Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-01-26
ONE OUT OF SEVEN.
What does this mean?o he asked.

What does this mean?" he asked.
 'Reuben-0
 She hesitated
 'Wen?"
 T fear-that an obstacle has arisen to our marriage"
 What obstacle could ariseg'
 Two hundred thousand dollars have i been bequeathed to me on condition that 1 should not
 'MarryY
 s'Yes.'
 And you, choosing between the two hundred thousand and me, prefer the money"
 Tt is such q fortune and have such a desire for it."
 Reuben Austin turning away, left her without q word It was certainly q strange will, but Benjamin GrifIinl was strange man. He died a bach elor with no particular love for any body and no one had any particular love for him. Benjamin had divided hls fortune equally among seven mar rlageable widows in the town of Rath- bone, where he resided. He scarcely knew them, for he avoided the sex in general, but 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 dfed thousand in six months, and should continue in possession of the. same as long as she remained unmar- Tied; and in the event of the marriage of one, her share should be equally di- yided among the rest.
 The seven widows walked out of the house. That evening there were seven miserable men in Rathbone. Six re- celEed peremptory orders to cease their attentions. The seventh, a good look ing young man with bright eyes and honest eountenance, called on Mrs. Douglass with what result we have seen.
 The six other widows watched her house to see ii he repeated his visits. They were wishing he would, for her share would then Tall to them. The last week but one before the six months had passed, Reuben Austin was busy i'll the shop Whistling at his work, trying to be merry, though he had lost twenty pounds since he lost his love-
 "Reubenw
 He turned and saw Mrs Douglass standing in the doorway.
 Reuben, shall not take the money"
 Do you prefer mel"
 Yes
 "Dearestg'
 Before the week was out they were married and the other six re1Oiced. In a day or two, according to notifiea7 ton, the heirs would hear from the eXccutor.
 Mrs Austin, late Mrs. Douglass, was summoned With the rest They found exactly the same company present as on the former reading.
 A codieiI to the will read six months ago. said the executor then sealed and not to be opened until now was at tached That eodicil 1t is now my business to read to you. It is to be hoped that no one will be unpleasantly disappointed in view of the terms laid down in said codicil, which reads thus.
 Whereas, l, Benjamin Griffin, hay ing thorough disgust for money con alterations in matrimonial projects and entertaining a high respect for matrimonial affection and fidelity, have made my last will and testament in writing bearing date, etc, and have hereby bequeathed the vakue of my fourteen hundred thousand dollars to seven widows of, etc, named respec- lively, each, on condition that each shall remain permanently unmarried; now l do by this, my writing I hereby declare to be q codicil to my said will do hereby order and de- clare that my will is that the sum of one hundred thousand be under the ctn etc, provided each shall, notwith- standing the temptation 1 have set in her way, remain true to her matri- moniaI engagement with the gentle man she now lovingly professes to be the choice of her heart.
 Tn case one or any of the said, etc., should discard or rail to marry said man of her choice, 1 do hereby order and declare that the said sum or sums shall to her or them be forfeited, and if one or any of the said, etc, remain true to said, etc, share or shares fall ing to the lot of those who proved un- true shall be given to her or them in equal shares
 'arhe hundred thousand dollars then falls to Mrs. Austin, who, l believe is the only one among the within named parties who has adopted the course which secures q title to the money bequeathed."
 Six disappointed women filed out of the room. The rest of the fortune was divided among relatives.
 q was so glad that Mrs. Morley, a second cousin of his, got q good share, for 1 know she has q family to support and is quite poor" said Mrs. Austin to her husband, but I am still more glad that 1 was true to you, dearp