The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-20
THE MORGAN WILL.

/ had very little practice and found my
self with plenty of time on my hands,
had got into the habit Of dropping in tC
chat with a news dealer who kept @
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 lot OF
this rubbish, when my practiced eye
lighted on what appeared to be legal
document, bound with blue tape. ! took
At up, and saw that it was marked Last
VIII and Testament.
opened aud commenced to read;
In the namc Of God. Amen. Know
all men 10y these presents, that l, James
Morgan, being OF sound mind and dis
posing memory, do make and publish
this my last will and testament"
whats that you sayT demanded
Bowlcs. rs he dropped a handful of paper
and looked up at me.
repeated what | had read.
"All right" he said. Nov read on,
squire
IL give and bequeath TO my adopted
daughter Elizabeth Morgan, otherwise
known rs Elizabeth Summers. all my
personal and real property. after the
payment Of my funeral expenses and my
Just debts"
"Heavcnsw exclaimed Bowlcs, "that
must be the viii Of old Morgan, who died
four years ago-it was said, intestate.
lie left no less than 500, 600, 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 ] asked.
IL do not know, but think / can find
out.
"How much Of this property is real
estate, and where is it situatedW
"Well, there is the Oal;dale planta-
ton. which lies about five miles out from
here, and is worth at least $50, 600.
Then there are several houses in town
also, besides $4,000 in government Sc
curitios.n
"Wbo is the relative that got the prop
erty2"
Simon Skaggs. lie lives at the Oak
dale farm. l think Ire is a second cousin
to Mr. Morgan.
"What kind Of a man is hc3"
"a mean old skinnint, or he would
never have taken the last penny from
that poor girl"
"Wcll. s1ii /, Il propose to take this
will home with me tonight and examine
1t carefully. If | find IL all right Wen
hunt mp that girl and recover the prop
erty for hcr.'
TO this ne assented. and, depositing
the document in my pocket, l babe the
old man good night and returned to my
office, where / slept
But | was too excited for sleep and.
sitting down. read the instrument over
There was but one legatee |
The viii was clear and sim
pie; 1t bore the appearance of being gen
uine and had evidently been drawn by |
one thoroughly acquainted with the nee
sssay legal forms.
The lonser l pondered over it the more
became convinced that | had at last l
upon an interesting case one
which, If properly managed could not
ail 10 bring me reputation and right
great wrong besides.
The next afternoon | went to Bowles
tore. He was alone, waiting for me.
II have found where the girl is, 80 he
aid as soon as / told him that the Will
vas undoubtedly genuine. "She lives
bout fifty miles off, in a little place
allied Fucndsviile, quite up among the
on a wild hill farm. where
hings go ON in the most primitive man
Ter \ distant rclative-an aunt three
lines removed, very poor, but, it seems,
lot without a heart-heard of her desti-
ution and sent for her. An old lady,
Who used TO know the girl and had her
It her house awhile after old Morgan's
Ieath, happened TO come in here, and
skcd her if she knew where Elizabeth
summers was"
II viii so down and see her to-mor-
ow," said promptly.
And bring her back with you, an
wercd Bowles as briskly My daugh-
er and will give her a home Gadl
e cried. rubbing his hands G. iasti-
ally, wen be too much for Ca, skaggs
fter all
IL was late the next afternoon when /
rrived at my destination, having made
he journey partly 10y rail and partly by
tage. The coach put me down at a
'nely crossroads, from which had
bout two miles 10 walk.
"Oh, ycs-the Widow Benham." said
ie driver, pointing with his whip,
lives up yonder just around the point
the mountain. You'll see the house ,
ten minutes or So"
1t was warm, sultry day in August,
it'll not a breath Of air stirring. | soon
ught sight Of the house, plain, un-
etcnding structure like SO many in that I
gion. When it was about 200 yards {
slant the sound Of falling water at I
acted me, apparently coming from
me precipitous rocks on the left. AS {
IS thirsty | went towards it. As | c
rned the corner of a cliff handsome
RI, about 20 years Of &c, emerged
IN a sort Of cave, bearing on her C
builders largo water Jar The light