The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-22
THE MORGAN WILL.


got into the habit of dropping in to chat
not far from my Office. Old Bowls, 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
rubbish, when my practiced eye lighted
on what appeared to be a legal docu-
ment, bound with blue tape. took it
up, and saw that it was marked "Last
Will and Testament"
opened it 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 disposing memory,
do make and publish this my last will and
testament.
whats that you say2" demanded
Bowls, as he dropped ahandful of paper
and looked up at me.
repeated what had read.
SAIL right" he said. Snow read on,
Squire"
give and bequeath to my adopted
daughter, Elizabeth Morgan, otherwise
known as Elizabeth Summers, all my per-
sonal and real property, after the payment
of my funeral expenses and my just debts.
''Heavens" exclaimed Bowls, 'that
must be the will of old Morgan, who died
four years ago--it was said-intestate.
He left not less than $500, 900, that all
went to remote n; irs, though everybody
expected it would have been left to this
very Elizabeth summers, his adopted
daughter. ...- .....
>--~-s.What has become of the adopted
daughters" asked.
II do not know, but think can find
OUT.
How much of this property is re.l
estate: and where is it situated"
"Well, there is the Oakdale planta-
tion, which ! es about five miles out
from here, and is worth at least $50, 900.
Then there are several houses in town
also, besidls $500 in Government
securities.n
"Who is the relative that got the
property
''Simon Skaggs. He lives out at the
~OakdaIe farm. think he is second
cousin. to Mr.. Morgan"
s'Whlt kind of man is he"
"a mean old skinf1int, or he would
never have taken the last cent from that
poor girl"
SWELL" said ], sI propose to take
this will home with me tonight and ex-
anime it carefully. If l find 1t all right
we'll hunt up the girl and recover the
sproperty for her.
To this he assented, and, depositing
the document in my pocket, bade the
old man good night and returned to my
Office, where | sept.
The next afternoon l went to Bowls's
store. He was alone, waiting for Inc.
81 have found where the girl is" he
said, as soon as told him that the will
was undoubtedly genuine 'She lives
about fifty miles off, in a little place
called Friendsville, quite up among. the
mountains, on wild hill.farm, where
things 90 on in the most primitive man
ner. A distant relative-an aunt three
times removed, very poor, but, it seems,
not without heart-heard of her desti-
tuition, and sent for her. An old lady,
who used to know the girl and had her
at her house awhile ter old Morgan's
death, happened to come in here and l
asked her if she knew where Elizabeth
Summers was"
II will 60 down and see her to-mor-
TOW" SAID promptly.
s.And bring g her back with you," au-
swered Bowls, as briskly. "My daugh-
ter and I will give her a home. Cad"
he cried, rubbing his hands enthusias-
tically, 'we'll lie too much for old
Skaggs, after ALL"
Il. 1t 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
- lonely crossroads, from which I had
about two miles to walk.
"Oh, yes, the Widow Benham," said
& the driver, pointing with his whip, Olives
up yonder, just around the point of the
mountain, You'll see the house in ten
minutes or So"
1t was warm, sultry dag in August,
with not breath of air stirring. soon
caught sight of the house-a plain, un-
pretending structure like 80 many in that
region. When it was about 2J0 yards
distant the sound of falling water at
tracted me, apparently coming from some
precipitous rocks on the left. As was
thirsty went toward it As l turned
the corner of cliff a handsome girl,
about 20 years of age, emerged from
sort of cave, bearing on her shoulder
large water jar. The lightness with
which she stepped from stone to stone
across the brook, the polse, as of some
sylvan goddess, with which she bore sloft
the jar, made me utter unconsciously
an exclamation of ofsurprise. Though she
was dressed in the coarsest homespun
and wore neither shoes nor stockings,
forgot altogether the homeliness 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 bushes. A small
dog, apparently a self-constituted pro-
tector, barked at me furiously as 1 ad-
vanced, hat in hand; for intuitively 1
.. knew this must be my client.
My client it was. lost no time in
explaining t, e object of my visit. Size
was very much surprised, but, after a
moments hesitation, said with dignity:
- ''Come up to the house. please. Twill
consult my aunt. Down, Tip-down,
SIR"
The dog ceased barking at this com.
mand and trotted quietly ahead. |
offered to take the jar, but she declined
with the composure of queen.
When she had introduced me to Mrs.
Benham and said; "This gentleman,
aunt, has something very strange to tell
YOU, and will leave you with him for q
moment" she disappeared, returning