The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-09

er DUSK, ne said rising and gathering
humself together with shiver.
Then you've made UP your mind
to add to your family without dime
for compensation? said Eliza. in Q
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 a
mouth more or less to the likes Of
them?"
"Pd sooner see my own little ones
lying quiet in their cofnnB than en-.
trusted TO the mercies Of Ezra and
Martin; and so would you, Eliza You
must make explanations for me at the
store in the morning, am going by
that five train"
In the large parlor OF old Ezra
Sillman's mansion sat the late mer.
chants solicitor and three sons They
were gathered at the long dining ta
ble-Ezra and Martin, well-to-do and
prosperous at either hand Of Mr.. Ma.
kin; John, shabby and detected, at
the other extreme end, ignored and
solitary.
The lawyer a small, dry-faced ac.
tive man, had pressed his hand at
FIRST meeting, and whispered some.
thing which John could not catch He
rose from his seat now and spoke.
Gentlemen, you all know the terms
Of your late fathers will. There are
no legal technicalities to explain, no
complications to unraveI
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."
"To you, Mr.. John, the care Of Janet,
adopted child of your late lamented
father"
The lawyer stopped short, coughed
dryly, and sharply scrutinized John
Sillman. Ezra and Martin also turned
contemptuous glance in the direc.
tion Of their brother John pulled his
ragged beard and murmured: "Ay,
that is so"
do you accept the charge, Mr..
John?" asked the attorney.
"Ay, that do |. Poor mite, she's a
lonely one this day"
Pardon me" remarked Mr.. Maxim,
obviously, but do I understand that
| you are-ahem mot overburdened
with this worlds goods?"
"Pm poor man, mister" said John,
bluntly. 81 am so poor that find
life a hard riddle to solve, and don't
know but what death would be rest
and blessln' to me and mine"
"Yet, despite your poverty and the
claims that your own family have up
on you, you accept this charger"
"Ay, that l do. And why? Cos
she's lonely mite this night. And
may the same be done to mine II /
should die and leave them unde-
| Tended"
Mr.. Maxim brought the palms OF his
hands together as though he we're
applauding
Ezra and Martin grew impatient
Times money, lawyer" said the eld-
er. 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.
ly. I've all the details here | can
dismiss your part of the business in
few words.
"Mr. Ezra" said the lawyer care
lessly glancing at deed before him,
ito you, the land and house property
Of which your late father died pos
sessed. To be sure. Your father, as
| you may have heard, started life as a
carpenter, and worked in a hired shed
on a plot of ground an eighth OF an
acre in extent. He bought the ground
and shed when times began to pros
per This Is yours now. The shed
needs furnishing bit, though it
makes an excellent tool house"
Good heavens. sir!" clustered Ezra
Sillman, rising wrathfully In his chair
But Mr. Maxim, after another 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 were dol
| lar and a snuffbox. In his room we're
an Invalid chair and framed print
entitled Charity In his warehouse
yard pony and barrow-the last
two preserved in memory of his early
struggling days when he hawked his
handicraft through the streets. They
are yours now. The pony is blind, and
the barrow would do with fresh coat
| of paint"
Martin Slllman sprang to his feet
with an oath. "Cohfound you, slrl
What does this mean? Our father died
rich man"
Pardon me-" interposed the law
yer. 1.-TWO months before his death
the late Mr.. sillman made over his
| entire wealth, with the trifing excep.
tions Just mentioned, to his adopted
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