Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-03-18
ONE OUT OF SEVEN.
What does this ncan?" he asked.

What does this mean?" he asked.
Reuben
She heSiiatct.
"Wen?"
II fear that an obstacle has arisen
to our marriage"
What obstacle could arise
Two hundred thousand dollars have
been h"Gu"ath"d to- me on condition
that should not
Marry"
Yes
And You. choosing between the two
hundred thousand and me prefer the
money"
ut is such n fortune and | have such
desire for it,
Reuben Austin turning away. left
her without a word II was certainly
n strange will. hut Benjamin Griffin
was SirIr ge man. lie died n bach
elor with no particular love for any.
body and no one had any particular
love for him. benjamin had divided
his fortune equally among seven mar
riagcablc widows i'm the town of Rath-
bone. where he resided He scarcely
knew them. for he avoided the sex in
general. hut he knew that they were
all anxious To be married again at no
distant day
The condition was that each should
come into possession of her two hun
drcd thousand i'm six months and
should continue in possession of the
same aS long rs she remained unmar-
ri"d: AMI in the event of the marriage
of one. her share should bc equally di-
vidcd among the rest.
The seven widows walked ont of the
house. That evening there were seven
miserable men in ltathhone. Six re-
ccivcd percmptory orders to cease their
attentions. The seventh. Il good look
ing young maI with bright eyes and
honest countcnancc. called on Mrs.
Douglass with what result we have
seen.
The six other widows watched her
house I" see u h" repeated his visits.
They Were wishing he would. for her
share would then iall to them. The
last week hut one before the six
months had passed. Reuben Austin
was busy in the shop whiSiling M his
work. trying To he merry. though he
had lost twenty pounds since he lost
his love.
Reuben"
He turned and saw Mrs. Douglass
Sanding in the doorway
Reuben. >hah not take the
money
DO you prefer meg"
Yes
Dearest"
Before the week was out they were
married and i..e other six reioiced.
In day or two. according to notiiica
tion. the heirs would hear from the
executor.
Mrs. Austin. late Mrs Douglass. was
summoned with the rest. They found
exactly the same company present as
on the former reading
"A codicil 10 the will real six months
ago said tho executor. then sealed
and not TO he opened until now was M
tachcd. That codicil il is now nv
business To read To you II is to he
hoped that no one will he unpleasantly
disappointed in view of the terms laid
down in said codicil. which reads thus.
Whereas. |. Benjamin Griffin. hav-
ing thorough DISCUS for money con.
siderationS in matrimonial projects
and entertaining Il high respect for
matrimonial affection and fidelity,
have made my last will aud testament
in writing bearing date. etc. and have
hereby bequcathcd the value Of my
fourteen hundred thousand dollars to
seven widows of. etc. named rcSpcc-
lively. each, on condition that each
shall remain permanently unmarried:
now do by this. my writing which
hereby declare to he II codicil To my
said will do hereby order and de
clare that my will is that the sum of
one hundred thousand bc under the
provisions stated divided among said
etc. provided each shall notwith-
standing the temptation | have set in
her way. remain true To her matri
monial engagement with the gentle
man she now lovingly processes to be
the choice Of her heart.
In ease one ar a.,y of the said. etc,
should discard or .ail To marry said
man Of her choice. | do hereby order
and declare that the said sum or sums
shall To her or them he forfeited. and
IL one or any of the said. ctc remain
true to said. etc. share ar shares fall
ing Ia the lot of those who proved un-
true shall be- given To her or them in
equal shares
'-rhe hundred thousand do liars then
falls to Mrs. Austin. who. | believe
is the only one among the within
named parties who has adopted the
course which secures Il title TO the
money bequcathcd.'
Six disappointed women filed out of
the ROOM The rest of the fortune was
divided among relatives.
Il was so glad that Mrs. Morley. n
second cousin of his. got Il good share.
for know she has family To support
and is quite poor. said Mrs Austin to
her husband. hut am still more glad
that | was true 10 YOU. dear