The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-15
AN UNUSUAL LEGACY
Peter Horace and His Improbable
Speculation


ID question Ia the little village Of Glen
dale who would fall heir 70 Aunt Mar
tha Marvale's money when she died
There were her two nieccs, the near
est Of kin, in the first place. One, Miss
Bertha Marvalc, an amiable young
lady. who wns immensely proper and
respectable, and had been very dutiful
IN her attendance upon her invalid
amt The other, wee bit Of q maiden,
with sunny eyes, and short dancing
euris. who taught school for her own
and her mothers support and did not
seem TO mind II at all. she was always
80 bright and winsome. She had done
nothing In particular for her aunt cx-
cent 70 make sunshine in the prim old
rooms BY occasional visits. and IN q
saucy, fnveigling sort Of way 70 get
herself very much liked BY the eccen-
trio old lady; II was very hard to see
upon what grounds Miss Dot May
burne based her expectation, 50 the
neighbors said
And now the good, queer Miss Martha
Marvalc was dead, and buried with due
solemnity and proper gloom. Soon i
would he known who was the fortunate
possessor Of her fabulous wealth. for
Fabulous II had become. under the
busy tongues OF interested friends and
ncauaintances. To be sure. she had
never made a display d riches, and no
one in Glendale had ever seen her
money except in quite incagcr sums.
But she was known 70 have been unite
misery In her habits, and no doubt had
large amounts slowed away in odd
corners.
The lawyer sat at the head Of the
room rafting the important document
ominously. Miss Marvale sat IN the
high backed chair. looking pale, mel
anclloiy and severe in her new and
fashionable mourning dress. Mr.. Peter
Horace, gentleman who neverin his
life lad eyinced liking for anything
but money until he met Miss Maryale,
sat nttentively near.
Dot Mayburne. in doleful black, re-
clincd in the uncompromising rccesses
OF the big, stiff old sofa. with a sadness
In her pretty face that appealed 10
every tender heart IN her presence.
Willard Hayes, young and penniless
physician, and her most devoted adj
mirer, supported her, GEurntirely
speaking, IL course, on her left The
deacons Of the church sat in decorous
silence, and one or two oldest inhnb-
itants' occupied the spare corners Of
the room. The reading began.
After the usual preliininaries II 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 few insignificant legacies to
church and friends. To Bertha Mar
vale, in consideration Of aifeetionate
attention, she willed her favoritc foot
stool. Its many dear associations, the
fact that she had seen Il for years tho
support Of her nunt's wcaricd feet
would endear it to her, and, as she hae
often expressed pious contempt fol
carnal wealth, she would prizei Il above
all earthly dross.
The whole fortune was not o munifi
cent one, after all, and even Dot was
not q rich woman, and she could only
open her blue eyes in wonder Will,
Willard Hayes smiled brightly upol
her and whispered his congratulations
Miss Mnrvalc's face was buried In he
black-edged handkerchief, and no on
could tell how she was affected Mr.
Horace's face was picture Of blanl
dismay. The deacons looked glnn. an,
said not word Everybody scenes
inclined TO get out Of the way with. a
little ceremony as possible. and sooi
the cousins were left alone.
II hope, Cousin Bertha, you win al
ways make this house your home, . Do
began, timidly. "You know this is Al
great surprise to me as to you, and
while am glad Of home and COM
forts for MAMMA, do not want you /,
be poor or homeless, Can't we all liv
together2''
mo, we cant all live together,
snapped Bertha. coming out from be
hind her pocket handkerchief '.Yo
are a little nnderhand cheat, and
wouldn't accept charity from you if
were starving! And it is not neces
sary, as am engaged, and Mr.. Horac
Is amply able to see that do notice
to want
Dot retired, overcome by the stuper
dous intelligence, as Miss Maryale il
tended she should be-
Il am sure congratulate YOU sh
murmured, "and hope if you eve
need a friend you viii not hesitate 4
Bother yonr friendship!n ezclaime
the irate lady, rising; II think we ca
dispense with each others company
and as cannot ask you to leave you
own house win take the liberty Of r,
firing myself
That evening the will was discusse
over q hundred tea-tables, ana man
queries, wouderings and II told yo
SOS" passed TO and fro What the 81
lady had seen to admire IN Dot !
much, what had become of all til
wealth she was supposed to hay
owned, why She had left d paltry old oft
man q Bertha, who had been so faitl
full, and 50 forth, were ILL dulifs
~ discussed, and left as unsatisfactoI
II disposed of as before
In a little mcager private Office dow
town Mr. Peter Horace sat, vii
his head resting dejeetedly in b
hands and a general air Of forlorn d
spondency in his attitude. He had I,
forty years loved himself. his none
and his single blessedness more thu
anything else on earth. II ever a wor
an had stirred the region under h
shirt-front where his heart is supposs
70 beat It was pretty. saucy, gay lit
Dot Mayburne. And yet he had deli
erately engaged himself to marry
plain, priIn, elderly maiden, who pc