The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-06-24
HIS CARE of
BELINDA
BY s. T. STE RW
Copyright, 1909, bD r. c. Mcclure

town!
yep. I'm gon' to court. This morn
in. you kntAN. the will of my poor
bate"
Blythe Bunton shifted. Poor dear
brother. eh? You know you hope he
wasn't poor. and as long as he lived he
certainly wasn't dear. You hated him
worse'h poison and he hated you
worse'n that am on my way 10
court too Dcssay amt far wrong in
sayin' there's little surprise In store
for you Nathan barley. Eth. Belinda Z"
Belinda did not answer, but trudged
along, quietly swishing her remnant of
a tail and waving her long ears. Be
linda, you see, was II donkey gray, old
and dignifcd and in her Nathan at
once recognized former possession of
his deceased relative.
You'll be tcllin me presently" said
Nathan, with fine sarcasm, that my
brother left his property to that lame
ole mule
No. | won't" said Blythe senten-
tiously. You'll find il 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 Gcd Smith, brother TO
the judge and prepayment of the docu-
mcnt.
The crowd leaned forward in rapt at
tention as the clerk commenced To
read the will The disposition Of Abefs
property had been the subject of end.
less speculation throughout the district,
and half the voting population were
there TO listen.
it itil Ii btEdb III a diplllHS
tone, i. 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 Of technical com
monplace were lost In 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. rs trus.
tee for the following purposes: To In
vest the same and 10 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 sa d 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 IN improper person
in the eyes of the law and incompetent
to inherit. The VIII il invalid +"
Hear him. shouted Ged Smith.
Improper person! She amt person
at all And rs for her bein' incom-
petent to inherit. II isn't so If you can
show me statute on the books of this
great and free commonwealth that for
bids n donkey to be IN he.rcss, | want
to see II. She uln't n lunatic. Is She?
She amt n corporation or body pol
itic. She amt Il married woman. She
amt n allen. In fact, there isn't
single law framed by the legislator OF
this liberty lovin' state that impugns
in any way the testamentary provision
OF our late friend and citizen"
The court interrupted. "Mr. Bur
rouehs you represent the residuary
lcgatee. Mr.. Nathan barley Ii you
can show me single precedent up
holding your contention, | will deny
probate. Otherwise | must admit the
will. Mr.. Dunton. you may consider
yourself guardian of Miss Belinda. 4
moment. please. Sis your ward in
cOurt?'
A litter ran around the room as Dun
ton appeared leading his four footed
charge down the center aisle OF the
courtroom. There she stood, blinking
solemnly and apparently oblivlous Of
her good fortune. When the court In
quircd in sepulchral tone whether
Miss Belinda. surname unknown
knew any reason why Blythe Dunton
of Baslow Hill should not be appointed
her true and lawful guardian" she gave
no sign Of dsapproyal. The crowd
left the courtroom. Blythe Dunton
filed his bond and removed Miss Be-
linda, the donkey heiress. to her home.
From that day Belinda lived In style,
She was straghtway Installed In the
parlor of the Dunton household. which
was converted into a stable for her
benefit.
Six months passed. and nothing had
been heard OF the threatened appeal.
Then. late one Sunday night, Blythe
was reused from his slumber by the
sound of footsteps in Belinda's room.
Hastily donning his clothes, he went
below. There lay Belinda in her stall
dead
"Poisoned! he exclaimed. He called
John. the hired man John" said he,
don't allow any one to enter this
room. am goin' over to Blackwell
market place to fetch Belinda"
"B'linda!" stammered John. Why
there she is in her stall. ] guess she's
done for"
THAT amt Belinda" said Blythe,
with a wink "That's another donkey
! was keepin' here for awhile. Belin
da Ia 10 Mallock IL they want to
prove the contrary. let 'em try It,"
In three days Biyth" returned. He
came through the town in the dead Of
night driving a large covered wagon.
A week later he was summoned TO
court.
Il have been Informed that your
ward Is dead" said Judge Smith. IF
that be the case, your guardianship Is
terminated Can you produce herP
"Of course can said Blythe. Then
Il.