Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-11-10

| the will was undoubtedly genuine.
l"She lives about forty miles of, in a
little place called Friendsville, quite
up among the mountains, on wild
| hilrfarm, where things go on in a most
primitive manner. A distant rela-
tive-an aunt three times removed,
very poor, but, it seems, not without
| heart-heard of her restitution and
sent for her. An old lady, who used
to know the girl and had her at her
house awhile after old Morgan's
death, happened to come in here, and
| I asked her If she knew where Eliza.
beth Summers was"
81 will 60 down and see her to-
morrow" / said promptly.
"And bring her back with you,"
answered Bowles as brisk!y. "My
daughter and I will give her home.
Gsdl" he cried, rubbing his hands
enthusiastically, "we'll be too much
for old Skaggs after all.'
II was late the next afternoon
when I arrived at my destination,
having made the journey partly by
rail and partly by stage. The coach
put me down at a lonely crossroads,
from which I had about two miles to
walk.
"Oh, yes-the Widow Benham,'
said the driver, pointing with his
whip, 'slives up yonder just around
the point of the mountain. You'll
see the house in ten minutes or So"
It was warm, sultry day in Au-
gust, with not breath OF air STIR
ring. I soon caught sight Of the
house, a plain, unpretentious struct
ure, like 30 many in that region.
When it was about 200 yards distant
the sound of falling water attracted
me, apparently coming from some
precipitous rocks on the left. As !
was thirsty I went towards it. Ash
turned the corner of cliff hand
some GIRL. about 90 years of age,
emerged from a sort OF cave, bearing
on her shoulders a large water jar.
The lightness with which she step
ped from stone to stone across the
brook, the poise as of some sylvan
goddess with which she bore aloft
the jar, made me utter unconscious
ly an exclamation Of surprise.
Though she was dressed in the
coarsest homespun and wore neither
shoes nor stockings, forgot alto
gether the nominees Of her apparel
in the grace of her movements, the
exquisite contour Of her figure, and
the beauty of her expressive face,
which was now mantling with blush
es. A small dog, apparently a self
constituted protector, barked at me
furiously as I advanced, hat in hand;'
for intuitively I knew this must be
my client.
My client it was. I lost no time
in explaining the object of my visit.
She was very much surprised but
after moments hesitation said, with
dignity:
"Come up to the house, please. /
will consult my aunt. Down, Tip
down, SIR"
The dog ceased barking at this
command, and trotted quietly ahead.
I offered to take the jar, but she de-
clined with the composure OF a
queen.
When she had introduced me to
Mrs. Benham and said, "This gentle
man aunt, has something very strange
to tell you, and / will leave you with
him for moment" she disappeared,
returning some quarter Of an hour la
ter dressed in a becoming suit OF blue
muslin and with the daintiest ofslip-
pers on her pretty feet. had mean
time produced the will and given de-
tails of the manner in which it was
found.
Not to dwell too long on this pre-
lude to my story, l will say briefly
| that my client and I started the next