The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-11-07
$50 SIS SIS sss 5:
IAN UNEXPECTED }
$4,000. !
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Z Willie Smith was nlneteen-pretty,vl.
yacious. ambitious. but just now the
very much. discouraged owner OF tho
) Smith plantation and Its cnrun.
branccs. Two weeks before shc had
been summoned from her school at
stanton by the death of her grand
father, and, as there was no other rrlu-
tive, had entered ut once Into possession
OF the property. a few days after the
funeral the owner OF the mortgage had
made an oStcnsIblG visit OF coincidence,
but had so interpollted his expressions
OF sympathy with matters OF practical
significance that when he left Willie
y was for the first time aware that abe
was only the nominal owner OF her
plantation.
Al first she was stunned. for she had
already begun to make plans for the
y Improvement and extension OF the an
cestral acres. Tho poor cabins OF the
negro tenants were 10 be replaced BY
new ones, neglected fields were to be
y again fnced and brought Into cultlya-
! ton. and better methods and better
machinery were TO be used. Her grand
father had been casy-Eolns, and I'M
practicable. but she had supposed that
her schooling and the house expenses
had been met by the rents paid him by
4 negro tenants. Now she knew that the
mortgage had been gradually increased
20 meet the deficits.
This morning she was In the kitchen
helping Aunt Chloe with the ironing,
but her thoughts were busy with the
z formidable problems OF the future,
There were the expenses and Interest
to be met, and worst OF all. there was
( 500 sill due her school Mt Stnunton.
She could not see any possible way to
pay II. for the season had been bad,an
the renters, instead OF paying what
they owed, were beginning 10 clamor
Z for advances on the next years crops:
and the creditors had delicately hint
red that her grandfather had already
raised the mortgage out OF all proper
ton 20 Its security. In anxious success
sion her mind went over her own ac-
complishments In search OK something
that would be moncy-produc!ng She
was fond OF scrlbbling and was fairly
good at drawing and music, and had
won a school reputation as llnEuist
But she was too honest and practical
90 over-ratc these accomplishments.
They were good things TO know, but
would not help her ut this crisis. No.
she must struggle as best she could un-
+ III the creditor forccloscd: then she
z would go out and seek 4 place among
the wage-earners.
.Hcyer's 20 mali. Ais Willie" called
Uncle Tobe's voice through the open
window, and black hand was thrust
in with package OF letters. She took
them and glanced over the pastmarks
carelessly. Most OF them were from
school friends at StauntJn. Several
were circulars, and one was from Lead
2 VILE, Colorado. She rejected this and ex-
/ amlned II curlousiy. She had no cor
respondents in any par; Of the west.
inside was check and short let
ter, with the printed address Of n Lead
Vile banking house. The letter read:
willie Smith. Talbo,;on. Ga: We
arc requested 10. forward you the In
closed check FOR ten thousand dollars,
10000. Please acknowledge receipt.
and obllsc. yours truly.
wALDRoS & co.
She stared at It for moment, then
hurried!y examined the check. Yes. K
was for $4,000. made In favor OF Willie
Smith. But Of course, 1t was a mistake.
: II she had any relatives In the world,
they were so far removed az TO have
been overlooked, and certainly none OF
them was rich enough to send her
$4,000
Talbotton was small, unprogress-
I've town. whose struggling arms reach
cd out drowsily TO the line fence OF tho
Smith plantation. Willie crossed two
fields and went down a short lane. and
was then In the principal street. There
was but one bank. and Its cashier
was an old friend OF her erarliather's.
She want directly 10 him and explained
her errand.
Il reckon It's all right. Willie" said
the old man. after he had carefully ex-
amlEed the envelope and its contents.
It's directed to Willie Smith. Talbot
ton. and you're the only Willie SmItl,
know. And Waldron & Co. are all
right. Our house has deale with them.
Il And I'm bound 10 say, my dear" put
z ting down the papers and looking ut
her bcaming!y, I'm plumb glad Tor
/. this wiHdfall. can almost hear so
grandfather chuckle In his grave"
but Il can't be mine" Insisted VIII
lie. II don't even know that | have Il
relative In all the world"
somebody 20 family has lost sight
said the cashier, geniGlly. Now"
there's man over In Jasper county
cot fortune from i cousin he hasn't
heard from in thirty years. I reckon
this Is something that way.
ITS likely 20 mothers cousin or
somebody else. Anyhow. It's all right,
I and I'm willing to tnke thr check. Wli
you have the money. or leave It on de-
5 poslt?"
Il wish felt more sure" hesItated
Willie.
well. suppose I telegraph to waId-
ron & Co. Can You come In again this
afternoon"
Yes"
When she returned In the afternoon
the cashier handed her 4 slip OF paper.
II read:
Merchants Bank Taibotton. Ga
Gen,lemen:-NOthlng 10 explain. We
forwarded check TO Willie Smith. Tai
bottom, as requested. II the party pre-
sented It can be Identified y0u may
cash same with perfect safety. Yours.
WALDROE n co.
SO you see 1t IL all right" said the
cashier: Nov. Il you VIII please In
( dorse the check"
Willie did 30 with n sudden feeling OF
jcxultntiou.
Pow will You have IT." brlalily.
Suppose you give mo $1,000. That
VIII pay Off the mortgage and make
some necessary repairs. The rest l Will
deposit With You. hnd-and suppose
you let me have n check book: II will
be more convenient"
The next few hours were momcntous
ones In the young girls lie, Tho mort
gage was paid, and visits were made 70
grocery and hardware and aced stores,
ana to painters and carpenters and
a stone masons: and before she went
home check was on Its way to the