The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-09-28
miscellanrnms.
MARCHHARE'S WILL.

centricity about old John Marchhare,
he would hardly have made such a
| will.
Several years before, the vessel in
| which he was returning from the West
Indies went down at sea, with nearly
all ON board John Marchhare was
picked up by one of the boats, cling
ing to little girl-a mere child
whose life he had saved, while her re-
latives and all who knew her were
among the lost.
From the little stranger thus thrown
upon his care he did not turn away.
She was too young to give any account
of her parents or family !; and all sub
sequent efforts to discover her kindred
or whence she came proving fruitless,
John Marchhare adopted her and took
her to his home and heart.
Having neither wife nor child, he
felt free to do as he would with his
handsome fortune and it pleased him
that it should go to his adopted daugh-
ter-''provided," his will, that if my
said adopted daughter should marry
during the lifetime of my brother, Ed
ward Marchhare, whom | hereby con-
stitute her guardian, without the ap-
proval of my said brother, the fore
going DeQ ueSGS anu ueNlSeS SIldlI De-
come void, and my whole estate shall
go to my said brother"
This was an eccentric will but we
have already said, John Marchhare
was an eccentric man. 1t is easy to
see that it left to Alice Marchhare, as
she was called, the threefold choice of
accepting a husband of her guardian
selection, of remaining single during
his lifetime, or of FORGETTING her for
tune. That it was thus made the in
terest of Edward Marchhare to oppose
any match that be offered to Alice was
n point that probably did not occur to
the testator, or, more likely still, he
knew his brother better than to suspect
that sordid motives would ever sway
him in fulfilling a trust committed to
his conscience.
Alice had barely reached woman
hood when her benefactor died but
when it was known how John March,
hare's will read, and the power it gave
his brother, suitors fairly swarmed
about the young lady and her guard
ian, and it is hard to tell to which they
were the most obsequious.
George Preston had not waited for
the publication of John Marchhare's
will rs the signal for falling in love
with Alice, as several others had done,
in spite of her beauty. The truth is,
he had been in that state as far back
as he could remember. And Alice, as
we NAV as well let the reader know,
had always liked George.
But when George Preston asked Mr..
Edward Marchhare's permission to
tender his hand to Alice, the old gen
tleman shook his head.
Have you a home to offer her ~ he
asked ''or means to support her p he
added, before George, in his confusion,
could find an answer.
"Perhaps," he continued, giving the
young man no time torecover himself
-"perhaps you think Alice's fortune
sufficient for both. Now, whether she
shall have one or mott
rs question have never stopped
to ask" broke in George Indignantly
whether she shall have fortune
or not" said Mr.. Marchhare, disre-
garding the interruption, depends on
her not marrying in my lifetime in OPP
position to my wishes; and l shall
certainly never wish to see her welded
to a man willing to be dependent for
a living on the bounty of his wife"
you must mistake me-" cried
ueOTSe, Will idCC, IL yOu ldllh
me in that class. have strength and
energy.
But as yet they are untried,n said
Alce's guardian, without waiting for
him to finish. 81 am willing to put
you to the test, however. Return in
three years the possessor of 81 900 saw
ed from your own earnings, and if
Alice then consents to hear your offer
l shall not oppose it."
Georges face frightened. A much
severer ordeal would not have daunted
him. And when he took leave of
Alice, though there was no formal
plighting of troth between them, he
had no misgiving lest the end of three
years should not find her faithfully
waiting his return.
The allotted time had nearly gone
by before George, after many strug-
giles and hardships, had succeeded in
laying up the sum which entitled him
to appear and claim of Mr.. Marchhare
the fulfilment of his promise.
At railway station, the last stop
ping place on his journey home, he
went into the refreshment room for
supper. He had not half finished the
scanty repast when the sound of the
bell, and the summons OF the pOrterS,
caused general commotion and rush
for the train. George caught up his
overcoat, and followed the rest.
On reaching his destination he was
about to draw on his overcoat pre-
paratory to leaving the carriage, when
for the first time he discovered that
the garment he had brought from the
supper-room was not his own. 1t was
similar in color and material, but the
attempt to put it on at once revealed
the difference. He was thunderstruck
at the discovery, In a secret pocket
of his own coat was the banknote
which had cost him three years of anx-
ious toll, and which represented so
many precious hopes.
He wildly ran about among the dis
persing passengers, looking sharply at
every man he met, as though expect
ing to find upon him the object of his
search. But all in vain, it was no
where to be seen.
With vague purpose of advertis
ing everywhere, and telegraphing in
all directions, he was hurrying rapid
ly along, when whom should he meet
but Mr.. Marchhare
Georges first greeting was to blurt
out his loss.