Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-12-02

Whittlesy, of Whittleside Manor, valuing
about eight hundred pounds sterling.
Yours respectfully,
JONAS EVERETT"
With this was slip of paper, cut from
some newspaper, containing notice of
the death and funeral of Mrs. Whittlesy,
Mrs. Harmon's grandmother.
With a feeling akin to anger against
the hardhearted old woman tba withheld
even bread from her during life to leave
such fortune at death, Mrs. Harmon
sat with the open letter in her hand,
while Marcy looked on in silence, when
suddenly a sharp knock reused them
both.
Mrs. Harmon went to the door. and
opening it, found a man neither young
nor old, with a keen, sharp look on his
face.
"Mrs. Harmon?"
"Yes. What is your business, sir?"
II call in reference to patent which
you took out couple Of years ago, for
rendering bank notes impossible to
counterfeit"
"Walk in, sir, and be seated" said Mrs.
Harmof; and she took her seat opposite
him, looking him fully in the eyes, and
waited for him TO speak.
He fdgeted 8 little, hoping that she
| would prove like the most of women and
talk herself, thus giving him the advan-
| tage.
Finally he said:
II am told that you sent to the -
bank, asking them to examine your inven-
ton with view to buying the sole right
of you. Am I right?"
you are. Have you come from
them?"
swell, yes. They told me to come up
and see you, and-in short, make you an
offer"
His keen glance had taken in the sur
roundings of this dwelling, and he thought
she must be almost on the verge of starv-
alton, and he governed himself accord
ingly.
Chow much did they commission you to
offer?"
''WelI, madam, the patent is not of as
great Importance as you probably sup
pose. Still, the directors are willing to
give you two hundred dollars for the en-
tire right"
'You can tell them they can have it for
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars,
no less. I am posted on the subject, and
know that it is worth five time that
anount."
"But, dear madam, that is preposter
ousr
Every well, sir. Please tell your kind
principals that I withdraw my offer to
Them"
And sherose, thus making it neces-
sary for him to rise also.
''Is that you last word, madam"
'It is my lowest, my only price. You
have until noon tomorrow to decide. [
leave for England the day after"
every well, madam, [ will report, and
if, as I fear, they will nos accept, I will
let you know by letter. If they do, I will
come myself. Good day."
With that he went out, more complete
~ puzzled than he had ever been in his
life.
When he was gone, Mrs. Harmon turned
to Margery and said:
"Well, my dear, your spider was pro-
phet, and we are rich indeed, even with
out the bankers money, for my grand
mother is dead, and shall have all her
money, but no one but ourselves must
know of this, except grandmother, of
course. Now, we will have the best doc
tors who may be able to cure you of this
pain, and will have a nice little dinner
for grandmother when she comes home.
But I must go out, pet, do you think you
can keep house here for me?"
eyes, of course"
And soon Mrs. Harmon clad in her
faded mourning went out and to the bank,
where she cashed her check.
Then she made a few visits to different
places and was home in less than three
hours, and soon there came two doctors,
skillful in the treatmenC of diseases such
as Margery's, and they pronounced her
case one that with immcd care and
proper surgical treatment could be cured
in few months and they wished her to
be sent to New York to a hospital for
just suck cases, where she could be treat
ed and cared for in the best manner.
That evening there was rejoicing
among the three over their nice little
dinner, and in the morning carriage
came, into which Margery and her grand
mother went, and no one knew, for the
child was taken down so quickly, and the
carriage drove off before any one recov-
cred enough from their astonishment to
find out where.
At twelve o'clock the sharp-eyed man
returned, and said that the directors had
declared to accept her offer, and they made
arrangements for meeting the next day
10 bu0 IfduSI6Fs dllu 50 1t Cdl1o dDOab
that in three days this woman who called
in dissipation to eat both jam and butter
on her bread, was now independent. The
papers she had sent to London, proved
enough to establish her claims. and she
did not have to cross the ocean to receive
her heritage as she had expected to do.
Margery's grandmother came back and
went about her work as usual, and Mrs.
Harmon remained in the same little room.
She redeemed such things were redeem
able of her old possessions, and fitted up
her room a little more comfortably, but
she bought no palatial residence, no
horses nor carriages, and scarcely chang
ed her way of living. She was thinking.
She had lived many years among the
poor. She knew how much they suffered.
She had experienced their kindness
when her wealthy friends of other days
had turned cold shoulder to her and her
ailing husband, in their days Of dire need,
and she knew now by experience that
luxury is mere habit, and that when one
has shelter from the elements, and food
enough to eat, the rest is nothing, and
she had discovered that the truest and