St. Landry democrat., 1890-06-21
MISS TRIMPY'S WILL.

said that they never couio nn@Ao 40"
Trimpy out"
relative had died, and, to her great sur
nrise. had left Miss Trimpy twenty five
thousand dollars. She had invested this
money SO wisely, and managed her income
so carefully, that her fortune had more
than doubled by the time Miss Trimpy was
forty five years of age.
She was still Miss Trimpy when that |,
time came, and she often declared her IN
tsntion of remaining Miss Trimpy as long |
as she lived. This declaration gave perfect |
satisfaction to her relatives living In
Elderville, the little town in which MISS
Trimpy had been born, and in which she
still lived in little, old-fashioned home |
left her by her parents.
She had made few changes IN her man
ner of living when her fortune came TO hef:
She had, in her own words, made hefseii
comfortable" and that, she said, was all
she desired in this world. She mad hso
the old house painted anew, and made
soms needed repairs, and she had pur-
chased long desired, 'tfowered real Brus-
sells. for her little parlo,, but three or four
hundred dollars would have paid for all
the changes she had made, and she still
dressed as plainly and soberly as Quaker
cas- spending less than one hundred dol
F
lars year for her clothes.
Her simple, inexpensive style OF living
also afforded her relatives no little SAILS
faction. These relatives were numerous.
I'm fact, Miss Trimpy did not realize how
numerous they really were, until her for
tune came to her. Previous to that time
most of them had held themselves aloot
from the lady who was now "dear Cousin
Thyrza and "dear auntie" to them: Some
of them became 80 extremely sollcltous
about their dear relative that they express
ed willingness to leave their own hcmes
and take up their permanent abode with
"dear Cousin Thyrza, that they mlgnt
"take care of her"
Others opened their homes and hearts TO
her. and begged "dear Cousin Thyrza" to
come and live with them, but all such
overtures were promptly and firmly re-
iected by Miss TrimpY.
One day she amazed her kindred and
friends by announcing in the most matter
of fact way that she intended going abroad
for six months.
..Going abroad - exclaimed all OF the
frst and second and fourth and other
cousins in concert, with the nephews and
the nieces removed by only three or four
degrees.
aOh. auntie!" cried Miss Arabella
Trimpy, daughter of Miss Trimpy's half
brothers cousin, 'you surely won't think
of going abroad alone !"
10 20 abroad had for years been the
crowning desire of Miss Arabella's heart.
'sOf course shall go alone. why not
asked Miss Trimpy.
"My son Horace would be so glad to 60
with Won. and relieve you of all care of
YOUR luggage and purchasing tickets and
all that sort of thing" said Mrs Tabby
Sbrew, a half cousin of Miss Thyrza's
father. Really, dear Cousin Thyrzs, we
shall all be SO anxious and worried about
you if you 60 alone"
But Miss Thyrzs would and did go alone:
No less than twenty of her anxious AND
fearful kindred followed her to the boat,
each carrying drifting gift" that they
hoped might serve to remind "deal
Cousin ThyIza" of them, when she was fal
away.
When the warning bell of the steamer
rang. they crowded around their depart
inc relative with their handkerchiefs te
their eyes They kissed her fondiy anc
tenderly, with many assurances OF anxiety
and undying affection. 49,
When they were gone, and MISS ihyrzs
was alone, she stood on the steamers decf
smiling grimly as she watched the Wlle
futterings of their handkerchiefs on Inc
wharf.
aPack of f,ypocrites, that they are, slit
said derisiyely.. "There isn't one of 'en
that wouldn't be willing to see me at tn
bottom of the ocean, If they thought they't
ret INV money when I'm gone. Mary jan
Dixon as good as asked me out and out
had made my will, and that willy Fre'
limited around about how he had jus
drawn up wills for half dozen person
who were going abroad, and he though
1t was such q prudent thing for them t
do. Wonder if they think / can't rea
,em all like book. I'd just like to know
what they are saying and thinking OF thi
moment"
Miss Thyrza spent six happy, quie
months abroad. She had always been
great reader of history, and found infinit
delight in visiting the places OF which sh
had often read. She travelled in que
inexpensive manner from place to place
No one would havesupposed that the com
on-looking little elderly woman. in tn
perfectly plain gray dress and cheap stra
bonnet. had several thousand dollars In
Great belt around her waist. "Pm goin
70 carry plenty Of money around with me
she had said to herself, "there's no tellin
what might happen, and want plen'
in case / should lie sick and need docto
and nurses and all that"
She was not very strong, and her tr
had been taken partly on the advice OF D.
physician. She felt and looked ten yea
Younger. when one morning, late In Oct
|. bar she found herself again on board tt
steamer bound for home in the vigor al
happiness of renewed health and strengt
When the shores of Old England b
been lost TO view, Miss Trimpy sat alo
ON the ships deck, making plans OF us
fitness when she reached home Po
Miss Trimpy Five days later she buckl
life preserver around her, and chung
sunport to q post in the cabin rs the bt
rolled and rocked in one of the M,
terrific storms il had ever faced. M
Tr;mpv's white lips were dumb and trel
Hing ss she heard the shrieks and pray,
81 women and children around her, o
looked into the pale faces OF strong ms
few DAYS later, the papers OF bt
continents were filed with long and b
rowing accounts Of the sinking OF
- eaa Relle in mid-ocean with all on boa
The captain and one sailor were picked
next day, cliDging TO noating umr
more dead than alive.
The relatives of Miss Thyrza Trim
received the news with slnguiaFiy
eyes. :. .h.t
she made the day before she salleo
left with old Lawyer Grimm, sala sec
Cousin Mary Jane Dixon. Sne
4 mum as the Sphinx when ! asked mel
she'd made will. But ! found OUT
the same, and III I'm mot down Tor 9
ten thousand, I'm greatly mistaken