The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-04

York, yet they had frequently ex
changed letters. Upon the death OF
/ Molly's mother, her father had taken
up permanent residence In San Diego
his wife's birthplace, and had died there
about the time that Molly's marriage
with John Allaire had been decided
upon. The solemnization of the mar.
riage had taken place few months
after his death, and the young couple
had begun life with no other invested
funds than the slender fortune left by
the elder Manson.
Somewhat later letter from her
uncle had reached San Diego, addressed
to Molly Allaire. II was the first he
had ever written 10 his niece and was
destined to be the last.
This communication, which will be
found TO be as concise in construction
as it 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 nv
niece, brother Toms only child. If I
have never seen you, it 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 n diff
cult matter for me to go to see you it
would be still more difficult matter for
you to come TO see me, SO pray don't
think of il.
''The fact is, Molly, I'm an old bear
of an uncle; not one of those North
American grizzlies which wear fur and
claws, but 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 hare an old bear of an uncle:
but he hasn't bears heart inside of
him. He doesn't forget what he owes
10 Tom Manson, and to you, as Toms
daughter, shall belong all the goods
and cbattels which may leave behind
me.
81 think it's quite likely that IL 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. II
you want to sell things out after am
gone, don't hesitate to do so.
Possibly, you may think that talk
like backwoodsman. Well, that's just
what | am, Molly, and when l say a
fling mean it.
"Now, there are two things that
want TO speak about:
First: am bachelor and shall live
and die one. II is not at all likely,
Molly, that man of my age-siXty-
will be fool enough to commit the
blunder of n 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 viii stop
into the gulf of Mexico.
Secondly: | intend to do my Level
best to keep this little fortune out OF
your hands as long as possible. ! ex-
pest to live TO be a hundred, anyway,
and you mustn't be offended, Molly, nj
this old mans obstinacy, this detcrm'n-
alton to prolong my earthly career to
such ridiculous extent.
"Now don't take the trouble to en-
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 worll And
shall not write again, either, except
i is to say that I'm dead, but some one
Else will look after that"
Such was the strange epistlo received
oy Mrs. Allaire. There could now be |
no room for doubt; she would be the |
'ole devisee and legatee of her Uncle |
Edward. IL might be good way off.
put some day she would find herself
enriched--a half n million.
md it would keep on growing, too.
Taking her uncle at his word. and.
rom what her father had told her. he |
vas as tenacious of purpose as an old
her husband had done well in
'ot resolving to give up tho sea. His
ourage, his intelligence, his industry
would no doubt enable him 10 ACQUIRE
competence long before her Uncle