The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-02
REMEMBERED THE WILL.
PETER GAINES QUEER PLACE FOR
HIS LAST TESTAMENT.

1t Came Near Depriving His Adopted
Daughter of Share in the Estate-An
Interesting Episode of the Coal Oil Dis
coveries in Pennsylvania.
The physical contrast between Mary
Gaines and her father and mother was
startling enough. Old Gaines was very
Woodworking man, and so ignorant that
he could neither read nor write. He worked
in the coal mines for many years, and put
the savings of his life into 800 acres of wild
land in Clarion county. But the farm was
rugged and sterile, and, leaving his brother
! to work it, the old man came to this city
and got position on the Reading railroad
as Waterman, and with Mary's help and
Mrs Gaines's thrift they made a decent
! living.
At this time the coal oil discoveries were
made, and rude mountaineers, who had
seldom a shoe on their feat, found them
selves millionaires. In this good fortune
Peter Gaines was destined to participate.
Although illiterate he was shrewd, and
refused to sell his Clarion county farm
until he had examined the ground, and the
result was that in six months he returned
to his wife and daughter with $4,000 and
an income from leases that amounted to
several hundreds per day.
Peggy Gaines had but one idea of the
value of money, and that was to use it for
! the benefit of her Mary. A fine house was
purchased in the northern part of the city,
and Mary's social surroundings began to
be very pleasant. Old Gaines looked care
! fully after his business, and his wealth was
increasing rapidly. In the days of her pow
erty and dependence Mary had given her
heart to Bernard Rudolph, young Ger
man, who was chemist in large dyeing
| establishment in the city. Mrs. Gaines
more than once limited to her daughter
that, with her wealth. and beauty, she could
look higher, but Mary, with quiet decis-
ion that her mother understood, declared
that she loved Bernard, and all the wealth
in Christendom should not separate them.
A SURPRISE FOR MARY.
So date for the wedding was fixed, but
terrible occurrence damaged all the
lovers plans. Mrs. Gaines wanted to see
her old home in the woods and accom-
panied her husband on one of his visits to
the oil country A collision of two trains
happened on the way, and Peter Gaines
and his wife were taken out of the wreck
dead
1t was a terrible shock to the daughter,
and for month she did little else than
grieve over the loss of her parents. One
of her fathers friends saw her and advised
steps being taken to settle the estate
Mary consented listlessly, but was aroused
from her indifference a week later, when
her friend came to the house with letter
in his hand
Miss Mary, have a surprise for you.
Your fathers brother Michael has applied
to the court of Clarion county to admins
ter your fathers estate on the ground that
he is the next heir, and l might as well tell
you now that he made an affidavit that YOU
are not the child of Peter and Margaret
Gaines. have note from the Rev. Father
kohlman, of Pittsburgh, whom you know.
He states that he will call on you Thurs
day. In the meantime, have engaged Mr..
William Wallace, one of the best lawyers
in middle Pennsylvania, to look after your
interests"
Mary sat for some moments in a state of
utter bewilderment. Michael Gaines never
liked her, and this must be a piece of spite
full mischief. It could not be true Ber-
nard's consolation was manly and practi-
cal. IF you lose the estate we will have
enough to live on. So let it CO."
Father Kohlman paid his visit and laid
to rest all hope of expectation that her IN
cle's story was false-in short, he con-
firmed it, He said: "On the 10th of Octo-
Der, 1850, party of two men and two wom-
en- were crossing the mountains near Peter
Gaines cabin. 1t was nightfall and be-
ginning to snow, so they stopped in the
barn and left next morning at daybreak.
Peter went to the barn to look after the
cow and heard something crying, and look
ing about found child about four months
old. The mother had, no doubt, left it
when starting few hours before Peggy
was wild with joy, and after some demur
Peter consented to let her adopt the little
girl. was called in and baptized you, nv
dear. I urged the old people to tell you
the truth years ago, but they feared that
you might come to love them less, but
am confident that your adopted father
never left this world without providing for
you, for he assured me as much not more |
than year ago."
THE WILL FOUND.
Mary was very white, and, clasping her |
hands, said, IF I had only known the !
truth would have been prepared for this,
but feel as if l had no place in the world" |
The good priest urged her not to despair |
of the issue. Her reward might be de- |
layed, but it would surely come.
Mr.. Wallace's advice was brief and to |
the point THE plaintiff can, am as
sured, prove that Mary Gaines was only an |
adopted child, and, therefore, not entitled |
10 inherit. But have every reason to be- !
lieve that there is will So make all due |
inquiry in that direction.
Among many old friends was Billy Bur |
ton, clerk in the Reading railroad main |
Office. He was present when Wallace's /
letter was read, and suddenly paralyzed /
the company by shouting: Good God, /
what fool l ami Where's my hats" and /
then he rushed out of the room at racing
speed.
Billy walked rapidly along talking to /
himself what hammer headed chump /
am 10 have forgotten that. It's about |
two years ago when old Gaines was watch
man, and he let me into the office one /
night. English Brown was there, too. 1t |
all comes back TO me. They asked me to /
witness a paper, and old Peter made his
mark ike q railroad crossing. And now 10
find Brown"
That gentleman was found. He had |
been lawyers clerk, and but for drink |
could have got along in the world Burton |
poured a food OF questions on him. Eyes,
he had written Peters will; did not know
that Peter was dead; of course he had the
paper; it was in is at" So he took of his