The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-05-15


stand il any longer, and she left him,
and 10y aud by he sold out and went
nobody knows where"
"And the daughterg"
"Oh, most likely she's dead There's
been good many stories afloat about
her, but come to sift them they didn't
amount to much"
Then John thanked the old lady for
her information, and having in his
turn told her what he knew of Mr.. Dill
took his leave.
When John reported to Mr.. Hatch,
his lawyer, the very meager informa-
tioa he had gathered at Pomfret that
gentleman said: 1T isn't of the slight
est consequence, sir; all the relations
in the world couldn't upset the will,
which is perfectly legal"
John smiled II suppose the best
way to ascertain whether the daughter
is living would be to advertise,
wouldn't ?" he asked.
Doubtless it would; but what do
YOU want to ascertain for? You'll only
make trouble for yourself
1T seems to me the right thing to
do" said John, land as l don't under
stand much about such matters | will
get you to attend to it for me, and
send me word if you hear anything"
"Of course, / will attend to it If such
are your orders; but mind, sir, it is not
my advice, and l decline to be held
responsible for the consequences.
Il hold no one responsible but my
self" said John.
The news of Johns fortune reached
home before he did, and he at once be-
came very important parsonage in
the village. Not only did his old
friends flock around him with congratu-
lations, but those who had former
ly overlooked the poor mechanic entire
ly suddenly discovered that he was n
man of extraordinary merit. Mr.. Arm
strong expressed JOY at his good luc4!:
at the same time he said: Il don't see
how | am to get along without YOU"
Perhaps you won't have to-" said
John. Il mean to keep right on with
my work at present"
As for Mrs. Ratchet, she declared it
was like fairy story. She would have
n new silk dress before another Sun
day. WHO would have dreamed when
YOU brought that old man home that it
would end like this 2"
ut hasn't ended, said John.
"There, that's just like you, said
Debby; you're never excited, whatev-
er happens. Now, l feel just like dane
ing and clapping my hands"
And Debby executed a pirouette
which was the means of bringing her
foot down upon Ponto's tail. He ran
under the table with yelp, and she
dragged him out and petted him, say
ing: Never mind, Ponto; You shall
have beautiful new collar with sill
yer label, so you shall"
"Debby," said John, eff anything
should happen that this money should
turn out not to be ours after all, would
it be such a terrible disappointment to
you?"
"Oh, John, what do you mean ?" said
Debby.
Grandfather Dill had a daughter"
said John. do you remember his last
words? 2"
"Yes-let me see. He said, Poor
Priscy! Perhaps she wasn't so much
to blame after all ?"
well, Priscy was his daughter. If
she is alive her fathers money is right
fully hers"
In spite of the will?"
"In spite of the will, said John.
But she may he dead / hope she
is. O Lordy! l didn't mean to say
that" And Debby clapped her hand
over her mouth as if TO keep back the
wicked words. But to think of being
as poor as ever again after all our plans
and hopes Why didn't you tell me
there was doubt about it in the first
place."
Because YOU went on so you didn't
give me time, said John. Besides. it
isn't really settled that we give up the
money even if Priscy is alive"
How is anybody going to know what
you mean?" said Debby, impatiently
Didn't YOU just say it was rightfully
hers in spite of the will 2"
"Yes; and / think it is rightfully,
though not legally. Now l am going
to leave it for YOU to decide; but first
make the case your own. Suppose
your father had left fortune, and had
willed it away from you to comparative
strangers
That's what YOU call leaving it to
me to decide" said Debby. You put
it so there's only one thing / can say,
and then ask me TO decide. oh, Ponto,
Ponto! it's very plain you will never
get your new collar, nor / my new silk,
after all-not if she's in the world"
Then YOU wouldn't like to keep the
money from Grandfather Dll's daugh
ter?"
"Of course, / shouldn't How fool
ish you do talk, John"
Three months afterward John re-
ceived a dispatch from Lawyer Hatch
which caused him to take a second
Journey. The advertisement had been
answered by woman who proved her
self 10 be the missing daughter of
Grandfather Dill beyond a doubt.
She was poor widow, and sup
ported herself and little boy by coarse
sewing. A wretched support it af
forded her, and she was found living in
a tenement attic, with health and
spirits broken by misfortune.
She said that she had long since re-
pented her folly in leaving her father,
and had once gone back to her early
Il. a ~