Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-07-03

SGVeTdi DnDutUS DSAOfe, Auu TIE thNSi-
ope looked a little faded. The recipient
was puzzled beyond measure. There
was rothing to eat in the house and
size was furnished with SIS with which
to buy a cake of maple sugar probably
not worth dollar. She spent the mon
ey for necessities,
One trait common with us all. Curl
osity, led her to attend the sale. She
tried to borrow q dollar to take with
her to buy the maple sugar. but though
she applied to those indebted to her,
no one could spare the amount at the
time, so she went with but few cents
in her pocket
She found that a man supposed to
be wealthy had died and left no viii.
so far as had thus far been discovered.
He had left instructions that his house
hold effects be sold at auction and all
his relatives be hidden to the sale. An
army of these persons were there. be-
lieving that a legacy would be con-
tanned in some of the articles sold. As
soon as the auctioneer mounted the
stand spirited bidding commenced on
everything that was hollow. Crockery.
knives and forks that could not be used
to conceal treasure went for moth
ing. Mrs. Spellmeyer regretted that
she had spent her S25. for she could
have bought lots of things she wanted
for a song. But sofas, bureaus and
desks with locked drawers brought
fabulous prices. AS soon as an article
was knocked down to a bidder it was
torn to pieces in the hope of finding a
sum of money, stocks, bonds or jew
elry.
Finally some kitchen stores were put
up and among other things cake OF
maple sugar. Mrs. Spellmeyer by this
time began to suspect that the de-
ceased had intended to favor her, but
she could serape together only Z cents
of the money provided to secure the
sugar She made the first bid on It
she made on anything, and, this at
tracing attention, the cake was soon
up to $40. so she lost It
Meanwhile there was a smashing
anu "a ltatAI% W liCIts Va hA SUITS VI
articles as fast as they were bought
The sale was over without any large
sum being discovered, though those
who had made purchases were still
pulling to pieces what they had bought.
One old lady who had bought bed
had ripped the ticking of the mattress
and was throwing the contents aside
as a ship throws the waves from her
bow. A man who had purchased an
iron box locked and no key was drill
ing a hole In it with view to insert
ing an explosive and blowing 1t open.
A boy was ehopping to piece bureau
the drawers of which could not be re-
moved in any other way. A young
girl added to the din by trying to blow
bank bills out of a comets piston. At
the moment some one stove in the
head Of a dun.
The auctioneer. standing on the plat
form with bit of paper in his hand.
raped with his gavel When he had
secured attention he began to speak.
Ladies and gentlemen. the intention
Of the deceased In ordering this sale
has been discovered. One of the ar
ticles sold. cake of maple sugar, was
broken apart and this paper found
within: I give and bequeath all my
property, real and personal, to Laura
Spellmeyer, nee Maryweather.'
There was a hush for moment, fol-
lowed by howl Of disappointed rage.
The auctioneer raped and cried above
the din. us Laura Spellmeyer pres
entT
The widow. not knowing whether
she was ON her heels or her head, stood
up and said she was the party called
for. A sleek looking gentleman ad-
vanced toward her and stated that he
had been the deceased's attorney and
had the care of the property. He had
| forwarded to her the mysterious letter
she had received. 1t had been left with
him by the testator some time before
his death.
A crowd gathered round the widow,
composed mostly of those who had ex-
pected little or nothing, to congratulate
her. To their questions as to her con
nection to the deceased she replied that
she had never heard OF him, whereupor
the attorney said that the testator had
| told him the reason for willing his
property as he did.
| In all his life he had received but one
| offer of purely disinterested kindness
When journeying to the city a penni-
less boy he had met girl who offered
him a five dollar bill she had just re-
ceived for birthday gift. That CIR
! he made his heir
Mrs. SpeAmeyer tried to remember
the incident, but failed 1t had &C.
Cured many years before. when she
was child. and it had passed out OF
| her memory.
| She was receiving congratulations
her face wreathed In smiles. when the
lawyer asked her If she knew how
much money she had inherited
l ala, sakeS" she exclaimed at never