Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-08-24
THE MORGAN WILL.

had got into the habit OF dropping in to
chat with a news dealer who kept a
stand not far from my office. Old
Bowles, as everybody called him, dealt
also in waste paper and rags, which he
sold to the paper makers.
One evening he was sorting a lot Of
this rubbish, when my practiced eye
lighted on what appeared to be a legal
document, bound with blue tape. / took
it up, and saw that it was marked Last
VIII and Testament.
I opened and commenced to read:
"In the name of God, Amen. Know
all men by these presents, that I. James
Morgan, being of sound mind and dis
posing memory, do make and publish
this my last will and testament"
"What's that you say2" demanded
Bowles, as he dropped a handful of paper
and looked up at me.
I repeated what 1 had read.
CAN right" he said. Now read on,
squire"
~ give and bequeath to my adopted
daughter Elizabeth Morgan, otherwise
known as Elizabeth Summers, all my
personal and real property, after the
payment of my funeral expenses and my
just debts"
"Heavens!' exclaimed Bowles, ''that
must be the will of old Morgan, who died
four years ago-it was said, intestate.
He left no less than 800, 900, that all
went to remote heirs, though everybody
expected it would have been left to this
very Elizabeth Summers, his adopted
daughter"
"'What has become of the adopted
daughter" 1 asked.
II do not know, but I think I can find
out"
"How much of this property is real
estate, and where is it situatedY'
"Well there is the Oakdale planta-
ton, which lies about five miles out from
here, and is worth at least $50, 900.
Then there are several houses in town
also, besides $25, 200 in government Sc
curities."
"Who is the relative that got the prop
erty2"
''Simon Skaggs. He lives at the Oak
dale farm. l think he is a second cousin
to Mr.. Morgan"
"What kind of a man is he2"
"a mean old skinfint, or he would
never have taken the last penny from
that poor girl"
"Well," said I, ~ propose to take this
will home with me tonight and examine
it carefully. If 1 find it all right we'll
hunt up that girl and recover the prop
erty for her."
To this he assented. and, depositing
the document in my pocket, I babe the
old man good night and returned to my
Office, where I slept.
But l was too excited for sleep, and,
sitting down, read the instrument over
carefully. There was but one legatee
mentioned. The will was clear and SIM
pie; it bore the appearance of being gen.
uine, and had evidently been drawn by
one thoroughly acquainted with the nee
essary legal forms.
The longer l pondered over it the more
l became convinced that l had at las
stumbled upon an interesting case-ont
which, if properly managed, could no
fail to bring me reputation and right {
great wrong besides.
The next afternoon l went to Bowles
store. He was alone, waiting for me.
Il have found where the girl is" hi
said as o on as l told him hat the will
was undoubtedly genuine. ''She live
about fifty miles off, in a little plac'
called F~riendsville, quite up among tn,
mountains, on a wild hill farm, wher,
things 60 on in the most primitive man
ner. A distant relative-an aunt tire
times removed, very poor, but, it seems
not without a heart-heard of her desti
tuition and sent for her. An old lady
4 ,-hA mead M lpnN- tho nir1 op1 had he
at her house awhile after Old Morgan
death, happened to come in here, and
asked her if she knew where Elizabet
| Summers was"
Il will go down and see her to-mol
I row." l said promptly.
And bring her back with you," ar
swered Bowles as briskly. MY daugf
ter and l will give her a home. Cad!
he cried, rubbing his hands enthusiast
4 cally, "we'l be too much for old Skagg
after ALL"
1t was late the next afternoon when
arrived at my destination, having mao
the journey partly by rail and partly b
: stage. The coach put me down at
! lonely crossroads, from which l ha
about two miles to walk.
.'Oh, yes-the Widow Benham," sal
the driver, pointing with his WIFI
Lives up yonder just around the poil
. Of the mountain. You'll see the hou'
in ten minutes or So"
1t was a warm, sultry day in Angus
with not a breath of air stirring. / soc
caught sight of the house, a plain, u
~ pretending structure like SO many in TIL
al region. When it was about 200 yar'
g distant, the sound of falling water a
re tracted me, apparently coming fro
some p~recipitous rocks on the left. AS
y. was thirsty | went towards it. As
C, turned the corner of a cliff a handson
I'd girl, about 20 years of see, emerg'
L. from a sort Of cave, bearing on h
ID shoulders a large water jar. The ligf
10 ness with which she stepped from stoI
~ To stone across the brook. the noise as