The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-12-26
A FIREBRAND
How II Was Thrown Be.
tween Two Girls
By EMma ALDRIcH

they are liable to overreach them
selves. He was so anxious to get rich
that he wouldn't marry lest the ex-
pense of family would prevent his
accomplishing his object. When he
had accumulated a fortune he found
himself without chick or a child In
the world to pass 1t on to. Then 1t
was splendid property, consisting of
houses and lands. He couldn't enjoy
it himself. He was too old. If he had
son he might be interested during
his last days teaching the boy how to
take care of it and at his death see it
pass into the possession of his own
flesh and blood.
But, not having a son or a child at
all, he set himself to make such pro-
vision as would insure the passage of
his estate to one of his nieces, If he
had had nephew he would have left
1t to him. But he hadn't nephew.
and Of his two nieces. one, the daugh-
ter of his sister Anna, was but twelve;
the other, the daughter of his sister
Elizabeth, thirteen. Had he not been
so wrapped up in his fortune as
whole and desirous of having 1t go as
whole to a descendant he would
have left half of 1t to one niece and
half to the other. But his object was
to provide for 1t remaining undivided
rather than to make any person or per-
sons happy. Indeed, he didn't wish to
make any one happy. 1t was his de-
light to make persons miserable. Not
exactly that either; he loved to set
them at odds. He would sell the same.
thing to or buy 1t from two different
persons. then set them to quarreling
over which should have the preference,
while he looked on without taking any
part In the wrangllng.
Like most persons who wish to indi-
rectly retain the management of their
property after death, Muldridge made
a will with that intent. He left his
estate In the hands of trustee till his
niece, Alice Mortimer, and her younger
cousin, Sadie Brown. should have
passed twenty years Of age. On the
latter's twentieth birthday at IL o'clock
noon the trustee was to announce In
presence of both girls that the one first
married should inherit the whole Of his
estate. His main object was to do all
he could toward having posthumous
grandnephew. and he further tied up
the estate so that 1t should go to the
first son born to the niece who should
win 1t.
And SO 1t came about that Misses
Alice Mortimer and Sadie Brown grew
up neither of them knowing that when
Sadie should reach her twentieth birth
day they would be called upon to hur-
ry for a husband or lose q fortune. 1t
may be supposed that had they been
Informed of the terms of their uncle's
will each would have provided a man
for the occasion. But 1t is questionable
II this is so. Miss Mortimer was an
ineorrigibe firt, and it is doubtful II
even the contingent possession OF
wealth would enable her to make up
her mind between several men she had
dangling about her. Miss Brown was
a demure little body, and since it would
be necessary for her to intimate to
some man that she would like him Ito
marry her it is quite likely that she
would lose the inheritance.
Muldridge died year before this
birthday of Sadie Brown on which
hung half million dollars. His trus-
tee, John Andrews, who by the terms
of the will was to be well paid out of
the estate for keeping the secret, sue
ceeded admirably in holding his tongue
and a few days before Miss Browns
birthday notified the parties interested
that "a bequest of their uncle, Martin
Muldmdge, In which they were oOn.
cerped would be made known to them.
They were to come to the trustees Of
fee half an hour before noon that
there might be no slip In compliance
with the law.
The cousins had not been near neigh
Ibors and scarcely knew each other.
Both aIrixed at the trustees office
promptly at 11:30 O'Clock and greeted
each other IN friendly manner. In
deed they had reason to be pleased
with the situation, as they supposed it
to be. for 1t was to be inferred that
each was to come in for nice shAge
of Uncle Martins estate. They sat chat
Aing till &he clocks began to strike 12.
when the trustee catered from his prl-
waite Office with the Muldridge will in
his hand apd. untying the red tape
aboiRt II, read them the document.
When he had finished he said to them:
Young ladies, you have heard the
puoyisioas of the will. Ii either of yosl
usarries II will be TO your interest to
request the clergyman who marries you
to carefully note the hour, minute and
second and make afidavit to that ef-
feet before notary or such person as
js authorized TO take aeknowledg-
meats"
The two girls sat gaping at the trus-
tee for few moments; then Miss. Nor
timer began to quiver with excitement.
while her cousin took on bewildered
look. II was an abominabIe situation
for any man to bring about between
two estimable girls, and no one but n