The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1903-08-27
HIS CARE Of
BELINDA
BY S. T. STERN
Copyright, 1903, By 7. C. Mcclure

|
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 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'n poison, and he hated you
worse'n that. l am ON my way to
court too. Dessay l amt far wrong in
sayin' there's a little surprise in store
for you, Nathan barley Eth, Belinda p
Belinda did not answer, but trudged
along, quietly swishing her remnant of
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" a.
No. 1 wont" said Blythe senten-
tiously. You'll find it 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 Abels
property had been the subject of end
less speculation throughout the district,
and half the voting population were
there to listen.
The clerk began in Il droning mono
tone, Il. 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
were lost in tumble of in
articulate speech. Then the clerk
raised his voice:
''.All my estate. both real and person
nj, l 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
tenaEcc and well being of my beloved
friend and donkey, Miss Belinda. On
the death of the sd d Belinda the re-
nainder 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, l object to the pro-
cate of this viii on the ground that the
thief beneficiary is an improper person
n the eyes of the law and incompetent
% inherit. Tile VIII is invalid"
Hear him. shouted Ged Smith
Improper person! She amt person
It all. And as for her bein' incom-
'etent to inherit, it isn't so. If you can
how me statute on the books of this |
,reat and free commonwealth that for |
lids donkey to be an he.ress, 1 want |
o see it. She amt q lunatic, is she? /
'he amt corporation or a body pol
tic. She amt married woman. She |
int a alien. In fact, there isn't a
ingle law framed by the legislator of
his liberty loyin' state that impugns
4 any way the testamentary provision
f our late friend and citizen"
The court interrupted. "Mr. Bur-
oughs, you represent the residuary
egatee, Mr.. Nathan barley. Ii you
an show me a single precedent up
Gliding your contention, 1 will deny
rebate. Otherwise I must admit the
Till. Mr.. Dunton, you may consider
ourself guardian of Miss Belinda. A
loment, please. Isis your ward in
ourt?'
A litter ran around the room as Dun
On appeared leading his four footed
barge down the center aisle of the
ourtroom. There she stood, blinking
olemnly and apparently oblivious of
er good fortune. When the court in
uired in a sepulchral tone whether
Miss Belinda, surname unknown,
new any reason why Blythe Dunton
Baslow Hill should not be appointed
er true and lawful guardian" she gave
o sign Of disapproval. The crowd
eft the courtroom. Blythe Dunton
led his bond and removed Miss Be
nda, the donkey heiress, to her home.
From that day Belinda lived in style.
he was straightway installed in the
arlor of the Dunton household, which
yas converted into a stable for her
enefit
Six months passed, and nothing had
cen heard of the threatened appeal
hen, late one Sunday night, Blythe
yas reused from his slumber by the
Ound of footsteps in Belinda's room.
LASTLY donning his clothes, he went
Glow. There lay Belinda in her stall
dead.
"Poisonedv' he exclaimed. He called
ohm, the hired man. "John," said he,
don't allow any one to enter this
DOM. I am goin' over to Blackwell
larket place to fetch Belinda"
"B'lindaw stammered John. "Why.
mere she is in her stall! guess she's
one for"
"That amt Belinda said Blythe,
nth a wink That's another donkey
was keepin' here for awhile Belin-
a is in Matlock. If they want to
rove the contrary. let 'em try it."
In three days Blythe returned. He
line through the town in the dead of
ght driving a large covered wagon.
week later he was summoned. to
,urt.
81 have been informed that your
ard is dead" said Judge Smith. "If
lat be the case, your guardianship is
minated. Can you produce herF'
''Of course can," said Blythe Then
, added meaningly: IF anybody
inks Belinda is dead, would like to
-