The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-09-17
THE PHANTOM WILL.

Marie Richards stood looking frol
the kitchen window of the New Eng
land farm house that had sheltered he
for the past Is years. Her uncle an
aunt, the Winthrops, had adopted he
when she was left an orphan 2 year
of age, and they had never regrette
it, for she had been joy and comfor
to them in their home, while their onl
child, a son, had brought to them moth
ing but sorrow.
Mr.. Winthrop had spent his life per
fecting his farm, of which he was yer.
proud. and the thought that after hi
death his son Duncan would sqrande
it away in very short time so taxet
him that, after his wife's death. h,
made will giving everything he hat
to his adopted daughter, Marie, ex
cepting $1,000 bequeathed to his son.
The whole neighborhood knew thai
such a will had been made, but now
that the old man was dead and buried
1t was not to be found, and Duncan's
name was mentioned in whispers Of
foul play.
Marie stood looking sadly upon the
fields of waving grain, and watching
the birds flutter here and there. How
happy they were together. Watching
them made her realize her own lOneli-
hess, so she turned her gaze upon the
highway and saw Duncan winthrop
approaching the house. Presently he
stood before her, young man that
can be described by the one word pro-
t1igate.
Il am going to sell the farm next
week, and came to tell you, so you can
vacate these premises said he. while
watching the effect his words had up
on the face before him.
You are going to sell the farm" re-
peated Marie, in dazed way, trying
to realize all that meant for her.
Eyes. l need the money and must
have It,"
But where can I co."
"That you must decide for yourself.
You have had good home here for 10
years. and it is about time you began to
get your own living"
But Father Winthrop never intend
ed to leave me destitute. He told me
that he had made a will providing for
me, and it will surely be found"
Duncan Winthrop smiled and pulled
from his pocket a paper which he open
ed and held up for Marie to see. 1t
was not such an elaborate affair as
wills are nowadays, but small sheet
of letter paper, on which was written,
in as few words as possible, John Win
throp's wishes in regard to the dis
pocal of his estate after his death, and
signed by three witnesses.
as that the will?' questioned Marie,
in establishment.
"That is the will" was the curt re-
ply.
Where did you get it,"
81 stole it. Do you think l would
let any one else get possession of it?
1t makes all the difference in the world
to me who has it, and to make myself
wholly safe I think III destroy it now"
So saying, he walked to the kitchen
stove, where a small fire was burning.
and, placing the open paper upon the
Goals, stood and watched the flames de-
YOUR it. Marie, spellbound. watched 1t
also.
II shall inform Lawyer Ferris i'm
what you have done!' she
exclaimed, as the last bit of fame
nckered out.
"Will your" returned Duncan. with
laugh, replacing the cover upon the
stove. And how will you prove it,
for l shall say ddn't?"
"They will believe me-"
perhaps, but as long as you can
prove nothing l can snap my fingers at
what they believe. So now you must
see it will be necessary for you to find
new lodgings very SOON" Then he
left the house, and Marie stood irrcs-
watching him pass down the
road out of sight.
Mechanically she approached the
stove and lifted the cover. There, as
though hooking her, lay the will in
ashes but every word visible still. and
she read it through, great tears rolling
down her cheeks at the words: II
give and bequeath to my beloved
Marie Richards, the farm and
everything upon it,
Suddenly 1t occurred to her that IL
she could preserve the ashes in as per-
feet a state as they then were it would
be proof enough to establish Duncan's
guilt and her own claim. For sew
eral minutes she stood debating in her
mind the safest way to accomplish it.
securing piece of tin about
the size of the will, she carefully slip
ped it under the ashes, and lifted 1t
from the stove. So far. so good; but
it was not yet safe, for breath of wind
or sudden jar would turn 1t to dust.
Smearing a sheet of white paper with
mucilage, with the help Of a table knife
she gently pushed and lifted the phan-
tom will from the tin to the paper and
pressed it into place; then, to protect
it from injury, she fastened over it
thin sheet of tracing paper, and, be-
hold, the will was preserved Some
what wrnkled and ragged on the
edges, but every word visible. 1t was
accepted by the Probate court as gen.
uine will, and the property was dis
posed of as Farmer Winthrop wished
it to be, for no one was inclined TO
prosecute Duncan for what he had
done He received his 81 900, and was
never seen in that neighborhood again.
OF course the farm continued to
flourish under one 90 capable as Marie.
In few years she married the son of
neighboring farmer, and to-day, after
happy, prosperous life, she is
pleasant-faced, little old lady, very
fond of telling her grandchildren the
tI,n nh vtppo Will -pnctnr