Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-03-07

HubbeII Versus Terry


lOAiAtn0il
When old John Fallows, childless
widower, became partially blind. PEG
pie wondered how he was going to get
on. 1t was not long before their anx-
iety was allayed by the announcement
! that Rebecca Hubbell, young lady
socially prominent and much sought
after, had of her own free will resign.
ed the world to devote herself to the
poor old man.
Fallows' only descendant was a
niece Jane Terry, the daughter Of his
sister When Miss Hubbell entered
upon the care of John Fallows, Miss
Terry was a schoolgirl. A year later
she was graduated, and it was sup
posed that she would relieve the wo-
man who was giving up her life to de-
vote it to the invalid by taking her
place But she did not Then people
began to talk. A story was circulated
that she was bent rather on frivolity
than shutting herself up to be prey
to the whims of peevish old man.
Miss Terry gave color to the report by
accepting the offer of a woman who
took fancy to her to introduce
her into society. Being attractive, her
social success was looked for by her
friends Nevertheless she was a fall
ure. She was blamed for permitting
Miss Hubbell to do a work that she
should have done herself. This feeling
was more pronounced since Miss Hub
bell had been prominent in the circle
to which Miss Terry had been intro
duced. Besides this, there were num-
Der of little sayings going about the
origin of which could not be traced.
When Mrs. A. asked Mrs. B. why
Miss Terry did not assume her proper
place with respect to her uncle, Mrs. B.
would say that she had heard it stated
that the old gentleman was so nervous
and irritable that only one of a serene
disposition could manage him. When
Mrs. c. asked Mrs. D. the same ques-
tion Mrs. D. would look grave and say
that Miss Terry was jealous of the in
huence of that angel over her uncle
and would like to get near him if she
could 1t was the old man who kept
her away. Whatever truth there was
in these reports. certain 1t is that they
blocked Miss Terry's social aspirations,
and after being present at few func-
tions she was dropped.
Then came a surprise. John Fallows
died, and instead of leaving a compe-
tency, as had been supposed, he left
millions. But as a still greater sur
prise, he bequeathed everything to his
niece, Jane Terry, not remembering
Miss Hubbell with a penny. Society
was shocked Miss Hubbell's sacrifice
was unreQuited, while Miss Terry, who
had shirked a duty in order to attempt
to assume place in society, which de-
clined to receive her, was made rich.
A few cynical people predicted that
society might protest with its heart
against such injustice, but that Miss
Terry would open with golden key a
lock that would not turn with one of
baser metal But these did not reckon
on the hold Miss Hubbell still held on
the social leaders. Society with unex-
pected generosity took up the cause of
the poor girl who had been wronged
and turned it's back on the girl it as
sumed had wronged her.
Then it was rumOred that the de-
ceased had drawn a cOdicil to his will
leaving a considerable part of his es-
tate to Miss Hubbell This cOdicil had
been appropriated by Miss Terry. Miss
Hubbell commenced suit to break the
will. All would depend upon securing
possession of a slip of paper on which
the codicil had been written. 1t was
known or at least supposed to be in
the keeping of Miss Terry or her attor-
neys. Could they be forced to produce
1t in court?
Miss Terry surprised every one by
taking the management of her affairs
into her own hands. She engaged her
lawyers and instructed them in the
method of their defense. They were to
admit the existence of the paper in
question, but were to decline to pro-
duce it till compelled to do so in open
court. This course only inhamed Miss
Hubbells supporters against the heir
ess, and the social doors remained
barred against her.
All periods of waiting have an end,
and so did the suspense attending the
case of Hubbe!l versus Terry The
lawyers for the claimant and the law
yers for the defendant came into court
with their satchels full of papers and
their clerks loaded with law books
Rebecca Hubbell showed great conf
dence, for her lawyers assured her
that they would compel her enemies to
produce the cOdicil The most careful
study of Miss Terry's face failed TO re-
veal what she felt. Society was pres
ent in large numbers, and for once So
ciety was deeply interested in seeing a
wrong rghted.
Miss Hubbells principal attorney
after a few preliminary questions to
witness who had admitted he had seen
the much talked Of paper bearing the