St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-09-17
AN UNUSUAL LEGACY.

ASOOOAA xIIUdNxs
Feeer Horace and His Unprodtaha
Speculation.
It had been for some months . moo,
ed question in the little village of Glen
uaie who would fall heir to Aunt Mar
shs Marvsle's money when she died
There were her two niecea, the near
est OF kin. in the FIRST place. One, Mis-
hertha Marvale, an amiable youn,
iaoy, who was immensely proper ant
respectable, and had been very dutifu
IN her attendance upon her invalis
aunt The other. wee bit of maiden
with sunny eyes. and short dancins
curis. who taught school for her OWE
and her mothers support and did no,
seem to mind it at all, she was alway.
30 bright and winsome. She had done
nothing in particular for her aunt cx
ceet 70 make sunshine in the prim old
rooms BY occasional visits, and in Z
saucy, inveigling sort Of way to gel
nerseif very much liked by the eccen.
tric old lady; it was very hard u see
upon what grounds Miss Dot Nav.
burne based her expectation. 80 the
heighbors said.
And now the good. queer Miss Martha
Marvale was dead, and buried with due
solemnity and proper gloom. Soon il
would be known who was the fortunate
possessor of her fabulous wealth-for
fabulous" it had become, under the
busy tongues of interested friends and
acquaintances. To be sure. she had
never made = display Of riches, and NO
one in Glendale had ever seen her
money except in quite meager sums.
But she was known to have been quite
miserly in her habits, and NO doubt had
large amounts slowed away in odd
cornerA
The lawyer sat 1t the head Of tho
room rattling the important document
ominously. Miss Marvale sat in the
high-backed chair. looking pale. mel
ancholy and severe in her new and
fashionable mourning dress Mr.. Peter
Horace, . gentleman who never In his
life had evinced liking for anything
but money until he met Miss Marvale,
sat attentively near.
Dot Mayburnc. in doleful black, 70
clined in the Incorporating recesses
OF the big, stiff old sofa, with sadness
in her pretty face that appealed to
every tender heart in her presence.
Willard Hayes. . young and penniless
physician, and her most devoted ad-
mirer, supported her, 6guratively
speaking, of course. on her left Tho
deacons Of the church sat in decorous
silence, and one or two oldest inhab-
itants" occupied the spare corners Of
the room. The reading began.
After the usual prelilninaries It was
found that all Of Martha Marvale's real
estate, moneys and personal property
were left Internationally to her BE-
loved niece. Dorothea Mayburne. ex-
cepting y few insignificant legacies to
church and friends. To Bertha Mar
vale, in consideration Of a6ectionate
attention, she willed her favorite foot
stool. Its many dear associations, the
fact that she had seen it for years tho
support of her aunt's wearied feet.
would endear 1t to her, and. as she had
often expressed . pious contempt for
carnal wealth, she would prize it above
al earthly droes.
The whole fortune was not . munifi-
cent one, after al. and even Dot was
not . rich woman, and she could only
open her blue eyes in wonder while
Willard Hayes smiled brightly upon
her and whispered his congratulations.
Miss Marvale's face was buried in her
black-edged handkerchief, and NO one
could tell how she was affected Mr..
Horace's face was . picture Of blank
dismay. The deacons looked glum, and
said not q word Everybody seemed
inclined to get out Of the way with as
little ceremony n possible, and soon
the cousins were left alone.
II hope, Cousin Bertha, you will al
ways make this house your home" Dot
began, timidly. "You know this is ~
great . surprise to me rs to you. and.
while am glad Of . home and COM
forts for mamma, do not want you 10
be poor or homeless Can't we al live
together?"
"No. we can't all live together"
Bertha, coming out from be-
hind her pocket handkerchief "You
are . little underhand cheat, and !
wouldn't accept charity from you il |
were starving! And It is not neces-
kary, rs am engaged. and Mr.. Horace
il amply able to see that do not come !
10 want"
Dot retired, overcome by the stupen- |
ilous intelligence, as Miss Msryele in
Iended she should be.
81 am sure l congratulate you" she
land I hope II you ever |
need friend you will not hesitate"
"Bother your friendship" exclaimed
the irate lady, rising; Il think We can
dispense with each others company, |
md rs / cannot ask you to leave your
,wn house I win take the liberty Of re-
firing myself"
That evening the will was discussed
,ver . hundred tea-tables, and many /
,ueries, wouderings and II told you
;o's" passed to and fro. What the old
adv had seen to admire in Dot 50
much, what had become OF all The
wealth she was supposed to have
owned, why she had left . paltzy old otto
nan to Bertha, who had been % faith
ul, and 50 fortA. were al dutiful-
= discussed, and left - unsatisfactori-
' disposed Of rs before
In little meager private ofice down
own Mr. Peter Horace sat- with
lis head resting dejectedly in his
.ands and general mir Of forlorn de-
in his attitude. He had tor
orty years loved himself. his money
nd his single blessedness more than
nything else on earth II ever wom-
la sAixnad the neQi0n undeR his