Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-05-20
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
John 7. Wright left no will, and
! the settlement of his estate became
involved at once in difficulties that
< were never anticipated by his family.
1t I'D never been happy family
for the reason that Wright was a
cold, austere man, who long ago had
banished anything like tenderness
from his heart His family were to
him merely part of his establish
ment. They were, he knew, against
him in the quarrel with Herbert, and
he would never permit them to men
zion, the name of his son, while he
4 M te it impossible for them to aid
kyoung man in his pecuniary dis
l.. Sss. Mrs. Wright's life did not DIFF
fer very materially from that of a
captive who has lived in comfortable
quarters and had all that could be
wished in the way of clothing and
food. Such a thing as amusement
never entered her thoughts. AS for
Miriam, her life was deeply embit-
tered. Her sympathy for her mother
had made her almost hate her father,
; and her breast was filled with rebel
instincts only awaiting favorable
opportunity to break forth; but the
opportunity never came. Her father
always treated her as if what she
thought was of absolutely no conse-
quence; and as for what she should
do, he would determine that. No
doubt the time would have come
when Miriam would have clashed with
her stern father, and us it was the
dearest wish of her heart to do SO,
1t is not unlikely that she would
-haye come out victorious.
40 esoSAswas the deadening, soluble
stToying Influence exerted by John
s 81 lWrirht on .Sis family and all those
HsssSStffrsu VIII. him in business.
The day after the events described
in the foregoing chapter Mrs. Wright,
gentle, elderly lady, on whom sor-
row had set its seal, and her daugh-
ter Miriam, were in consultation at
the Wright place with their lawyer,
John w. Everett, regarding the con-
dition of the estate.
AhWySIs- JSSSACbU was u VIGOROUS,
brainy man about As years of age. A
clean shaven face, conspicuously firm
in its outlines, cold, resolute blue
eye, and a contour of head which
phrenologically considered indicated
ideality as well as perspicacity, were
the salient physiognomical features
Of man who in his day was cele-
brity in his part of the country.
There was the fullness under the eyes
5 that denotes oratory, and in his case
the sign was prominently true. The
uprightness of his character was no
less conspicuous than the directness
of his intellect. In short, he was
just the sort of adviser needed by
Mrs. Wright and her daughter in the
emergency that now presented itself.
These ladies had an unconquerable'
repugnance to Wright's lifelong le-
gal adviser, Col. Franklin, because in
some way he seemed to be identified
with the fintiness which was the
leading characteristic Of the muir
dered man, and neither had any de-
sire to employ as their lawyer SO
intimate friend of Wright as Frank
lin had been.
The consultation now being held
was not the informal business affair
which the ladies had anticipated. 1t
grew more and more startling as the
lawyer proceeded to unfold what he
had discovered. The public impress
sion was that Wright was very
wealthy man, and his wife and daugh-
ter shared in this impression; how
thoroughly everybody had been de-
ceived Lawyer Everett was now max
ing clear.
II have examined all of Mr..
Wright's papers, said the lawyer.
"and was never more astonished in
my life. You are, presume, under
the Impression that he left great
fortune"
81 thought my husband very
wealthy"
II dislike to disappoint you, mad
am, but may us well tell you that
there is no fortune"
"But-" began Mrs. Wright.
"And,' continued the lawyer, 1--WE
will be very fortunate If we can
snatch from the estate enough to
secure a maintenance for yourself
and daughter"
"Why, Mr.. Everett, there-thero
must be some mistake. It is true
that wns never my husbands con-
fidante In his business, but I have
known of several of his investments.
This place which we are now occupy
ing is one Of the most valuable IN
this section Of the state"
very true; but it did not belong
to your husband"
Not belong to my husband?"
'It was sold many years ago to the
Shelby Real Estate & Investment
company"
"But-my husband owned several
plantations in Arkansas and Missis-
sippi."
"That is also true; but all those
were sold to the same company at
the same time, with the exception Of
one plantation in Mississippi and one
in Arkansas, which your husband
purchased three years back. So fal
as I can see, these two plantations
are all the assets in sight"
II remember o good many years
ego my husband bought a large tract
of land in Texas, and he invested II
some mining lands in Colorado"
Every true; but all Of that prop
cEtg Maa SOD. The former TO Is.
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