Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-05-29
THE BURNED WILL

Marie Richards stood looking from
the kitchen window Of the New Eng
land farmhouse that had sheltered her
for the past fifteen years Her uncle
and aunt, the Winthrops, had adopted
her when she was left an orphan two
years Of age, and they had never re-
GREETED it, for she had been a Joy and
comfort to them in their home, while
their only child son, had brought 10
them nothing but sorrow.
Mr.. Winthrop had spent his life per
fecting his farm, Of which he was
very proud, and the thought that after
his death his son Duncan would squau-
der it away in a very short time 50
vexed him that after his wife's death
he made a will giving everything he
had TO his adopted daughter, Marie,
excepting $1,000 bequeathed to his son.
The whole neighborhood knew that
such a will had been made, but now
that the old man was dead and buried
it was not to be found and Duncan's
name was mentioned in whispers Of
foul play.
Marie stood looking sadly upon the
fields Of waving grain and watching
the birds flutter here and there. How
happy they were together. Watching
them made her realize her own loneli-
ness, so she turned her gaze upon the
highway and saw Duncan Winthrop
approaching the house. Presently he
stood before her-a young man that
can be described by the one word
pro1lgate
Il am going to sell the farm next
week and came to tell YOU So you
can vacate these premises" said he
while watching the effect his words
had unOn the face before him.
'You are going TO sell the farm 2" re-
peated Maria in dazed way, trying to
realize all that meant for her.
"Yes. l need the money and must
have It."
"But where can / EOT'
THAT you must decide for yourself.
You have had good home here for
fifteen years, and 1t is about time you
began 10 get your own living"
But Father Winthrop never intend
ed to leave me destitute He told me
that he had made a viii providing for
me. and IL viii surely be found"
Duncan Winthrop smiled and pulled
from his pocket "A paper which he open
ed and held UP for Marie 10 see. IL was
not such an elaborate affair rs wills
are nowadays, but a small sheet ~
| letter paper, on which were written i'm
rs few words as possible John Win
throp's wishes in regard TO the dis
pOsal Of his estate after his death and
| signed by three witnesses.
rs that the willg7 questioned Marie
in astonishment.
THAT IS the viii, was the curt reply
"Where did you get IT."
81 stole It. Do you think I w0uI1
| let any one else get possession Of it7 II
| makes all the difference in the world q
me who has II, and to make myseli
wholly safe think I'll destroy II now %
So saying. he walked to the kitcher
stove. where a small fire was burning
and, placing the open paper upon IN,
Goals, stood and watched the flames De
vour It. Marie. spellbound. watched II
also.
II shall inform Lawyer Ferris immc
diately what you have doner' she ex
claimed as the last bit Of flame flicker
cd out
| "Will your returned Duncan. with 9
laugh, replacing the cover upon th,
stove. And how will you prove it. f0r
shall say | didn'tF"
"They will believe me-"
Perhaps, but rs long rs you cau
prove nothing can snap my fingers
at what they believe. So now you
must see it will be necessary for you
| to nnu new iVI-iu-s ,vIy ~ouu." Then
he left the house. and Marie stood lr
resolutely watching him pass down The
road out Of sight
Mechanically she approached IN,
stove and lifted the cover. Their. a
though mockinc her, lay the viii N
ashes, but every word visible still. and
she read it through. great tears rolling
down her checks at the words. II gi-,
and bequeath to my beloved daughter
Marie Richards. the farm and every
thing upon it,"
| Suddenly il occurred % her thaf n
she could preserve the ashes in IA per.
feet a state as they then were IL would
be proof enough 10 establish Duncan
| guilt and her own claim. For several
minutes she stood debating iu heI
mind the safest way 10 accomplish t.
| Presently, securing piece Of tin plate
about the size Of the will she careful
ly slipped it under the ashes and lifted
it from the stove So far so good, but
It was not yet safe. for a breath of
wind or a sudden Jar would turn IL "a
! dust.
Smcaring Il sheet of white paper
with mucilagc. with the help Of a Ia
BILE knife she gently pushed and lifted
| the phantom will from the tin 10 the
paper and pressed It into place; then,
to protect IT from injury, she fastened
| over il thin sheet Of tracing paper
| and, behold, the will was preserved,
| somewhat wrinkled and ragged on the
edges, but every word visible. II was
| accepted by the probate court as gen
| uine will, and the property was dis
| posed Of as Farmer Winthrop wished
| II to be. for no one was inclined 90
| prosecute Duncan for what he had
done. He received his thousand dollars
| and was never seen in that ueighb0r-
hood again.
Marie married n neighboring farmer,
with whom she lived TO a ripe old age,
becoming the mother Of many children
Mr. ManninG's Grudge.