Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-01-29

His Grandma
Wife
How q Man to save a Fortune
Was Obliged to We'd His
Grandmother
BY AFFORD c. ALN1Y
Copyright. 1910. 10y American Press
Association
BY BR AFFORD c. ALMY
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
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me. While waiiing for my guides
tore open he wrapper OF the papers
aud scanning one of the Journals. no
ticed u markcd item stating thai my
grandfather. sherman Wellesley. aged
eighty.iive. had married anu died the
same day
In a twinkllng | was deposed from q
position OF heir expectaut to great
fortune to did not know what. My
grandfather had bitterly opposed my
propensity To- travel aud especially to
climb mountains was his only de-
scendant. and he had long eudeavored
10 induce ne to settle down to the care
Of the millions which he had willed
t1e He lived ~ constant terror lest |
should make II slip Oh one Of my
climbs. ga several thousand feet down
over preripice and the fortune that
had been accommodating during his iifo
fime would 70 abegging In other
words. 1t must he left 10 charity.
His Intention In marrying was plain
10 me lie could not have an neir
tother than myself. but he could have
a wife. lie had doubtless lost all pa
tlence with me and at the last moment
married some woman VINO would sup.
ply my place as au heir
| hesitaied what to do but. looking
~ nj the gIIltering top OF the white
mountain. forgot for the time all about
the fortune had lost. ami. my guides
being ready started on what proved
my hast ascent. On returning to my
starting point Iuterlaken. left for
home As saon as ! landed ! wrote my
new grandmother asking for iuforma-
ton as to her husbands disposition Of
the property by return mail | receiv-
cd this reply:
Your grandfather. being taken suddenly
~. concluded to destroy the will leaving
you his sole heir not having confidence
that you would settle down and attend 20
the property Having but an hour or two
to live. there was no time to make a de-
tailed Will. His brain. always quick TO
work. solved the problem in this wise;
Having great confidence Ia the. ne mar
rcd ME on his deathbed and signed q
VIII comprised In few words leaving me
an his property lie. however. exacted
promise from me that II you desired TO
marry me 1 would take you Tor nus
band.
Phew. Marry my grandmother.
Wei. all depended upon what kind
OF woman She was \ hope sprang
up In my breast that she might be Of a
suitable age for me and passably good
looking. wrote her that would run
up for conference and politely AS
sured her that If size WAS not favora-
bly, impressed with me ! would release
her from the verbal condition by de-
cliuir~ 10 marry her This. BATTERED
myself. was very foxy way OF put
ting it. my real object being TO decline
TO take wife with n fortune II
didn't like her
was doomed to terrible disap-
polntmeni. found my grandmother
a vcrtable grandmother She was six
ty-iiye years old. TAT. bald and not a
cursed myself for fool 20 have de-
cllned to comply with my grandpa
theirs wishes during his life. for now
that the blow had fallen | realized my
folly II WIS evident that to save the
fortune must marry an old woman.
and even then she would own the
property till her death. aud should
have 10 ask her for every penny
spent
Having taken sufficient time to make
up my mind what course to pursue.
sounded her as to whether could
marry her. take an allowance and
spend my time anywhere but with her
She said she would think II over. and
had hope But the next day | was
Informed that such a course would not
be carrying out her late husbands
wishes He had desired thar should
take care OF the property.
The medium through whom ! recelv
ed this answer was Agnes Dorchester,
my grandmoiher's secretary. young
woman not quite my age, Indeed.
was Obliged 10 transact everything
through this girl. and II was not long
before saw plainly that Mrs. Welles-
ley was completely under her thumb.
This added TO my chagrin. Another
had stepped In between me and the
fortune | had been brought up 10 ex-
peci would be mine. and | was not
even at liberty to deal directly with
that person.
Having discovered where the power
lay. there was nothing for me 10 do
but endeavor to gain such points as
wished to make through its possessor.
invited Miss Dorchester to a confer
ence. In which played my best card
In an attempt to induce her TO per
suade her mistress 10 fulfill her prom
lse. allow me n stated income aud per.
nit me to live abroad
Mrs. Wellesley" she said In reply
to this proposition, would not have
beel lntrusted with this matter We're
II not that she was to be implicitly
trusted with carrying II out. Your
grandfather's object was 10 make a
man OF one who was wasting his tal-
ents ia globe trotting."
While | was disappointed. was i'm
pressed. Even this girl. whom had
begun by disliking. saw that ! was not
worthy 20 be trusted with a fortune-a
forfuna of yyhtch she herself held the