The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-09-01

Mr.. Grant drew the document from
pigeonhole In his desk, adjusted his
glasses and prepared to read Then,
as though struck by sudden thought,
he laid the paper down and turned
once more to Brewster.
1T seems that Sedgwick never mar
ried. Your mother was his sister and
his only known relative Of close con-
nection. He was man of most Pc
culiar temperament, but In full posses
sion Of his mental faculties. You may
find this will to be strange document,
but 1 think Mr.. Jones, the executor,
4 explains any mystery that may be sug-
Gested by its terms. While Sedgwick's
whereabouts were unknown to his old
friends In New York, It seems that he
was fully posted on all that was going
on here. He knew that you were the
only child OF your mother and therefore
his only nephew. He sets forth the
dates of your, mothers marriage, of
your birth, Of the death of Robert
Brewster and Of Mrs. Brewster. He
also was aware Of the fact that old
Edwin Peter Brewster intended to be-
queath large fortune to you, and
thereby hangs tale. Sedgwick was
proud. When he lived In New York he
was regarded as the kind Of man who
never forgave the person who touched
roughly upon his pride. You know, of
course. that your father married Miss
Sedgwick In the face Of the most bit
ter opposition on the part of Edwin
brewster. The latter refused to recog-
nize her rs his daughter, practically
disowned his son and heaped the harsh
est kind Of calumny upon the Sedg.
wicks. 1t was commonly believed about
town that Jim Scdgwick left the coun.
try three or four years after this mar
ringe for the sole reason that he nnd
Edwin Brewster could not live In the
same place. So deep was his hatred
OF the old man that he fed to escape
killing him. 1t was known that upon
one occasion he visited the Office Of his
sisters enemy for the purpose of slay-
Ing him. but something prevented. He
Carried that hatred to the grave, as
you will sec.'
Montgomery Brewster was trying to
gather himself together from within
the fog which made himself and the
world unreal.
Il believe Fd like to have YOU read
this extraor-tl.c will, Mr.. Grant" he
said, with an effort to hold his nerves
I'm leash.
Mr.. Grant cleared his throat and be-
gam In his still voice. Once he looked
UP to find his listener eager, AMI again
to find him grown Indifferent. He won
dcrcd dimly IL this were pose.
In brief. the last will OF James r.
Scdgwick bcIucatlicd everything, real
and personal. OF which lie died DOS
sesscd to his only nephew. Montgomery
Brewster Of New York, son OF Robert
and Louise Sedgwick Brewster. Sun
plementing this all important clause
there was set Of conditions govern
Ing the final disposition of the estate.
The most extraordinary Of these con-
ditiOns was the one which required
the heir to he absolutely pcnniless upon
the twenty-siXth anniversary of his
birth, Sept 23
The instrument went into detail In
respect to this supreme condition. 1t
set forth that Montgomery Brewster
was to have no other worldly posses
sion than the clothes which covered
him OH the September day named. lie
was to begin that day without penny
to his name, without single article
Of jewclry. furniture or finance that
he could call his own or could there
after reclaim. At 8 o'clock. New York
time. on the morning of Sept % the
executor. under the provisions Of the
will. was to make over and transfer
to Montgomery brewster all OF the
moneys. lands, bonds and interests
mentioned In the inventory which ac-
companicd the will. In the event that
Montgomery Brewster had not in every
particular compiled with the require
ments of the will to the full satisfac-
tion Of the said executor, Swearengen
Jones, the estate was to be distributed
among certain institutions of charity
designated In the instrument Under
lying this imperative injunction of
James Sedgwick was plainly discerni-
BILE the motive that prompted It, In
almost 80 many words he declared that
his heir should not receive the fortune
IL he possessed single penny that had
come to him in any shape or form
from the man he hated, Edwin Peter
Brewster. While Sedgwick could not
have known at the time Of his death
that the banker had bcqueathed ST.
0O0,0O0 to his grandson, IL was more
than apparent that he expected the
young man to be enriched literally by
his enemy. 1t was to preclude any
possible chance OF the mIngling of his
fortune with the smallest portion of
Edwin r. Brewster's that James Sedg-