South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-10-26

LARRY Upie, the Old ho9sekecper. and
the servant.maii. Mary, who listened
to the solemn services aud saw tie re-
mains deposited in Copse Hill burial
ground.
According TO custom, after return.
ing to the house the lawyer and the
family gathered in the si,ting-room,
and the will was duly read to them.
Albert and James Palmer were
greatly astonishcd to find themselves
the principal heirs, and also at the for
tune which tie old gentleman had
LETT. Miss Green, the old housekeeper.
informed them that she had prepared
Accommodations for them, and trusted
that they would make themselves at
home there 10 long as their business
kept them in the city. By tho terms
OF the will, the house itself had been
left TO her.
AT supper time the brothers found
themselves seated before q good but
frugal meal. presided over by Miss
Green, the old maiden lady WHO had
kept house for John Howell these
thirty years, and they were waited up.
on by Mary, the neat little maid, who
was modest aud pretty girl.
'Egad, the old fellow had good taste
IN selecting his servants, anyhow
SAID the younger brother. looking at
Mary with approaching eyes.
Shes we'll enough replied Albert,
the elder brother, whose mind was
now all intent upon the legacy aud
the singular terms of the will.
There was quite contrast in the
characters Of these two brothers. All.
bert was cold, calculating. and mer-
ccn0ry, his nature having q faint of
that very character which had made
his uncle become miser.
Ills business, that Of the bank. was
perhaps calculated to foster an avari.
cious spirit; at any rate he always
had AN eye to the main chance in
life.
James, the younger brother, was
the very antlpode OF this. lie was
generous, open handed, and of Il self.
sacrificing nature, making friends
wherever he went, and all The more
popular when the two brothers we're
together, from the very contrast in
their dispositions.
WAS this Widow Coolidge ever
here, Miss Green?' asked Albert PAL
mer.
Yes, couple ofyears ago or more,
when they were first married her
husband has been dead nearly two
years.
what is she like ? asked James
we have her photograph hanging
i'll Mr.. llowell's bed.chamber, all .
swercd the housekeeper,
oh, let's see it by all means,' said
both
Miss Green brought down the pic
ture for them. 1t represented Il mid
die aged face. very ordinary, and far
fEorn being attractive to the eve. The
original must have been about thirty
two or three years.
She must have been older than
her husband. said Albert Palmer.
Not much, replid Miss Green.
1t required some days to arrange the
legal matters. when tho LAWYER pro-
posed that the brothers should 90 cut
to Chicago, see the widow OF their
cousin, aud make up their minds a.
bout the matter. This would ena-
bic him to close up the estate a once.
A week had rassed since the funer-
ala week i'll which the Younger
brother had been very busy, and ve-
~ happy III the society of Mary, the
house maid. lie never felt 80 much
drawn toward any young woman be.
fore, aid 1t was not strange that the
girl on her part should appreciate
such delicate attention from so hand,
some and intelligent young fellow.
Their intimacy was kept TO them
selves, and they had thus far manag.
ed to avoid the somewhat old.maidish
prudery OF Miss Green, By keeping
out OF her sight as much rs possible.
Ii the old housekeeper suspected any.
thing, she was TOO delicate to show it,
so that James and Mary spent thoir
evenings together in the Kitchen un.
interrupted.
We'll, brother said Albert. after
the close Of u week or so. when the
necessary business was drawing TO
contamination, 80 far as they were
concerned.
what is it, brother?' asked James.
We must be of to Chicago
what for?'
TO settle that business with Nrs.
Coolidge.
Tn IN no hurry
'But | am
Well you go ahead aud settle it,
What 10 yon mean9'
Il don't care to GO
why, you goose you, it may make
a hundred thousand dollars difference
to you
Cant help it.
Yes, you can
'UOw?'
by going out there and standing