Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-01-21
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A FIREBRAND
How II Was Thrown Be.
tween Two Girls
By EMMA ALDncH

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who are 10 dead set In their ways that
they are liable to overreach them
selves. He was SO anxious to get rich
that he wouldn't marry lest the ex
pense of a family would prevent bis
accomplishing his object. When be
had accumulated a fortune he found
himself without q chick or child In
the world to pass II on to. Then II
was a splendid property, consisting OF
houses and lands. He couldn't enjoy
| 1t himself. he was too old. II he had
| son he might be interested during
his last days teaching the boy bow to
take care of it and at his death see II
pass into the possession Of his OWL
flesh and blood.
But. not having son or child al
all, he set himself to make such pro
vision as would insure the passage OF
his estate to one Of bis nieces. II be
had had nephew he would have left
1t to hlm. 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
ElIZab beth. thirteen. Had he not been
80 wrapped up In his fortune as
whole and deSirous Of having It 90 as
whole to descendant he would
have left half Of 1t to one niece and
half to the other. But his object was
to provide for It remaining undivided
rather than to make any person or per,
sons happy. Indeed. he didn't wish to
make any one happy. 1t was bis de,
light to make persons miserable. Not
exactly that either: he loved to se:
them ut odds He would sell the same
thing to or buy 1t from two different
persons. then set them to Quarrelins
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. Muldridge made
will with that intent. He left bis
estate In the hands Of trustee till bis
niece. Alice Mortimer. and her younger
cousin. Sadie Brown. should have
passed twenty years Of age. On the
latters twentieth birthday at II O'Clock
noon the trustee was to announce 10
presence of both girls that the one first
married should Inherit the whole OF his
estate. His main object was to do al
he could toward having u posthumous
granddaughter. and be further tied up
the estate 80 that 1t should go to the
first son boru to the niece who should
win II.
And 30 II came about that Misses
Alice Mortim"r and Sadie Brown grew
I'D neither Of them knowing that when
Sadie should reach her twentieth birth
day they would be called upon to hur'
~ for a husband or lose fortune. II
may be supposed that had they been
Informed of the terms Of their uncles
will each would have provided a man
for the occasion. But II IL questionable
II this is So Miss Mortimer was an
incorrigible dirt. and 1t 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 1t would
be necessary for her TO intimate to
some man that she would like him to
marry her 1t Is quite likely that sh"
would lose the inheritance.
Muldridge died year before this
birthday Of Sadie Brown on which
hung half a million dollars. His trus'
tee. John Andrews. who by the terms
of the will was to be we'll 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 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
fee half IN 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 11:30 o'clock and greeted
each other In a friendly manner. In,
deed. they had reason to be pleased
with the situation. M they supposed 1t
10 be. for II was to be inferred that
each was to come in for a nice share
If Uncle Martins estate. They sat chat
ting till the clocks began to strike II.
when the trustee entered from his pri'
vate office with the Muldridge will in
his hand and. untying the red tape
about 1t. read them the document.
When he had finished he said to them:
"Yonng ladies. you have heard the
provisions of the will. II either Of you
marries 1t will be to your interest to
request the clergyman who marries you
to carefully note the hour. minute and
second aud make affidavit to that ef.
feet before notary or such person US
Ia authorized to take acknowledg-
ments."
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 abominable situation
for any man to bring about between
two estimable girls. and no one but a
crochety old skinfint would have
thought OF such thing.
Up jumps Miss Mortimer and leaves
the room. bent on Hnding one Of her
lovers. marrying him and appropriat.
Ing the inheritance. Miss Brown seem
ed daxed and remained IN her chair
apparently not understanding just what
had happened or. II she did, not know
Ing what in the world to do about It
Neither Of the girls was fitted to make
good showing In. such race. Miss
Mortimer having 80 many men she
could marry that II would be next tc
| impossible to decide between them and
Miss Brown being 30 retiring that she
was incapable by nature Of asking q
man to marry her.
Miss Mortimer had very little doubt
that she could easily win. There waI
Tom Scovill. who had been begging
her to marry him for months. There
was Bob Hackstaff. whom she wanted
but had not been able to get because
he preferred Julia Green. Ned Tucker
had been buzzing about her lately, and
she thought It would be no trouble tf
i hiring him To the DOint Indeed. X wal