Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-03-12
AN CNwILLING RESTITUTION.

An
Poor May Lakemanl People pitied
her when she came forth from the
old home-came forth to commence
the world anew, and to pick her own
way through the tangled obstacles that
ever beSet the life-path of the poor and
friendleSs. She had friends who were
ready to bestow upon her of their heart
wealth; but none were at hand who
could lift her over the deep, dark
chasm which had intruded between
herself and the promises of the future.
Old Aaron DOnberg had died, and
had been buried; and his will had been
read, by which il was made TO appear
that all his wealth had been bequeathed
to his step-SoD, Gaspard. Really this
step-son's name was Gaspard Gram
mont, but he had changed his surname
to Dunberg.
Aaron Douberg had been twice mar
ried, but he had never had child of
his own. His second wife had been d
widow, with one child by a former hus-
band: and Gaspard was that child.
Once. while Gaspard was quite young,
Old DOnberg had been taken very sick,
and fancied himself dying. In this
condition he sent for notary, and
made his Will, by which he gave his
property all to GaSpard, his wife to
have the use of certain portion while
she lived. But Aaron Donberg did not
then die. He got well. and lived to
discover tbat his step-son was a very
mean, false, and con. emplble fellow.
In time his wife died, and at the same
time he heard of the death of his only
sister. He knew that his sister had lefta
daughter, and he sent for that daughter
to come and live with him. And she
came-and this was May Lakeman.
She was sixteen then-a bright, happy
faced, puTe-eyed, vigorous girl, who
found the greatest sum of joy in max
ing those around her joyous.
Aaron Donberg very soon came to
love May dearly; and she certainly
loved him. She became mistress of his
hOuSehOld,-anda an entirely new house
hold it became under her management.
And, furthermore, Aaron came to dis
cover joys and blessings il lie which
he meyer discovered before.
GaSpard went from bad to worse aft
er May came. At first he sought TO
make love to her; but she repulsed him
in disgust, and he then Prosecuted her.
a little while so, and then old Donberg
turned him out of doors. He did not
kick him out; but he gave him a thou
sand dollars, and told him to go.
Time passed on, and May was hap
py and cOntenIed. She had plenty
TO occupy her mind, and she knew how
to turn labor into pastime,
A widow named Prindle whose hus-
band had been lost at sea, had long
been in the habit of coming TO Dom
berg's house to work as occasion re-
quiTed. This widow had a son Jack
wild, wayward fellow; frank, genial
brave and true hearted, and withal.
handsome. He followed the sea as his
father had done; but his voyaging was
upon the coast, so lie was often at home. |
He saw May Lakeman and loved her,
and, III return, she loved him. When
her uncle asked her about it she replied |
that she loved Jack Prindle because |
she couldn't help it. She knew he had |
faults; but in her eyes they were as the |
And Uncle Aaron, knowing some |
thing Of Jacks good qualities, he said,
We'll, vel, ll,-we'll send the lad off up |
on a long voyage, and If lac comes |
back true man, We'll see.
So Jack Prindle had gone to India, |
and taken Mays h9art with him.
The years passed, and in time it was
generally believed that Aaron Donberg |
would leave all his wealth to May |
Lakeman. He never told Mary
that he should do so; but he
used often to pat her upon
the head, and kiss her, and tell her that |
she should find that he loved her as
though she had been his own child. !
But May did not think of her uncie's
money. She was happy in her labors
Of duty and of love; and if fhe thought
of the future it was in connection with
her far-Olf sallOr-boy.
Al lengthwhen May had livedwith her
uncle five Years. the old gentleman was
taken SEX, and the doctors said he
could not recover. While he was con-
fined TO his bed his step-SOn returned, /
protesting great penitence, and begging
that he might be allowed to do his part
toward rendering comfortable
the last days of the good
old man. Mr.. D0nberg could not find
It in his heart TO turn him away, so he
suffered him 10 remain. In a very
guarded manner Gaspard renewed his
pIO,eotations Of love to May; but she
saw through the flImsy covering of
falsehoOd, and spuIned him ;ls she had
done before.
At length Aaron Donberg died, and |
when lie had been buried, his private
desk was opened, and his viii was fonnd
the old will, 10y which he had be- s
queathed his property to Gaspardl h
People were surprised. 1t was be- J
ieved that new will had been made,
and that Mary Lakeman was the heir. II
Old servants declared that Mr.. Don
berg had sought for the first will. that Y
he might destroy it, but had not been
able 10 lind it. All was darkness and {
doubt. Uncle Aaron had been reticent.
evidently not wishing that May should
positively know OF his intent, lest she
might feel that she was bound to his S
service, and thus her labors ceased to |
be OF pure love.
The notary was dead-he had died h
two months before Donbers's decease.
The two subscribing witnesses to the s
second will-or, those who wefe sup S
posed so to have been-had gone, no
one knew whittier. 1t was whispered a
that Gaspard had bought them off. +
And 50 after due examination, the b
oid VIII was accepted as the true one, v
and GaSpard Grammont, under the
name OF Gaspard Donberg, took charge
Oh the property. Once more he offered e
ms hand to May; and once more she re-
fused him, and weLt out to battle f
with the world rather than remain be-
meath the same roof with Gaspard
4
But GOT long in the gloon-not long