Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-16
TIE MORGAN WILL.

THE MORGAN WILL.
had been admitted to the bar; but, as
j had very little practice and found my
self with plenty of time on my hands, |
had got into the habit of dropping in to
chat with newsdealer who kept a stand
not from my office. Old Bowles as every
body called him, also dealt 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 legal document,
bound with blue tape took it up and
saw it was marked Last VIII and Testa-
ment"
| opened it and commenced to read:
In the name Of God: Amen. Know
all men by the presents, that !, James
Morgan, being of sound mind and dispos-
ing memory, do make and publish this
my last will and testament"
What's that you say?' demanded
Bowles, as he dropped handful of paper
and looked up at me.
l repeated what had said
All right" he said. Now read on,
squire"
Il give and bequeath to my adopted
daughter, Elizabeth Morgan, otherwise
known as Elizabeth Summers all my
personal and real property, after the pay
ment of my funeral expenses and my Just
debts"
Heavens p exclaimed Bowles, that
must be the will Of old Morgan, who died
four years ago-it was said, intestate.
He left not less than hundred thousand
dollars, that all went to remote heirs, tho
everybody expected it would have been
left to this very Elizabeth Summers, his
adopted<laughter"
"What has become of this adopted
daughter~ asked.
do not know, but think | car find
out"
How much of this property is real
estate? And where is it situated ?"
well, there is the Oakdale plantation,
which lies about five miles out from here
and is worth at least S500O0 Then there
are several houses in town also, besides
S25, 900 In Government securities"
"Who is the relative that got the prop
erty?"
Simon Skaggs. He lives out at the
Oakdale farm. | think he is a second
cousin to Mr.. Morgan"
What kind of man is he ?"
A mean old skinflint, or he would
never have taken the last penny from that
poor girl"
Well" said !, propose to take this
home with me tonight and examine it
carefully. If find it all right, well hunt
up the girl and recover the property for
her"
To this he assented, and depositing the
document in my pocket, | babe the old
man goodnight and returned to my office,
where l slept.
But l was too much excited to sleep. |
locked my room, and, sitting down, read
the instrument over slowly and carefully
There was but one legatee mentioned
The viii was clear and simple; it bore the
appearance Of being genuine, and had
evidently been drawn by one thoroughly
acquainted with the necessary legal forms.
The longer pondered over it the more
| became convinced that | had at last
stumbled upou an interesting case-one
which, if properly managed, could not fail
TO bring me reputation, and right great
wrong besides.
The next afternoon | went to Bowles'
store. He was alone, waiting for me-
al have found where the girl is" he
said, as soon as told him that the will
was undoubtedly genuine. "She lives
about so miles off in little place called
Friendsville, quite up amoung the noun
tains, GU wild hill farm, where things
go on in the most primitive manner. A
distant fbrao
moved, very poor, but, it seems not with
out 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, hap
pened to come in here, and | asked her
if she knew where Elizabeth Summers
was"
/ will go down and see her tomorrow"
Isaid, promptly.
"And bring her back with you," an
swered Bowles, as briskly. "My daughter
and l will give her home. 'GadlS he
cried, rubbing his hands enthusiastically,
well be too much for old Skaggs, after
all
1t was late the next afternoon when |
arrived at my destination, having made
the journey partly by rail and partly by
ohdSSs hN NOiNh RuN dOhn dl Il lOU6IN
cross-road, from which ! had about two
miles walk.
"Oh, yes-the Widow Benham," said
the driver, pointing with his whip, "lives
up yonder, Just around the point of the
mountain. You'll see the house in ten
minutes or So"
1t was warm sultry day in August,
with not breath Of air stirring. / soon
ao,,1bf srrbt - H. -
tending structure, like so many in that
region. When it was about 200 yards dis
tant, the sound of falling water attracted
me, apparently coming from some precipi-
tous rocks ON the left. As | was thirsty, |
went toward it. As | turned the corner of
a cliff, handsome girl, about 20 years of
age, emerged from sort of cave, bearing
on her shoulder a large water-jar The
ightness with which she stepped from
stone TO stone across the brook, the poise
SIS of some sylvan goddess with which she
bore aloft the jar, made me utter uneon-
sciously an exclamation Of surprise.
Though she was dressed in the coarsest
home-spun and wore neither shoes nor
stockings, | forgot altogether the homeli-
ness Of her apparel in the grace of her
moements, the exquisite contour of her
figure, and the beauty of her expressive
face, which was now mantling with bushes
A small dog, apparently self-constituted
protector, barked at me furiously as | adj
vaEced, hat In hand; for intuitiyely |
knew this must be my client.
My client it was. lost no time in ex-
planning the object of my visit She was
very much surprised, but after moments |
hesitation, said with dignity: