Wichita eagle., 1888-08-28
TIE MORGAN WILL.

I had been admitted to the bar; but, as
had very little practice and found NY
self with plenty of time on my hands, l
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
sod 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
1t up, and saw that it was marked Last
VIII and Testament"
I opened and commenced to read:
In the name of God. Amen. Know
Ell men by these presents, that I. James
Morgan, being ot sound mind and dis
posing memory, do make and publish
this my Last viii and testament"
What's that you sayl'' demanded
Bowles, as he dropped I handful Of paper
and looked up at me.
/ repeated what had read
'.AIl right" he said Now read on,
squire"
Il give and beq1eath to ny adopted
daughter Elizabeth Morgan, otherwise
known as Elizabeth Summers, all nv
personal and real property, after the
payment of ny funeral expenses and nv
Just debts"
''Eeavens!" exclaimed Bowles, "'thGlt
must be the VIII OF old Morgan, who died
fJlIr years ago-it was said, intestate.
He left no less than $780, ,00o. that all
went to remote heirs, though everybody
expected it would have been left 70 this
very Elizabeth Summers, his adopted
daughter.
What has become Of the adopted
daughter I asked.
Il do not know, but 1 think 7 can find
out"
How much of this property is real
estate, and where is it situatedp'
Well, there Is the OakdaIe planta-
ton. which lies about five miles out from
here, and Is worth at least $50, 900.
Then there are several houses il town
also, besides 81, 600 in government Sc
curities."
"Who is the relative that got the prop
erty?''
Simon S21aggs. he lives at the Oak
OI-lC AdIL1l- slliAh LG - - SCC21Ll OOL5tA2
to Mr.. Morgan"
'|What kind Of man IS he2''
|'A mean old skintlirt. or he would
never have taken the last penny from
that poor girl"
"Wen, said I, ''I propose TO take this
Will home with me tonight and examine
it carefully. If I find il all right Wen
hunt up that girl and recover the prop
erty for her,"
To this he asserted, and, depositing
the document IN my pocket, l bade the
old man good night and returned TO my
Office, where 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 acql2inted with the nee
essary legal forms.
The longer pondered over it the NOR,
] became convinced that l had at Lass
stumbled upon IN interesting case-one
which, If properly managed, could not
fal TO bring ne rQutation and right
great wrong besides
The next afternoon I went 10 Dowles'
store. He was alone. waiting for me.
Il have found where the girl is, - he
said Is soon as l told him that the viii
was undoubtedly genuine. ''She lives
about fifty miles OF, IN a little place
called Frie-dsville. quite up among the
mountains on a wild hill farm, where
things 20 on IN the most primitive man
ner : distant relative-an aunt three
times removed. very poor, but, it seems,
Tot without heart-heard Of Ler desti-
tuition and sent for her. An old lady,
who used 10 know the girl and had her
al her house awhile after old Morgau'5
death, happened to come in here, and
asked her if she knew where Elizabeth
Summers was
II viii go down and see her to-mor-
ruw," said promptly.
And bring her back with you" an
swered BOryies Us briskiv. My daugh-
ter and l viii give Ter home. Gadr'
he cried. rubbing his hands enthusiast
caIly, well be too much for old Skagss
after all -
1t was late the next afternoon when
arrived at my destination, having made
the journey partly by ran and partly by
stage. The coach put me down at q
lonely crossroads. from which l had
about two miles 10 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 SEQ the house
In ten minutes or So"
1t was = warm, sulury day in August,
with not breath q air stirring. soon
caught sight Of the house, O plain, IN
pretending structure Ike 80 many in that
region When il was about 200 yards
distant. the sound Of falling water at
tacted me, apparently coming from
some precipitouS rocks On the left. As
WIS thirsty | went towards il As
turned the corner Of Z cLT & handsome
girl about 20 years Of r.e. emerged
from a sort Of cave. bearing on her /
shoulders large water jar. The light
ness with which she stepped from stone /
=, s-oos across the brock. tho noise IS o+ |
some sylvan gocdeSs with which she bore !
aloft the jar. made me utter uncon- /
scioulsiv an exclamation Of surprise.
Though she was dressed IN the coarsess
hoInesuuu and wore neither shoes Tor
stockings. forgot altogether the honeii
ness 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 r1altllnS with
bushes. i small dog, apparently self
csnSrtutad nrntactor harkad- ar 81