Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-10-30
A STRANGE FATALITY.
BY CLARK HARRISON.

ger boy, as Philip DeVhh appeareu
in response to rap, at the door,
one warm day in June.
Philip was young farmer, who
lived a short distance from the town
of Gresham.
He took the yellow envelop in
his hand, and fumbled it over and
over without opening it, just as
many a person has done before.
THE fifty cents is for delivering
the MESSAGE ventured the boy.
'We get that much when we come
so far
'Oh, yes responded Philip; and
he called to his wife to bring the
money.
what can it be, Phil ? she ask
ed, as she realized that some dire
ful news must be contained in the
tateIul telegram.
Philip opened it and read
"Your uncle Reuel died this morning.
Funeral Thursday. ALICE
A stifed sob rose into Lulu's
throat.
'At last she said. He is nov
at rest, thank God
For she knew too we'll how he had
suffered.
The month before, she had been
with him a few days, and then he
had fondly renewed his overfowing
affection for her, and wished her
lifelong happiness with her devot'
ed husband.
There is no reply Philip said to
the messenger, who had thankfully
taken the glass of cool milk, which
the hired girl had brought him.
And the sturdy little fellow
trudged of, refreshed and gratiied,
his fingers closing on the bright
balf.dollar with cheering satlsfac-
tion that it had been well earned
and would be well spent.
Philip and Lulu took the next
morning train for Cincinnati, arriv-
ing there during the afternoon.
1t was Wednesday. All prepar-
ations has been made Tor the funer'
al to take place the uext day.
Alice, the elder niece of the de-
ceased, and Lulu's cousin, was the
only other female relative present.
Her father and two brothers we're
there, having came from Indiansp'
oils.
Some of the societies to which
Mr.. Tracy had belonged attended
the funeral, and, after all was over,
the relatives all assembled to hear
the will read.
The lawyer, who held it, was a
slim, little man with gold specta-
cles. He coughed nervously, and
seemed to be considerably agitated
when he arose.
Ladies' and gentlemen, he be-
gan, lit is with much embarrass'
ment that l appear before you on
this solemn occasion. lhad hoped,
before the death of my devoted
friend, whom we have to-day fol-
lowed to his long home, to have
closed up matter which has been
a source of much trouble and con-
siderable anxiety to me. But, as
+ YOU are all aware, the deceaseds
! taking of was sudden, after all.
He had been much better until the
morning of his death, and on the
j.. very day he died was to have met
him and arranged his worldly mat
ters more perfectly to his satlsfac'
ton. That meeting never occurred
6 Consequently we have to take the
record of his wishesas we find them
. last expressed. They are contain
% ed in this paper
The old lawyer carefully opened
s the sealed will of the deceased and
began its reading.
10 By it the bulk of the property
was left TO Alice and her brothers
10 and a comparatively small legac!
fell to Lulu.
t. Every one present was surprised
and their glances and whispers re
vealed their astonishment. For i
had been a well settled opinion, al
most amounting TO actual know
edge, that Lulu was to be the he'll
ess. and that the others were to b
left but little, if anything.
The old lawyer resumed:
THE document have just rea
is the last will OF the deceased, 8
far as | am informed and believe
1t was drawn up and signed nearl
a near ago.
There is no other paper anywheI
to be found, and this one was d'
posited with me by the decease
himself, at the time it was made
will say, however, that it does NJ
dispose of the effects in the mann'
l have, by recent remarks oil u
deceased, been led to believe he il
tended they should be- n
The unexpected disposition
Reuel Tracy's property was then
of public comment for many day
The heirs, Alice and her brother
we're so elated at their good fortuI
nix that they affected not to see ar
reason why people should not gi'
a. a., uncle Reuel an opportunity
change his mind, iflhe tslt so d