Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-09-01


uncle had reached San Diego, addressed
to Molly Allaire. 1t was the first he
had ever written to his niece and was
destined to be the last.
This communication, which win be
found to be as concise in construction
as 1t Is practical In tone, read as fol-
lows:
my DEAR MOLLY: Although you and
live at a great distance from each 9TH
er, and although have never seen you,
yet don't forget that you are my
niece, brother Toms only child. II
have never seen you, 1t is simply be-
cause Tom and didn't meet after he
got married, and because live in the
extreme western portion of Tennessee
and you live in San Diego, Now, it's
several thousand miles from Tennessee
to California, and it wouldn't be at all
convenient for me to make that jour
ney. Therefore, if it would be diff
cult matter for me to go to see you it
would be a still more difficult matter for
you to come to see me, so pray don't
think of it.
1.-THE fact is, Molly, I'm an old bear
of an unclei not one of those North
American grizzlies which wear fur and
claws, but n human bear, that finds his
pleasure in living quite outside the pale
of what you call society.
'But don't let this worry you, Molly;
you may have an old bear of an uncle;
but he hasn't bears heart inside of
him. He doesn't forget what he owes
to Tom Manson, and to you, as Toms
daughter, shall belong all the goods
and chattels which may leave behind
me.
81 think it's quite likely that it will
be worth your while to look after the
goods and chattels aforesaid. Under
the hammer to-day they might bring,
say five hundred thousand dollars,
and they will increase in value, for
my business looks very promising. If
you want to sell things out after am
gone, don't hesitate to do so.
POSSIBLY, you may think that talk
like a backwoodsman. Well, that's just
what l am, Molly, and when / say a
thing mean it.
"Now, there are two things that
want to speak about:
First: I am bachelor and shall live
and die one. 1t is not at all likely,
Molly, that man of my age-sixty-
will be fool enough to commit the
blunder of youngster of twenty or
thirty. Hence, there's not the slightest
chance that anything will happen to
keep this property from going to you or
to your children-no more than there is
that the Father of Waters will stop
emptying into the gulf of Mexico.
Secondly: intend to do my level
best to keep this little fortune out OF
| hoy TNOccilNln
pect to live to be hundred, anyway,
and you mustn't be offended, Molly, al
this old mans obstinacy, this determin.
alton to prolong my earthly career to
such a ridiculous extent.
Now don't take the trouble to an
-swer this. There is no post office with
in ten miles Of my wild lands, and we
often go weeks and weeks without get
ting news from the outside world. An6
l shall not write again, either, except
it is to say that I'm dead, but some one
else will look after that"
Such was the strange epistle received
by Mrs. Allaire. There could now be
no room for doubt; she would be the
sole devisec and legatee of her Uncle
Edward. 1t might be good way off
but some day she would find hersel,
suddenly enriched-a half a million
and 1T would keep on growing, too
Taking her uncle at his word, and
from what her father had told her, hi
was as tenacious of purpose as an ole
Roman, her husband had done well il
not resolving to give up the sea. Hi
courage, his intelligence, his industry
would no doubt enable him to acquire
a competence long before her Uncl'