Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-11-23
A Lost Fortune
BY j. NJ. SCANLAND
Copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Col

NHRS SARAH WHY was a shrewd
wi matchmaker. She had brought
about a marriage between her eldest
daughter, Emma, and John Montgom-
cry, a 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 SUI
perflcial education. Society in the viii
lage of Monticello was in a flutter-the
young ladies were curious to see their
former village schoolmate, and their
mothers we're envious of Mary's Partisan
trip.
The WHY'S had been poor, but now
were the wealthiest in the Bayou Macon
neighborhood. Sam WHY 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 WHY. who built upon the
site of the old frame house magnificent
fNryn- CT ctr ~
papers filed by WHY. 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 great deal about the sud-
den wealth of the WHY'S Squire Willis
was OF the opinion that as the cotton
crops had been large for the past several
seasons. he could not see how it became
necessary to sell "niggers" to buy sup
plies
1t 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 WHY was with him on
that visit, or not.
I'VE shall give Mary reception next
wednesday night" said Mrs. WHY TO
her husband, few days after the return
OF their daughter
Yes; Mary should meet her old
trlenos, and we must show the people
that we are not too proud to receive
them! There's some talk in the neigh
borhood about u.s."
Il care nothing about what these
common people say!' replied Mrs. WHY
with her nose elevated.
You men don't know anything, 7
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, good lawyer. and is related 10
the Johnsons and will inherit a fortune
from his Encle 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 a 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 orr affairs!..
Each looked significantly at the other
both were thinking of the same thing.
"Since the death of their parents they
would inherit"
Nonsense. Samuel The will Of Mrs.
Scarborough cuts on their parents, and
now how can these children inherit their
Grandaunt's plantation?"
fxoa: the will! The will throws them