Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1895-11-14

forming her husband whom she was TO
visit, as he did not know that she had
half-brother who had been crimi-
nal.
She remained with me week, as
was In poor health, and. returning 10
her home, found that her husband and
her only child-a boy some or years
old-were among the missing nor could
she gain any clew to their whereabouts.
within a month she came back 10
me, unable to account for their dlsap-
pearance, so completely broken down
that she soon died and her remains
were buried In the Woodland cemetery
In this city.
Her husbands name was Alfred
Darling; the Christian name or her
son was Thomas. long ago reim'
bursed those who had suffered from my
emDezzleneDt, and wish my entire
property to be conveyed to this son.
also desire you. on the recommends
ton OF DR.. Ashton to act as my execu.
tor"
lie stopped as he had many times
while stating the above, and Mr.. Sew
ard inquired:
What If Thomas Darling is dead or
connot be found?"
Dispose of my property for the bene-
mt OF the poor" the dying man replied.
The Will was drawn up and properly
signed and witnessed without delay.
Then. having placed Ii and the "inven-
tory" In his pocket, the lawyer took the
testators hand in his own, babe him
Good by" started to go from the room.
whispering as he did so in the physi-
clans ear:
BE sure to come to my office at
this evening"
DR.. Ashton promised to do so and the
lawyer took his departure.
In his Office we again look upon Law
yer Seward, not calmly seated, as when
we first saw him there. but nervously
pacing to and fro. as he was left there.
His reverie. evidently of a somber
character. was broken by the advent OF
DR.. Ashton, to whom he said:
Il have something to state to you
which will surprise you, think"
"Ah" was the monosyllabic reply.
please seat yourself" Mr.. Seward
observed.
Both sat down and the lawyer asked:
do you recall the name Of the bene-
ficiary of Mr.. Stanley's will?"
"Thomas-Thomas Darling, was 1t
not?"
He and l are Identical"
"What?" almost screamed the DOCTOR
Read that" and, drawing a time
worn paper from his pocket, Mr.. Sew
ard passed 1t to the doctor. who un-
folded it and read:
B, June IL, 1S-.-My Dear
Kate: If you love me as you have in the
past, come here without delay, to the
- house. Lovingly yours,
JAMES"
When the doctor raised his eyes from
the paper Mr.. Seward began:
1.-TWO days after mothers singular
departure from her home, father ac-
cidentally ran across this note, which
she had left, hnintentionally, it is pos
sible."
Having for some time suspected a
man Of the name of James Newton as
trying to ALLEVIATE her affections from
himself, and as this man had disap-
peared from the place few days be-
fore, father, naturally inclined to be
jealous, imagined him the writer of the
note. He had never known, as Mr..
Stanley said, that his wife had half
brother.
unable to endure the disgrace that
would be his when her infidelity was
made known to the world, he at once
moved to far-away place. where he as
sumed the name of Seward. He never
looked at paper from fear of seeing
her name in it, lived in misery for six
years, died and was buried.
Naturally the supposed conduct of
my mother influenced me to regard all
as tickle. and father did all in
his power to incite me to shun girls.
Hence was developed what you, the
'ther day denominated my 'insensibil-
ty to feminine charms
Poor mother! how you were wrong
DR. and tears filled his eyes. as they
lid those of his friend, who said:
Il do not wonder at it,"
OF the thousands of dollars be-
Iueathed him by Mr.. Stanley the law
'er accepted one-half and placed the
ther half so as to benefit the poor
His mothers remains were removed
rom their resting place and Inferred /
eside his fathers.
He did not resume the name of OAR
ing; he did change his attitude toward
he gentler sex. Indeed. a year had
ot elapsed after he had learned the !
ruth relative to his mother before he
ecame the husband of a most estima-
lie lady, whom he admits to his friend !
.shton to be blessing" !
lore OR LESS HUMOROUS.