The Opelousas courier., 1899-06-03

-. chalt her sweet face clouded, her ten
: der heart sore; while her two nieces
D.. May and Bessie Joyce, twin sisters Q
d IL, blue-eyed and pretty as rosebuds
N sat one each side. The three ladie
all wore mourning and bore in thei
pale faces and heavy eyes the trace
of recent sorrow; but while Aunt Mat
h tie meekly folded her hands and sighed
May and Bessie gave voice to consid
. cradle inward indignation.
II don't care for ourselves" sale
t Bessie, using the plural that meant
Q the l%nseparable twinship; 1--WE are
: young and can work, but it is too hard
: to have Aunt Matte turned out Of
house and home after all she has done
for Mr.. William Oldfield."
|, Don blame your uncle, DEAR"
began Aunt Matte.
!, we wasn't our UNCLE" snapped
out May.
"he did what he promised to do"
continued Aunt Matte.
And then undid it," said Bessie.
angrily:
We are not sure of that, DEAR"
NOW, auntie! He made a will.
leaving you this house and $40, OOo
and $40, 900 apiece to Bessie and me"
said May; "but afterward, if he did
not destroy it, where is it?"
Yes, where is it?" echoed her sis
tel. III it was in the house, surely it
would have been found in the general
turning out of u household posses
sions today"
"Well, dear, it can't be found. and
we must go back to our old rooms and
try to ~re-establish the little school T
left five years ago. We have had a
comfortable home for that time"
For the facts of the case were these.
William Oldield, a widower of mauy
years, possessing large means. had
been attacked late in life with a pain
tut, incurable sickness, trying to nurse.
distressing to witness and having an
irritating effect on the nerves of the
sanerer. After enduring the trials of
dishonest servants and nurses. incom-
potent housekeepers and careless at
tendants for a time he had persuaded
bis dead wife's maiden sister to give
up q small but Furnishing school. by
which she supported herself and her
brothers orphan girls, and keep house
for him.
In default of regular SALARY. he sava
. home to the aforesaid nieces. who !
supported themselves by sewing, and
promised q Legacy to Miss Matte, who. ,
however, hardly expected and never
demanded it. Yet, most assuredlv.
had earned it, for her brother-is. I
aw, BY reason of pain and bad temper.
her a slave to his sick whims. 9
Keeping her actively employed as ;,
lurse. as he grew worse and worse. u
III, during the last year of his life, she =
arely left his room.
Faithfully and patiently she en- .
|ured the monotony Of her life. the =,
Of her patients temper. the u
atlgue OF nursing, till death claimed u
ne invalid and released her. The 2
legacy had been left to her II
the girls in q will made a year be- y
IRE William Oldfeld died; but the 81
'wyer said the document was not in ..
to his care. Failing to find il 81
the house, the ladies were notified p
lat William Oldfeld, Jr., the nephew e
I'D heir-at-law Of the dead man. would %
'ke possession Of the entire property
once. th
It was well known i'm Topham that &C
rs heir was by no means the one to o
hom the uncle desired to leave his M
as the remainder Of his es- III
te, after the legacies mentioned. ru
|ssed, by the terms of the last will. IN
the town to endow-a hospital. IN
The young heir.at law had been on
terms with his uncle for years, being ca
gambler and a man adj an
tied t drinking, heartlessly indiffer-
t to his uncle's sufferings and laugh 1as
8 b~oisterously when the lawyer pro- ne
sed to him to make some corapensa- mt
n TO Miss Matte for her services. IT.
The old maid was fishing for nv
cle's money, of course, he said. Tn
nough she is not ever a relative. Au
t her go back to her proper place. oil
q learn to keep her busy fingers
OF other peoples pies" I'd
SO the lawyer, Mr.. O'Byrne, of we
IDLY heart and great legal knowledge.
obliged to give Miss Matte notice Ma
quit the house she had been prom fin
9 should be her own, giving vent
he did SO to some opinions OF his but
q IN the matter, not strictly profes. 4
nal. Pc.
sYou are sure you have searched me
'hfully for the will?" he asked. on
Quite sure" :
He certainly had il" said the law Ole
I drew it up myself-ten thou A
d apiece and the house and person soft
fleets and furniture to Miss Mar ms,
/; the rest Of the estate for the use dar
he Topham hospital. Dearl dearl q
7 won't clients put snch papers in 81 i
per keeping instead of clinging to her
N as if they were life-preservers? ..
q very sorry, Miss Matte. Ihaye sep,
resented matters to the heir, but he IN .
to see them in a proper light" won
Q the ladies packed their trunks hon,
gathered in the little parlor to rim
ad their last evening, preparatory said
q early start in the morning. And and
Ie ths,y sal, mournfully conyersing. And
range event occurred. A shock mid,
led boy rang the bell and handed knif
note, which ran in this wise; than
Miss Martha Joyce: 7 do not new
. tues sAs disaess et vhiaA nv trutl