The Meeker herald., 1909-04-17

Then you've made up your mind
to add to your family without . dime
for compensation" said Eliza, In .
tone of deep and bitter reproof
Why don't your brothers, Ezra and
Martin. look after the child? They're
rich men already. and their father has
now doubled their wealth. What is
mouth more or less to the likes OF
them?"
I'D sooner see my own little ones
! lying quiet in their conins than en-
trusted to the mercies Of Exra and
Martin; and SO would you, Elisa You
must make explanations for me At the
store in the morning. l am going BY
that i've train"
In the large parlor Of old Ezra
| eillman's mansion sat the late mer-
chants solicitor and three sons. They
were gathered at the long dining Ia
ble-Exra and Martin, well.to-do and
prosperous. ut either hand Of Mr.. Ma
kin: John, shabby and detected. at
the other extreme end. ignored and
solitary.
The lawyer. = small. dry.facsd. &C
tive man. had pressed his hand at
flrst meeting, and whispered some
thing which John could not catch. He
rose from his seat now and spoke.
Gentlemen. you all know tho terms
Of your late fathers will There are
NO legal technicalities to explain, NO
complications to unravel.
ITO you, Mr.. Ezra, the land and the
house property Of which your late
father was possessed at the time OF
his decease.
ITO you, Mr.. Martin. all moneys.
plate. furniture. pictures. books. car
riages and horses of which your late
lamented father stood possessed at
the time Of his decease."
ITO you. Mr. John, the care Of Janet.
adopted child Of your late lamented
father"
The lawyer stopped short, coughed
dryly. and sharply scrutinixed John
0illman. Ezra and Martin also turned
contemptuous glance in the direc-
ton Of their brother John pulled his
ragged beard and murmured: GAY.
that is so.'
DO you accept the charge. Mr..
John?" asked the attorney.
"Ay. that do l. Poor mite. she's .
lonely one this day"
Pardon me-" remarked Mr.. Maxim.
obviously, but do understand that
you are-ahem!-not overwhelmed
with this worlds goods!"
"Tm q poor man. mister" said John.
blintfy. Il am SO poor that nnd
life ! hard riddle to solve, and don't
know but what death would be rest
and blessin' to me and mine"
Yet. despite your poverty and the
claims that your own family have up
on you, you accept this charge"
"Ay, that do. And why? Cos
she's a lonely mite this night. And
may the same be done to mine II I
should die and leave them unde-
Tended
Esra and Martin grew impatient.
Times money. lawyer" said the eld-
err. Don't waste it. You've got the
papers there. Let Martin and me
know exactly what we're worth.
You're a man of business yourself.
and will appreciate the request"
Certainly" cried Mr.. Maxim. brisk
|
dismiss your part of the business In
few words. ..I.t
Mr.. Ezra" said the lawyer. care
lessly glancinx 1t a deed before him.
"to you, the lAAd and house property
of which your late father died pos
sessed. To be sure. Your father. ~
you may have heard. started life -
carpenter, and wvsked in hired shed
on plot Of grouyd an eighth of An
acre in extent. He bought the ground
and shed when times began to pros
per. This il yours now. The shed
needs furnishing . bit. though It
makes an excellent tosl house."
Good heavens, sir!s 9lustered Ezra
sillman. rising wrathfuso in his chair.
But Mr.. Maxim. after Aaother glance
at the document, proceeded to ad-
dress Martin. "Mr. Martin to you all
the moneys. plate, furniture. pictures.
carriages and horses. To be sure. In
your late fathers pockets VEGA dol
lar and Q snu6box. In his roofs were
an invalid chair and . framed print
entitled Charity In his WAREHOUSE
yard = pony and barrow-th< last
two preserved in memory Of his carly
struggling days when he hawke< hbs
handicraft through the streets. shs5
are yours now. The pony 10 blind, and
the barrow would do with fresA SoaS
of paint"
Martin sillman sprang to his fSet
with IN oath. "Confound you, Ari
What does this mean? Our father d<ed
q rich man"
Pardon me-" interposed the laS-
yer. 1.-TWO months before his deasA
the late Mr.. sillman made over hs
entire wealth. with the trifiing eIceD-
tons just mentioned, to his adopted
| child, Janet Mayhower. on the con0<
ton that she shared with whomsoevas
should be disinterested enough to ~
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