Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-11-07
Observation-Disclosures
THE HERITAGE Of
THE ELLIS ESTATE !
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lOriginal.l


service Dora Laraway, aged twenty
two, her duties being that of COM
panion. He promised to leave her
something in his Willie was rlch-but
died without having made any will.
Meanwhile Dora, who had endured
him for ten years, had passed out of
her youth and found herself on the
world for living. The disposition OF
Ellis property promised to be peculiar.
A wife, q child, brother or sister
would have inherited it all under the
law. Ellis had had only one child--a
son-who had gone to the Spanish
American war and was on the list Of
killed in the fighting before Santiago.
There being no near relative to inherit
the Ellis estate, 1t was pounced upon by
remote cousins.
Claimants came In great numbers
from far and near. There was no una
nimity between them, each striving to
make his or her own claim paramount.
Dora Laraway was inclined to put in
claim for services, but was advised
that such claim would not hold good In
law.
Among those claiming share of the
estate was a middle aged man who
called himself Leonard Ellis. He had
come from South America, where he
lived, and, as no one had ever heard Of
the deceased having a relative In that
faraway country, he was looked upon
with suspicion. He seemed rather discon-
certed at the clamOr Of claimants and
apparently disinclined to enter the lists.
The reason for this was apparent
when he was asked from what Ellis he
had descended He named Leonard
Ellis, captain in the Revolutionary
war. The cousins hunted the matter
up and found that the said Ellis had
never been married.
Since none Of the claimants wished
the care Of the deceased's house and
household effects or, rather, since they
all wished to go in and appropriate the
effects, it was agreed that Dora Lara
way should remain In charge. Mean
while the cousins were busy hacking
at the Ellis genealogical tree, each
desiring to cut off for himself the big
gest branch. All filed their papers ex-
cept Leonard Ellis, who since the dis
covery that his ancestor had died child
less, or, worse, that he was illegitimate,
had taken a back seat among them.
Once, and only once, he ventured to
open his mouth. Then he proposed
that in view of Dora's services to the
deceased and the promise that had
been made her one-elghth of the estate
be signed to her. His proposition was
met with such a torrent of abuse,
especially coming from one whose
claim was fraudulent, that the poor
man was abashed. But when 1t be-
came known that the deceased had en-
bodied his intention to Dora In letter
there was hush among the claimants,
and she was considered as one whose
claim should be bought up. When,
however, Dora made no use of the evil
dence she possessed the weathercock
shifted again, and it was limited among
them that the letter was a forgery.
Dora herself admitted that she had
been advised by the stranger Leonard
Ellis not to press her claim. This move
on the part of one who had he been a
legitimate descendant from the man
he claimed for progenitor would have
come in ahead of them all puzzled
them, but when it was announced that
Leonard Ellis had taken up his quar-
tiers in the house that had been occu- |
pied by the deceased all recognized the
fact that some coup detat had been
sprung on them.
Simultaneous with this information
came an invitation from Leonard Ellis
to each and every one Of them to meet
him the next evening at the house an
interest In which they all claimed,
when he would display genealogical
tree that would settle all dispute with
regard to the Ellis property. All ac-
cepted and were ushered into the
drawing room, where the tree" was
hung on the wall. Mr.. Ellis advanced
to the map, holding cane In his hand
for a pointer. The Ellis whose name
stood first and from which all the rest
on the tree were descended was Sam
uel Ellis, father of Captain Leonard |
Ellis and Edward Ellis, the GRANDPA
Their Of the deceased. Beneath the
name of the deceased was Captain |
Leonard Ellis.
Cousins" said the expounder, point |
ing to this name, Edward Ellis had |
q son who was named for Captain |
Leonard Ellis, who heads this tree. He |
went to the Spanish-American war,
having quarreled with his father, who
wished him to remain In business,
which he dislked. He became a cap
tain and was enormously reported kill
ed. Taking advantage Of the error to
remain q dead man to his father tenn
he went to South America,
where he has since been engaged In |
coffee planting. lie put OH declaring |
himself longer than he had intended |
and at the time of his fathers death
was on his way home. He found
babel of claims for his fathers estate,
hone of the claimants knowing Of his
IDENTIFY. A few years before he left
home bis father had taken q compan-
on, and by this companion the son
lad been refused, furnishing an addi-
.ional reason for his leaving and re-
away. Since his return he has
been accepted by his former love.
Cousins. am Leonard Ellis, only son
If the deceased and heir-at-law to his
There is but one person who
1as any claim on It besides myself.
That person will own 1t with me-"
The heritage Of the Ellis property
was settled. The assembly broke up,
Ind the next day the united clamor Of
he claimants was dissipatsd.
SYLVIA LEWIS BALDWIN.
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