Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-17

he landed In Montana. He reaches
there In 1885 from Australia. and he
was worth $4,000 or $4,000 at the
time. Within five years he was the
owner Of huge ranch, and scarcely
had another FIVE years passed before
he was part owner Of three rich gold
mines. Possessions accumulated rap
Idly; everything he touched turned to
gold. He was shrewd, careful and
thrifty, and his money was handled
with all the skill Of Wall street hnan-
cicr. At the time Of his death in Port
land he did not owe a dollar In the
world. His property IL absolutely un-
incumbered--safe and sound as a gov
eminent bond. It's rather overwhelm-
Ing, isn't itW the lawyer concluded,
taking note Of Brewsters expression.
"And he--he left everything to me?"
"With proviso."
"Ah!"
II have a copy Of the will. Mr.. Rip
ley and are the only persons in New
York who at present know it's contents.
You, I am sure, after hearing 1t, will
not divulgc them without the most
careful elaboration"
Mr.. Grant drew the document from
a 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 Scdgwick never mar.
ried. Your mother was his sister and
his only known relative Of close con-
nection. lie was a man of most Pc
culiar tempera ment. but In full posses
sion Of his mental faculties. You may
find this will to he n strange document,
but I think Mr.. Jones' the executor.
explains any mystery that may he sug-
gested by its terms. While Sedgwick's
whereAb bouts were unknown to his old
friends in New York, 1t 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 a tale. Sedgwck 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 as his daughter. practically
disowned his son and heaped the harsh.
est kind Of calumny upon the Sedg-
town that Jim Sedgwick left the coun-
try three or four years after this mar
riage for the sole reason that he and
Edwin Brewster could not We in the
same place. So deep was bis 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 Stay
Ing him, but something prevented He
carried that hatred to the grave, q
you will see."
Montgomery Brewster was trying Ia
gather himself together from within
the fog which made himself and the
world unreal.
Il believe I'd like to have you read
this sxtraor-the will. Mr.. Grant," he
said. with an effort to hold his nerves
in leash.
Mr.. Grant cleared his throat and be-
gan in his still voice. Once he look ed
up to find his listener eager. and "a gail
to find him grown Indifferent. He won
dered dimly # this were a pose.
In brief, the last will Of James T
Sedgwick bequeathed everything. req
and personal. of which he died pos
sessed to his only nephew, Montgomer,
Brewster Of New York. son OF Rober
and Louise Sedgwick Brewster. Sup
plementing this all important claus,
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 be absolutely penniless upor
the twenty-sixth anniversary OF hi.
birth, Sept. %.
The instrument went into detail ir
respect to this supreme condition. Il
set forth that Montgomery Brewster
was to have no other worldly posses
sion than the clothes which covered
him on the September day named. H.
was to begin that day without penny
| to his name. without single article
Of jewelry. furniture or finance tina,
he could call his own or could there
after reclaim. At 8 o'clock. New Yorl
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 nc
companied the will. In the event thai
Montgomery Brewster had not in ever!
particular complied with the require
ments Of the will to the full satsfac
ton Of the said executor. Swearenger
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 1t. IL
almost so many words he declared tina
his heir should not receive the fortune
II he possessed single penny that hat