Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-03-20

the estate, and therefore none Of her
relatives could inherit as heirs at law.
However. Mr.. Meriwether, having
heard of the injustice that had been
done Rosa Blair. made her acquaint-
ance and advised her to put in a bill |
for services to the deceased large
enough to give her gOodly share of
the estate. She had letter from Mr..
Burbank Offering to make her his heir |
on the conditions named. Meriwether |
told her that this letter might enable !
her to make compromise with the
other heirs. or bill of, say. $1,000 Il |
year for the period of her service, |
might he allowed by the courts.
! Miss Blair finally consented to put
in ii bill for $1,000 year, which, with
/ interest, would give her an amount to
produce an income on which she might
/ live comfortably. The claim was filed.
but 50 great was the howl set up
by the heirs against the claimant that
the poor girl withdrew it.
Meriwether. having espoused her
cause. became further interested and
declared that she should get her dues
He went to the lawyer who had had
charge of Joseph Burbank's legal af-
fairs and had long interview with
him. Meriwether asked to see copy
of the will that had been drawn up
and ready to sign. The attorney show
ed it to him. and when Meriwether
proposed to call together the heirs-at-
law, show them what the intention of
Joseph Burbank had been and en-
deavor to induce them to make COM
promise with each other and Rosa
Blair. the lawyer consented and wrote
an opinion that without a compromise
the estate would likely be eaten up
by litigation.
Armed with these two documents,
Meriwether called the meeting. He
had no sooner risen to address those
assembled than man called out:
what interest have you in this
business anyway"
IL have become interested in behalf
of Miss Blair
Reckon" called out woman, you
want to marry her and git it all for
yourself"
Without noticing this last remark
Meriwether read the unsigned will.
1t left the estate for ten years in the
hands of trustees for the benefit of
Rosa Blair. If within that time his
son should return and claim to inherit
the estate should be divided between
him and Miss Blair. If at the expira-
ton of ten years he had not returned
the property was TO be given to her.
:. Meriwether then stated that he was
authorized by Miss Blair to withdraw
:, her claim on being paid the sum of
$4,000
A dozen persons claimed the floor
, each intending to speak against max
:, ing any such compromise. After al
= had spoken and only one other person
:, had arisen to speak in behalf of com
promise Meriwether announced that
= as Miss Blair's representative. he with
> drew the proposition and would make
another. Miss Blair would not settle
e for less than S25,O00.
e This caused hubbub. Cries OF
" Bluff" "Extortion." I'VE must have
an attorney" Fight it out" were
&c heard all over the room. When lul
i' came Meriweather made another an
ID nouncement Miss Blairs figures hat
d. gone up to $4,000.
q Amid still greater confusion maj
arose and proposed that the meeting
u organize as heirs at law of the JOSEPH
u Burbank estate and appoint commit
le tee to procure counsel and prosecute
le their claims till they had received
D. every cent of their just inheritance
IT He was followed by another. who ask
'e ed for subscriptions with which to pa!
k legal expenses. This threw dampel
to on the meeting. only few subscrip
n tiOnS Of u few dollars each being offer
ID ed When ii was evident that snaI
ty had been struck. Meriwether arose ant
lg said:
r "My friends. II is time this meeting
n. adjourned. ! am the Macdonald Meri
10 wPthpr Burbank mentioned in this hn
Pr signed will and the only child OF th'
ry tPStatOr. My mother. whose maidei
n name was Meriwether. being dead,
ulu llt Solt utlI 1T llN W. AhN N''''N
ly will not trouble you to make com
Of promise with Miss Blair. ! will make
tn one myself"
r. This stunned the assembly to silenc
as till woman's shrill voice cried out:
In 81 suppose you'll compromise by mar
rying herr
al THAT'S exactly what intend to do
to am happy to announce that we ar
ID already engaged"
er The meeting broke up sullenly. SOM
III having hope that the man could no
ad prove his identity. but most OF thos
IS present believed that he would no
It. have made such claim unless h'
ne could substantiate it.
IN When Burbank heard of his IN
lie ther's death he concluded to go 'hom
Y, incOgnit0 and learn of the situation
IN 1t was soon made plain to him. and be
e. fore claiming his estate he proposed 4
he derive some amusement from the nu
is merous heirs who were bent on castinj
at aside the claim of the only person witt
p was really entitled to any part OF th
l. estate He was so charmed with Rosi
Ir- Blair that he resolved to pay her NOR