The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-08-07
HIS CARE Of
BELINDA
BY S. r. STERN
Copyright. isos. bv II. C. Mcclure

"Good morning, Nathan. Bound for
TOWN.
Yep. I'm goin' to court. This morn
in, you know. the will OF my poor
dear brother Abel comes up for pro-
bate"
Blythe Dunton sniffed. "Poor dear
brother, Ell? You know you hope he
wasn't poor, and as long as he lived he
certainly wasn't dear. You hated him
worse'n poison. and he hated you
worse'n that. I am on my way to
court too. Dessay l amt far wreng i'm
sayln' there's a little surprise in store
for you. Nathan barley. Eth. Belinda"
Belinda did not answer. but trudged
along. quietly swishing her remnant Of
a tail and waving her long ears. Be
linda. you see. was donkey-gray. old
and dignified-and in her Nathan at
once recognized former possession Of
his deceased relative.
You'll be tellin' me presently" said
Nathan, with fine sarcasm, that my
brother left his property to that lame
ole mule.y
mo. / won't" said Blythe senten-
tiously. you'll find 1t out soon enough
without my tellin' you. Your brother
had to leave his property to some DON
key. you'll admit. Maybe he preferred
one he loved to one he didn't"
Old Judge Smith had taken his place
when they arrived at the courthouse.
"will Of Abel barley, formerly Of
Baslow Heath" called one Of the
clerks. and two lawyers stepped for
ward to the counsel table. Nathan's
representative. James Burroughs. who
labored under the local pseudonym of
Screw Jim." was first. He was close
ly followed by Ged Smith, brother to
the judge and prepayment Of the docu-
ment.
The crowd leaned forward In rapt at
tention as the clerk commenced to
read the will. The disposition Of Abel's
property had been the subject OF end
less speculation throughout the district.
and half the voting population were
there to listen.
The clerk began I'm a droning mono
tone. 81 Abel barley. being OF sound
and disposing mind. do hereby make.
publish and declare the following as
and for my last will and testament"
The next few lines technical COM
monplace were lost in a tumble of in
articulate speech. Then the clerk
raised his voice:
All my estate. both real and person
al. give. devise and bequeath to my
beloved friend. Blythe Dunton. as trus-
tee for the following purposes: To in
vest the same and to apply the income
and as much of the principal as may be
necessary to the care. education. main
tenance and well being of my beloved
friend and donkey. Miss Belinda. On
the death OF the said Belinda the re-
mainder Is bequeathed to my brother.
Nathan barley OF Baslow Common"
When the clerk had finished, Screw
Jim arose to address the court. "If
your honor please. object to the pro-
bate Of this will on the ground that the
chief beneficiary Is an improper person
In the eyes of the law and incompetent
to inherit The will is invalid"
Hear him. shouted Ged Smith.
Improper person! She amt a person
at all. And as for her bein' incom-
petent to inherit. it isn't so. II you can
show me a statute on the books Of this
great and free commonwealth that for
bids a donkey to be an he.ress. want
to see 1t. She amt a lunatic, Is shei
She amt a corporation or a body pol
itic. She amt a married woman. She
amt a alien. In fact. there isn't q
single law framed by the legislator of
this liberty l6vin' state that impugns
In any way the testamentary provision
of our late friend and citizen"
The court interrupted. "Mr. Bur
roughs. you represent the residuary
legatee. Mr.. Nathan barley. II you
can show me single precedent up
holding your contention. I will deny
probate. Otherwise I must admit the
will. Mr.. Dunton. you may consider
yourself guardian of Miss Belinda. A
moment. please. Isis your ward In
court?"
A litter ran around the room as Dun
| ton appeared leading his four footed
| charge down the center aisle of th'
courtroom. There she stood. blinking
solemnly and apparently oblivious o.
| her good fortune. When the court In
| quired in a sepulchral tone whethel
Miss Belinda. surname unknown
| knew any reason why Blythe DuntoI
of Baslow Hill should not be appointed
| her true and lawful guardian" she gav'
no sign of disapproval. The crowt
left the courtroom. Blythe Duntol
filed his bond and removed Miss Be
linda. the donkey heiress. to her home
/ From that day Belinda lived in style
She was straightway installed i'm tn
parlor Of the Dunton household. whicl
/ was converted into a stable for he
benefit
Six months passed. and nothing ha'
been heard OF the threatened appeal
Then. late one Sunday night. Blyth
| was reused from his slumber by tn
sound of footsteps In Belinda's room
Hastily donning his clothes. he wen
below. There l;sy Belinda In her stal
dead.
"Poisonedr' he exclaimed. He Gale
John. the hired man- John" said h'
don't allow any one to enter thi
room. an. goin' over to Bakewel
market place to fetch Belinda."
"B'lindn," stammered John. "why
there she In In her STALL I guess she
done for"
THAT amt Belinda" said Blyth,
with a wink That's another donke
IL was ksepin' here for awhile. Belis
-"