The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-12-30
A FIREBRAND
How II Was Thrown BE.
tween Two Girls
BY EMMA ALDkICH


they are liable To oyerreach them
selves He was so anxious To get ricl
that lie wouldn't marry lest the ex
pense of n family would prevent hi,
accomplishing his object When b.
had accumulated a fortune he found
himself without chick or u child il
the world 10 pass il on to- Then 1,
| was splendid property, consisting OF
houses ana lands. He couldn't enjoy
IL himself lie was too old If he had
a son he might be interested during
his last days teaching the boy how Il
take care of IL and ut his death see II
pass into the possession OF his own
flesh ana blood.
But, not having a son or a child al
all, he set himself 10 make such pro
vision as would insure the passage OF
his estate to one OF his neces. III he
had had Il nephew he would have left
| il to him. But lie hadn't n 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
SD wrapped up in his fortune as a
whole and DESTROYS of having il go as
whole To descendant he would
have left half of 1t 10 one niece aud
half to the other. Hut his object was
10 provide for il remaining undivl ded
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 10 make persons miserable. Not
exactly that eitner. he loved Ia SCI.
them ut odds He would sell the same
thing To or buy ii 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 wrangling.
Like most persons who wish To indi-
rectly retain the management of their
property after death Mudridpe made
II will with that intent He left his
estate III the hands of II 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 ut L. 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
granddaughter. and he further tied up
the estate SO that II should 20 To the
first son born 10 the niece who should
win IT,
And so II 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 10 bur
ry for husband or lose "A fortune Ii
may be supposed that had they been
Informed of the terms of their uncle's
will each would have provided man
for the occasion But it is questionable
If this Is SO. Miss Mortimer was an
incorrigible tiirt. and il is doubtful if
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
demure little body, and since ii would
pe he'eSsaiy ioi HeI u lnlluIutt 10
some man that she would like him to
marry her 1t is quite likely that she
would lose the inheritance.
Muldridge died n year before this
birthday of Sadie Brown on which
hung half Il 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 few days before Miss Browns
birthday notified the parties interested
that a bequest of their uncle, Martin
Muldridge, in which they were con.
cerned would be made known to them. |
They were To come to the trustees of !
flee half an hour before noon that |
there might be no slip in compliance |
with the law.
The cousins had not been near neigh |
bors and scarcely knew each other |
Both arrived at the trustees office |
promptly at 1l:3O O'Clock and greeted |
each other in IA friendly manner. In
deed. they had reason to be pleased |
with the situation, as they supposed it |
to be. for IT was To he Inferred that
each was to come in for nice share
OF Uncle Martins estate. They sat chat.
ting till the clocks began to strike IL.
when the trustee entered from his pri.
vate Office with the Muldridge will I'm
his hand and, untying the red tape
about it, read them the document.
When he had finished he said to them:
Young ladies, you have heard the
provisions OF the will. If either Of YOU
lnarries 1t will he to your interest TO
request the clergyman who marries YOU
To carefully note the hour, minute and
second and make affidavit To that IF.
rect before notary or such person as
Is authorized to take acknowledg.
ments."
The two girls sat gaping ut the trus.
Tee Tor few moments: then Miss Nor
inner began ~ culver with excitement,
whlle her cousin took on "A bewildered
look III was an abominable situation
Tor any man TO bring about between
TWO estimable girls. and no one but n
crochety old sklnfiint would have
thought Of such thing.
UP jumps Miss Mortimer and leaves
lhe room, bent Oh finding one of her
L