The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1904-11-18
A Lost Fortune
BY j. N. SCANLAND
cCopyright, 1904. by Daily Story Pub. Co..


aoout marriage between her eldest
daughter. Emma. and John Montgom-
cry, talented young editor OF New Or
leans, and now she was looking for an
eligible husband for Mary, the youngest
and prettiest Of her daughters.
Mary had just returned from a two
years stay in Paris, where she had
taken lessons in French. music and de-
pertinent. and was pronounced finished"
like most others who return with su-
perfCial education. Society In the viii
tage OF Monticello was In fiutter--the
young ladies were curious to see their
former village schoolmate. and their
mothers were enyious of Mary's Parisian
trip.
The WHY'S had been poor, but now
were the weaithiest in the Bayou Macon
neighborhood. Sam Wyly had been an
overseer on the Scarborough plantation,
and upon the death Of the owner, Will
liam Scarborough he was intrusted with
its management. Mrs. Scarborough,
old and feeble, had implicit confidence
In the overseer, who had served them
SO many years, and intrusted everything
to his management. However, debts
accumulated, and it became necessary
TO sell some of the negroes to pay for
supplies. Cotton crops failed and, final
ly, when the aged Widow Scarborough
died, the plantation passed into the pos
session OF Sam Wyly, who built upon the
site OF the old frame house magnificent
two-story structure. According to the
papers filed by Wyly. Mrs. Scarborough
bequeathed the plantation and negroes
TO him. in consideration Of affection.
and for services rendered" after the
payment Of the just debts.
The people Of the Bayou Macon settle
ment talked q great deal about the s'id
den wealth OF the WHY'S. Squire Willis
was OF tho opinion that as the cotton
crops had been large for the past several
seasons. he could not see how 1t became
necessary TO sell "niggers" to buy sup
plies.
It was also remembered that when
William Scarborough sold his crop of
cotton in Vicksburg and suddenly died
there with the yellow fever, there was
some talk about what became Of the
money? They could not recollect "for
sure whether Wyly was with him cn
that visit, or not.
GIVE. shall give Mary q reception next
Wednesday night" said Mrs. Wyly to
her husband, q few days after the return
Of their daughter.
eyes; Mary should meet her Old
friends, and We must show the people
hot y0
them! There's some talk in the neigh
borhood about u.s."
eI care nothing about what these
common people say!" replied Mrs. Wyly,
with her nose elevated
"You men don't know anything!
want Mary to meet Mr.. John Lester.
You know he is the best catch in this
part Of the state. Besides, he is hand
some, a good lawyer and Is related 10
the Johnsons and will inherit fortune
from his uncle Hiram
Didn't you tell me that Lester and
Miss Ellen Austen are engaged?"
Yes: they are-engaged; but
~Wyly looked up from his paper and
caught the significant glance of his
scheming wife, and in contemplatiye
tone asked:
What do the neighbors say? Have
the Austen children come back here
to live. or are they only on visit to their
cousins-the Wade's?"
"Octavia says they are here only for
the summer. But If they do stay it will
make no difference-with our affairs!"
Each looked significantly at the other
both were thinking of tie same thing.
'Since the death of their parents they
would Inherit
Nonsense, Samuel! The will of Mrs
Scarborough cuts off their parents, and
now how can these children inherit their
grandaunt's plantation?''
Eyes: the will! The will throws them
all out! And. besides, the Austen chill
dren have no money to fight the case,
If they should bring suit"
"These children don't know anything
about the estate, only what We have told
tnem-that it was insolvent- And they
have examined the will"
Maybe Lester has told Ellen some
thing. The neighbors have talked
great deal, and he may have heard it!
They all know that We had nothing
and"
Don't talk that way, Samuel! 1t Is
only neighborhood gossip. anyway I
have iavited Lester TO the reception.