Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1889-07-11
For The Ellsworth American !
The Story Of a Fortune.
ny >INIE DIME.

KI NINE DIME"
Ny Uncle Richmond was very wealthy
1 From my earliest childhood can remem-
| ber wondering II any of his money would
| come To me al his death. and dcyoutly hop
I ing it might for was blessed with only
a small amount ~ this worlds goods. and
| always long,-i for ncic Richmond, estate
! Yes, may a. well admit it. did want
| il all, aud there were many OF my cousins
/ who wanted il too and which one got IT,
ami how, j. " hat | shall proceed 70 relate
| Ny Uncle. or my great-uucle rather. made
/ hume ous visits 10 h.> nephcws and uicces,
and he came to see IL when was about
fourteen wears old. He WAS rather a cross
old man. be wanted every one T. wait up
on him, and nearly ever, one wanted 10.
on account Of the favor be had in hi- pow
er TO do them was always rash spit
tire, and In my Younger days did not re-
strain my passions a. ! should
Well a. wa saving. Uncle Richmond
came TO see u and meant to be very at
tcntivc to him and thought, may be he
would max, me his hcircss dreamed of
the vast estates Of which-in my minds
eye-l saw myself mistress, and At las, the
desire grew 10 mania, and wondered
night ans day what could DO 70 get on
the right side OF Uncle If he had any.
He had been with Us only few days
when came across him in the garden
quite alone Tho thought flashed across
me to ask him what be meant 10 DO With
his property when he should need IL no
longer. 80 waking boldly up to him said
Il ncIc Richmond, YOU are very rich
man. aren't your He looked down at me
steruly. a. thought, and asked why
do you ask childt' Because think you
are, replied. "and want To ask YOU
10 give me Richmond Park when YOU die
and hadn't you better make your Will right
away. because you are au old man and may
he You VIII die without leaving one. and
then VII hc sure not to get the Park and
| want il so much" Well. II thunder
bolt had fallen al BIZ, feet he could not
hayc looked more surprised And sup
pose should leave YOU th. Park. he said,
What would you d. with .t:" "uh. | re-
piled Il would live there all my life and
love every stick and stone on the estate;
II has been my desire long as | can re
member u own Richmond Park Uncle
.ay it shat! be mine and " III DO anything
for You" We'll well Bess, there's time
enough yet" was the reply You are &
brave girl TO ask me to give you such a
valuable gift, but we'll see we'll see. Now
run away and be good girl" and my
Uncle whom had always thought very
stern old man, caressed my flowing curl-
in genuine affection. did run away with
light heart. felt almost confident that
the magnificent Park would one day be
mine, and | set myself to work to learn
how to manage it, and as time went on
and grew from child into young lady.
my love for and pride in the Park increased
steadily
My Uncle was again with Us four years
after the opening scenes OF our story,
was certainly his favorite, and obeyed
his every wish, not from duty but love,
for my affection for his estate extended to
the old gentleman himself. | had never
doubted but | should find myself the pos
SCISSOR of his home after he should leave it
for another, and when. one calm summer
day, he passed out of this life, holding
tightly TO my hands, his last kiss was TO
me, and his farewell words were, The
Park is for my Bess."
No will was found and as each of our
relatives knew Uncle's wishes regarding
his property, | entered upon my beloved
possessions, with no murmur from any
one.
Two years passed away, happy, joyful
years; had everything my heart could
desire and felt that riches went long
way towards happiness, in this world.
Perhaps | depended too much upon riches,
without thinking of the wings they pos
sess. At any rate one day as sat before
Uncle's old desk, lost slip of paper and
in the search, found a secret drawer, and
from it dropped paper sea!ed. with Last
viii and Testament of Hamilton Rich
mond" written thereon. | opened it and
read cam Il tell you in exact words,
but enough to learn that the Park and all
its belongings were not mine, but went
legally to distant relative of my Uncle.
whom did not know. What should dof
1t was true | could destroy the will, and
no one need ever know, but | did not feel
as if could do that, and then ! did not
think the document was legal, for did not
nv Uncle say with his last breath, that
the Park was for me? / did not think any
one could take it away from me. At any
rate, l would consult our family lawyer,
and have his opinion. | did so. He told
me beyond all doubt the will was binding
in a court of lLw, and l went home feel
ing, doubtless, as did Cinderella after the
departure of her fairy god-mother, know
ing that if l gave up Richmond Park,
l must spend the rest of my days in com
parativs poverty, and also knowing that
/ should give it up, for if l could con-
sent to keep it, l would never enjoy it
again. So gave my lawyer instructions
to hunt up the lawful owner, and in
short time came letter from him thank
ing me for my great kindness, and the
sacrifice had made for him, and saying
he was going abroad, and begging me to
remain at the Park as its mistress, till his
return, that he would send an agent to the
Park Immediately to settle matters, and
signed H W. Richmond" was glad
was not to be turned from my home as
suddenly as | expected, and my spirits
rose at the cordial tone of the letter and