Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1899-02-05
UNCLE BILLY'S LEGACY.
BY HOWARD rTELDiNG

when IL Wa VII NHNAHNA AtfN'HHHH"t
mort that my uncle. William Harris
was dying. every one said that our fam
ilv was doomed 20 endless discussion
"ITncle Billy. " as che whole town called
him. was The only rich Harris ever
known In that region and the dispose
ton az hs prop RS wus matier OF
vital Importance Boo our family
Noi one of us know whore % was so-
Ing. for Uncle Bl.ly never gave o. hint
about 10 Of one thing however $50 all .
felt sure-the property would not Dee /
divided with any approach 90 equality |
but would go almost as a whole 90 one |
fortunate individual
Thare were those in the village who |
said that Uncle Billy had planned 90 |
stir no as much strife as possible that |
he had figured 10 an ont IN advance
with malign satisfaction. The only basis
for this opinion was Uncle Billy's habit
Of figuring everything ont He had
faculty for combinations akin 20 that
possessed by great chess players have
known him % set down on paper the
results Of a town meeting weeks in adj
vance Of It's date with surprising ac-
curacy Of detail
As 10 the prospects Of a squabble over
his win no one could deny that they
were excellent We were far from har-
monious even while he lived. Uncle
Henry and / had quarreled over our
business partnership and were on the
verge Of q dissolution harmful 90 both.
think could have forgiven Uncle
Henry for his attitude In this matter
but for my diapproyal Of his treatment
OF his son Leonard This young man
was In love with our very distant cous.
IN. Daisy Vale. who az one time had
been supposed 20 have first rate
chance 10 inherit Uncle Billy's money
Her prospects changed. however and
Uncle Henry came 90 believe that tho
fortune would really goo 20 Mildred Lam
caster. an orphan whom Uncle Billy
had taken under his protection because
Of friendship for her father
Believing that shewas t1 he Che heir.
ess. Uncle Henry forced h.s son o. pay
court o. her Leonard was % good fell
low. but oyUburdonad by the y.rtua OF
obedience llo tried Co follow h.s ia
theirs bohcst as wen as sore heart
would lct him. and this SD fingered
Daisy that che throw him over alto
gother even before thero was amy rea
cause for 3d.
Strangely enough. sine laid tha blame
Tor the trouble upon Aunt Harriet
Henry maiden sister who kept house
for him Tho twowould scarcely speak
and Ms they lived under the same roo
the situation was very painful
Harriet believed that Mildred was "a
the bottom of the whole difficulty
"That girl thinks Leonard IS going q
get the money. said Aunt Harriet
''and she has set her cap for him
could not believe IL, for Mildrc
was the sweetest creature ever son
upon the earth % bless 10 by her pre-.
enco ! had been indeed then was
very much in lovo with her but sh
had become cold 90 me- though once.
think. she had really cared for me.
was the money that had spoiled al
Mildred knew of my quarrel with Oucl
Henry and believed that my mcrccnar
nature was o. blame Tor &C. had
fancy that her acceptance Of Leonard
attentions was intended as o rcbuke
me
Thus wo were an ostrauged thong
We preserved au empty FARGO ot cAtcru
cordality uu wru.u with Juc
HmTy Doc had quluo..d with hiF so
for uaiug ao cold auit0r t0 Mildred
Leonard was angry with Daisy for %.
jealousy. Daisy would uot speak
Aunt Harriet; that etimabla lady n
gnrdad Mildred as q serpent iu dsguis
and Mildred looked upon me a- ur
whom the love of money had made M
worthy OF q woman priceless affection
No wonder the townspcople, who we
fully cognizaut of the situation. belle
ed that open warfare would follow L
Gle Billy's death As for myself / a,
recatcd strife My uncles serious /
ness had worked upon my senHbiliti'
for ! really loved him. and believ
that lac desired peace and not strife
follow his demise.
With this thought In my mind 20
occasion % speak privately with UnD
Henry II seemed 10 me that that IS
the way in which | could best prom,
good will Let me be- perfectly fra
about t. had % reason for my acti
which may not seem crcditahlc. yc
tried 60 tell myself that ! would ha
taken the same course without Do
This was the reason which my e..
science forces me- 90 disclose. old $,
Warren. Uncle Billy.s lawyer mud {
only man who knew anything about
disposition OF the estate. rHyo mu
quiet hint that Improperly would go
Uncle Henry OF course. consider.
our business relations, 30 Va- BOO
highest degree essential that shot
get back upoua basis ot friend hipw
him
"Ec doesn't know that hes going
get the money Frank the old Hw
had said 90 mo. "aul ul crue
doesn't know that you know 3d.
that tbe way the vi.l stand.
So went Go Uncle Henry and ha
most cordial and hearty ..conrilu,