Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-08-11
EZra'S Inheritance
BY Hope B. Strong.

for Ezra to comel Well, we're
getting pretty old to have to work SO
hard, and nine o'clock is more'n bed
time for a man in his COS. | wisht he
could get another place. But it won't
do any good to grumble, and took him
for better or for worse. But guess
nobody when they promise that expect
any worse. Well, that risin' must be
ready, and may as well put my bread
in sponge"
Mrs. Hampton rose from her
.straight-backed chair, which she al
ways proudly stated had been part OF
her 'grandmother's weddin' outfit"
and BUSTED about in preparation for
the morrow's baking.
Combining kitchen, dining-room and
library, the room needed furnishing
for all three So the horse hairAcovered
soda stood near the sewing machine,
and the sewing machine IN turn
pressed again against a chair, whose
very next neighbor was the old corner
cupboard which held the dishes, table
linen and sundry other necessities
Conveniently near and close against
the wall stood the table where for so
many years Mr.. and Mrs Hampton
had taken their daily bread. Years
ago happy young faces had joined
had scattered them all, leaving home
and parents alone. So the table had
the leaves down instead of up.
The old clock licked busily on the
raanfel. Beneath the shining stove
cooked the meals and supplied heat
At safe distance from the range
was a meal chest which answered the
purpose of a modern pantry.
So without leaving the room, Mrs.
Hampton completed her sponge"
brushed away every suspicion OF -four,
and with folded hands awaited the
coming of her spouse.
The stroke Of nine brought him. He
laid of his heavy overcoat and hung
1t In it's accustomed place behind the
door, with the old hat over &c as usual;
put one ponderous foot into the home.
made wooden bootjack, and drew of a
heavy boot; treeted the other foot and
boot in like manner; thrust his feet
Into waiting slippers; drew a chair to
nah, got the queerest kind OF n let
tar tonight Some lawyer, Ferret, he
csils himself. up here in Columbia
county has been writing to me TO
know Il I'm mypelf"
'-Oh, Ezry, they amt trying to make
you out crazy, are they? Who could
n done it7'
-Craxy7 Well, guess not" laughed
her husband. you don't understand
xt'sto establish my identity, this here
lawyer fellow calls It. I'm to tell him
who my father and grandfather was,
and all my great-grandfathers an fur
On back az can remember, or have
ever heard tell Of. That's easy
enough. for it's been Ezra T. now Ave
generations back-but what Eta about
i can't quite make OUT
From the receSses of the cupboard
appeared an Ink bottle ana q rusty
steel pen, neither OF which was called
into active service except on the rare
occasions when one Cd their absent
children received letter from home.
Ezra was spurred on by his better
half until the whole letter was COM
Pseted, though another hour had rolled
by before he reached the end
The lawyer smiled next day an he
looked at the curiously formed letters
and read the quaint phrases But they
told the facts plainly enough. Ezras
5dentaty was established.
Meanwhile Hannah Hampton pom
dered and planned over what the law
yer could want, and at every home
coming Of Ezra besieged him with tho
query: Haven't you heard YETI"
Ii Is doubtful whether either Of them
could have long endured the strain.
But, fortunately. IN less than q week
the answer came. On Mr.. Hampton's
return one night he drew the type
written sheet from his pocket, and,
looking through his steel6ramed spec
tacles. with his wondering Hannah be-
'sdde him, read es follows;
'.Mr. EZRA T. Hampton-Doar Sir, Yours
on the 18th inst at hand In reply 1
would state that inquiries made by q dis
tant relative OF yours regarding some
western property have led to your dis
Sovery: About the year lsu Ezekiel
Hampton emtgrated to and settled q
barge tract OF land in the territory OF
Blank. where the city OF A. is now 10
Gated Communication with him soon
qeased. and. as he never returned to his
nome. his friends gave him up as dead.
From the copy of your family record
you have kindly forwarded nnd proof
81 what I had already surmised, that
said Ezekiel Reed Hampton was the
Brother OF your grandfather. Consequent
~. a. his nearest descendant, this prop
erty will revert to you. OF course, with
fns lapse Of time. the land has greatly
Increased IN value, and It win be wall
1er You to look into the matter.
Any help our nrm can render you In
soestAolishing your claim win be cheer
July given for Is per cent Hoping To
hsas fren you at an early date. am.
"A SHARPE rERRETTs
We'll TO think you're going TO own
. whole cdtyi It's an awful responss-
sntiity Dor you. OF course, you'll have
to be msyor-a man OF your yearu.
teo. Ezry. Little ola I think lo-odd
{esrs ago when we were married that
I'd ever 1--we to be mayors Wife. But
giriS never know what they're marry
ing. What are you going to do abouA
4tf Give II to this man o.