The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-15
HOW A HANGING
BROUGHT RICHES.



view which they eventually took OF his
character.
Tom belonged to the upper strata of So
ciety and at one time was quite the rage.
Old people held him up for a model, and
young people copied him. His erratic ways
were considered tokens OF genius by his
friends, Of whom he had host. If he
was unsuccessful in business they thought
him simply unlucky, and that he was a
frst-rate fellow. because he seemed to
take the consequences Of his i'll luck in
good-tempered, philosophical way. for
getting that taking things as they come
isn't so hard as parting with them as they
go.
When the elder Brabason died he left
his son goodly pile Of cash. which Tom
went through in an amazing short space
of time. Fortunately his mother and sister
were provided for, or he would have
brougnt tnem 70 grief as suddenly as he
brought himself
He had a way of dropping money that
was certainly exasperating, to say the
least, 10. those who had furnished 1t to
further some scheme of his. For no matter
how fiourishing the concern into which
Tom put his capital, it soon went to the
dogs, and poor Tom" as that individual
came to be considered by his mother and
sister, found himself not only out in pocket
in, but as much more in Liabilities.
II he purchased stocks they went down.
II he got rid of them at loss they went
up In short, he was unlucxy, and in spite
of naturally cheerful disposition he be-
gan to realize that he was.
Unfortunately for Tom. other people be-
gan to realize Ii too An uncle on the ma
ternal side, from whom Tom had great eX-
pectauons. felt so tender of the money
that he had amassed as not to desire to
have ii dissipated in unsuccessful schemes.
therefore. AFTER living state
single blessedness for siXty-fve years,
married, and two or three olive branches
tion.
If Tom owed these small cousins a
grudge for their existence he never show
ed sign of it, but would listen with as
eulogles concerning their baby virtues a 5
he did to their elderly pap's wonderful if
late discoveries concerning baby ways.
Perhaps Tom would have felt differently
IL his uncle had been the only one from
whom he had expectations. But an old
aunt of his fathers still lived, who was
by family repute still very wealthy.
keturah Brabason had never married,
and was as odd as Dicks hat band. If
she was rich her mode Of living did not
accord with that fact She resided in a
large old brick mansion. big enough for
school or an tnfirmary; practically alone
as she did not allow her two faithful old
servants to occupy the same side of the
house. The huge old barracks stood in
large grounds, the neglected condition of
It's surroundings adding to it's extreme
QrearlneSs. These old servants saw as
little of their mistress as it was possible
Tor people living in their capacity to see
though perhaps they saw enough for their
own comfort, as that old lady's temper
was said to be uncertain in its quality
though of quantity there was no stint
she had no visitors except her man of
law ana her grandniece, Hetty Bra ason
who seemed to understand her grandaunt
and was able to make allowances for her
eccentricities.
In do
Iond-by all accounts-of her grandnephew
Tom, and had expressed her Intention OF
making him her heir. OF late years,
however, since Tom had been 81 nm
fortunate in his speculations and unsteady
in his habits, she had refraned from
making any such remark, though she did
make several OF another nature concern
ing him to his sister Hetty Aunt Ketu-
rah did not attribute Toms misfortunes
70 i'll luck by any means. She declared
that it was due to bad management
'barefacedly bad management More
than once she remarked apropos of Moth
ing:
IF they" meaning Hetty and her moth
err think me fool enough to leave my
worldly possessions to that graceless
scamp. for him to make ducks and brakes
OF, they are very much mistaken"
Poor Hetty adored her brother-syraca-
less fellow though he had become. She
mourned great deal over his changed
habits and unsuccessful ways. She was
always begging and pleading for him
with her mother and grandaunt or maks-
ing excuses for some new failure on his
part, and she certainly was the only one
who seemed to have any influence over
him, though she could not always count
upon her advice or admonition having
the desired effect
After one very bad outbreak on Ton,' 6
part, Aunt Keturah did hearlken to Hetty. :
entreatles for her brother and gave him,
last chance to retrieve his fallen for
tunes. But, alas that chance failed also
and the old lady declared that she was
done with Tom. As things turned out she
was quite correct in her declaration. but
she was done with everything else as
we'll as with her graceless granddaughter.
for her faithful old servants found her one
bright morning dead in bed.
Then there was gathering of the clans
Relatives came from near and far Such
peeping and prying as the old house
sustained would have made its former
owner particularly wrathy.
Miss Brabason was not one to trust
much to haphazard. therefore, those in
vestigators found themselves now and
little distractions of that nature, which
were far from agreeable to their inuuir-
ing minds. Furthermore, they were left
entirely out of the old lady's will and
when they found out it's contents thew
were forced to the conclusion that Aunt
Keturah was certainly not as well off as
they supposed.
Anyhow, her requests were few. though
she did remember her old servants and
her man of business. Her will was drawn
up by herself, and was certainly unique
of its kind, and ran as follows:
Il give and bequeath TO my grandnece
Hester Brabason, two hundred a year
as long as she remains unmarried. And
to my graceless observation-disclosures
Brabason-brother TO the same-my house
just as it stands. provided he lives there.
Also 5000 in cash, with my blessing and
bit of advice. When he has gone through
with the money-which l have no doubt
he will-he had better go hang himself
That, in my estimation, is the only fit
ending to such a career as his has been
Therefore, lest he should shrink from the
trouble of erecting a gallows to carry
out this sound bit of advice l have al
ready had constructed in an unused part
of my house such an apparatus as will
answer admirably for that purpose This,
no doubt, will seem harsh, but when he
has squandered the money portion of my
bequest l do not know where he is to
turn for assistance. Then hope he win
thoroughly repent of his evil ways, and
take in a contFite spirit the step l ad-
wise, for to put an end to such an I'M
profitable-I might add profiigate-career
as his has been, is the best and wisest
course. In the left hand side of the old
oak escritore, in a little drawer, Tom
will fnd a sealed envelope. In that he
will find instructions and the key to the
room where he can carry out my last,
and might add, my most profitable adj