Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-08-21

|sOFs%|sOsOsO|
HIS CARE Of
BELINDA
BY s. r. STERN
copwioht, 1908, BY T. @. 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 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 amt far wrong In
sayin' there's little surprise in store
for you, Nathan barley. Eth. BelindaT'
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 dignlfied--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"
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 Jlnr" 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 Abeps
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 droning mono
tone, 81, Abel barley, being of sound
and dlsposlng mind, do hereby make,
publish and declare the following as
aud 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, 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
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-
chief beneficiary is an improper person
In the eyes of the law and incompetent
to inherit The will is invalid"
"Hear himP shouted Ged Smith.
Improper personl She amt a person
at all And as for her bein' incom-
petent to inherit, II isn't 80. II you can
show me statute on the books Of this
great and free commonwealth that for
bids donkey to be an heress, l want
to see IT, She amt a lunatic, is shef
She amt corporation or a body pol
tile. She aln't married woman. She
amt allen. In fact, there isn't a
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
roughs, you represent the residuary
legatee, Mr.. Nathan barley. II you
can show me single precedent up
holding your contention, | will deny
probate. Otherwise I must admit the
will. Mr.. Dunton. you may consider
yourself guardian OF Miss Belinda.
moment, please. Isis your ward In
courtT
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 oblivious OF
her good fortune. When the court IN
quired In a sepulchral tone whether
"Miss Belinda, surname unknown,
knew any reason why Blythe Dunt0n
of Basl0w Hill should not be appointed
her true and Ia wful guardian" she gave
no sign OF disapproval. 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.
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 DOMINIC his clothes, he went
below. There lay Belinda In her stall
--dead
"Polsonedp he exclaimed. lie called
John the hired man. John" said he.
don't allow any one TO enter thin
room. am goin' over to Blackwell
market place to fetch Belinda"
"BIIndap stammered John. why.
there she Is In her STALL | guess she's
done for"
"That amt Belinda" said Blythe,
with wink. That's another donkey
was keepin' here for awhile. Belin-
da Ia in Matlock. II they want to
prove the contrary. let 'em try IT,"
In three days Blythe returned. lie
came through the town in the dead OF
night driving a large covered wagon.
A week later he was summoned to
court.
II have been informed that your
ward Is dead" said Judge Smith. "If
| that he the caap YOUR oulaFdiauahlD IN