The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-06-24
A NJ indeed the only heir? Is it
noss;blao osked tho ynunu artist

MATERNAL uHcie, VIII uleu yesterday az LIS
residence in Old James Street, number I'M
known, because he would never spend the
thirty cents which a plate would have cost,
and the neighbours not being our clients,
am ignorant of their house numbers
'And how much did he leave?"
81 have figured it out. Deducting the
legal expenses and charges OF all kinds,
you will receive the precise sum of forty
three thousand three hundred and sixty
seven dollars and thirty eight cents.
Solomon Lyon, the artist, seemed to be
dazzled by this information.
'Forty- three thousand " stammered he,
sinking into chair.
"Three hundred and siXty-seven dollars
and thirty-eight cents,' continued the
lawyer with his most gracious smile.
"But-" he added, gravely adjusting his
spectacles.
"Ah, there is but 2" said the heir,
starting up quickly.
eyes, sir. And it will cost you consid-
cradle.
Chow much ?"
"Just half of your inheritance.
"Then am not the sole heir"
"Pardon me. That does not prevent you
from having co-egatee."
"And who is he?"
"Your uncle himself"
Solomon Lyon seemed stupetied.
''What do you say 2"
~ say, your uncle himself | will ex-
plain by the terms of the will which is in
my hands, Mr.. Grasper makes you his heir,
but on condition that you transfer to him
one-haf of the fortune
''But how?''
'By putting it with him into his coffin. :"
Mr. Grasper's heir opened his eyes wide.
'And the clause is formal, sir con-
tinued the lawyer. "Iour deceased uncle
has expressly stipulated that if you fail to
respect his wishes, you shall he deprived of
all your rights to the inheritance. In that
case, his entire fortune is left to the poor OF
the town, to whom the deceased confesses,
with sincerity that does him honor, that
he never gave cent during his life time "
''But" cried young Solomon, "this is
absolute folly, my dear, sir.
"No, sir, it is not folly. The case is a
very simple one. Mr.. Grasper was so
misery as to aStonish everybody when he
died from disease rather than from the per
petual fast which he seemed to intict upon
himself. And it would i'll become you to
complain, since it is in consequence of this
stinginess that he succeeded in amassing,
cent by cent, the fortune which he has just
left you. Now you must be aware that the
greatest torture of mser is the thought
that after his death he will have none of
the money whose possession was the sole
Joy OF his life Thanks to the obligation
which he imposes upon you he assures to
his remains the enjoyment of posthumous
fortune. Even when dead he will have a
portion of the money which was the delight
OF his eager eyes and avaricious fingers
OF course he will only have half, but if he
had demanded the whole, he could not
have found an heir who would be an accom-
plice, obliging for self-protection to carry
out the wishes of the testator. 1t is to this
reason alone, you may be sure, sir, that on
owe the fortune which has been left to you
Otherwise
"Oh that is plain enough" interrupted
Solomon Lyon.
''Well, sir, do you accept?"
81 should think so. Half is better than
nothing at all"
this paper. Now let US attend to few
details at once. There are some bills which
must be paid tomorrow, especially the
funeral expenses. Have you plenty of
money!
81? | have a dollar and seventy-live
cents"
"That is not enough, but the matter can
easily be arranged. A week before his
death, your uncle, distressing everybody,
deposited ell his money in the bank. Here
is a check book which you can use. Please
draw two hundred dollars that will be
sufficient for the funeral and for your i'm
mediate needs"
"What ~ said the surprised artist, twill
they give me two hundred dollars on my
simple signature?"
eyes, and twenty thousand whenever
you like"
"Why, this is admirable, sir"
Solomon Lyon, the landscape painter
after returning to the hotel, passed the
swelling with pride at the idea that his
name written on piece of paper was worth