Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-23
CHAPTER TX.


 John T. Wright left no will, and the settlement of his estate became involved at once in difficulties that were never anticipated by his family. It had never been happy family for the reason that Wright was 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, ton the name of his son, while he made 1t impossible for them to aid the young man in his pecuniary dis tress. 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 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 a 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 as it was the dearest wish of her heart to do so, it. is not unlikely that she would have come out victorious.
 Such was the deadening, soul-de- stroying influence exerted by John T. Wright on his family and all those associated with him in business.
 The day after the events described in the foregoing chapter Mrs. Wright, gentle, elderly lady, on whom sor- row had set it's 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.
 Lawyer Everett was vigorous, brainy man about 45 years of age. A clean shaven face, conspicuously firm in it's outlines, a cold, resolute blue eve, and a contour of head which phrenologically considered indicated ideality as we'll 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 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 iust the sort of adviser needed by Mrs. Wright and her daughter in the z 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 fiintiness which was the leading characteristic of the mur- 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. It grew more and more startling as the i lGWyGE PIOSCCuSO IO uAlOlu WudU IS had discovered. The public impres. sion was that Wright was a very wealthy man, and his wife and daugh- ter shared in this impression; how thoroughly everybody had been de- ceived Lawyer Everett was now mak. ing clear.
 "I have examined all of Mfr Wright's papers, said the lawyer "and l was never more astonished ir my life. You are, I presume, under the impression that he left great fortune"
 1T thought my husband very wealthy"
 T dislike to disappoint you, mad am. but may as we'll tell you that there is no fortune"
 But" began Mrs. Wright.
 "And," continued the lawyer, Wv, will be very fortunate if we car snatch from the estate enough tt secure maintenance for yoursel. and daughter"
 'sWhy, MT. Everett, there-ther, must be some mistake. 1t is tru, that was never my husbands con fdante in his business, but I hav' known of several of his investments This place which we are now occupy ing is one of the most valuable il this section of the state"
 Every true; but it did not belong to your husband"
 Mot belong to my husband?"
 s'It was sold many years ago to tn Shelby Real Estate 6 Investmen company"
 "But-my husband owned ssyera