healthy and
beautiful children. Several OF their de-
scendants still inhabit our village. and
they take pleasure in listening to the
anecdotes about the oddities and droll
adventures of their ancestor. "Green
Peas" as related by avery old lady
named Myrick, who says that she might
have married him If she had given her
consent But some think that part OF
her story is somewhat apocryphal
DIR. f. Williams is a Cincinnati ply
s;o;,n of bioh local reputation. he