Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-03-18
ASingular
Union
1t Was For the Pur-
pose of Spending
a Fortune
By SADIE OLcOTT

ped into a fortune of half million,
or $4,000 a year; was in excellent
health, a fayorite with his friends, es-
pecially attractive to girls, and the
management of his estate was likely
to give him enough to do to put
an edge on his leisure moments. This
was the outlook before the young man
the day he was twenty-one years old.
But on that same day he noticed
swelling In his neck about the size of
q hazelnut. He had never had an ex-
crescenee of any kind on his body and
could not understand the sudden APP
pearance of this one. He stood before
mirror looking at it wonderingly.
He pinched it, and it hurt a little,
though not much. He thought he
would show 1t to a doctor and get his
opinion upon it. but since he expected
to be busy with his guardian and the
lawyers nearly all day, passing the
1apers in receiving his estate, he de-
ferred the matter till the morrow.
During his birthday he was so taken
up with affairs pertaining to his prop
prty that he forgot all about the swell
ing in his neck till preparing for bed,
when he noticed it again. He was
bit troubled about it and resolved that
the first thing he would do in the morn
ing would be to show it to his physi-
ci,in, DR.. Franklin. So as soon as
the office hour of the physician came
round George was admitted to his con-
sulting room.
George did not leave DIR. Franklin's
Office for nearly an hour, and when he
did he was in very different mental
condition from when he entered it.
The lump indicated an incurable dis
base. The doctor tried in every way
to avoid telling him this, for the dou-
Bile reason that his patient would suf-
fer in mind as well as in body and his
knowing that he had not long to live
would hasten the end. George. how
ever, gathered from him that he had
anywhere from a few months TO few
years on earth. As to how much he
would suffer the doctor did not tell
him. Possibly he did not know him
self. He convinced his patient that he
had better remain ignorant Of what
the disease was.
George was philosophic fellow, and
when he had recovered, SO far as re
covery was possible from the shock.
he began to lay plans for spending the
brief unexpired term Of his life in
way to alleviate the condition TO the
best advantage. Miss Alice Wood
bridge was his favorite among his girl
sufa hn fhnt.Uhf hn
would like to have her companionship
for the brief season of life left to him.
He called upon her. stated the case
and asked her to be his wife, agreeing
to settle half his fortune upon her, the
other half to be spent in such COM
forts or pleasures or journeys as would
help him to forget his coming demise.
Miss Woodbridge asked for few
days to consider the proposition, but,
being a girl with an eye to improving
her condition. when she gave her an
swer insisted that the whole amount
Of his estate be settled on her except
the income during his life, which she
considered ample for his purpose.
Whether or no she was right he did
not stop to consider, but broke off the
negotiations.
George tried several other girls. One
who had no especial affection for him
refused him on the ground that she
did not care to tie herself up for a
money consideration to a man who
would be in dying condition during
their married life Others baked at
this or at that till at last George had
well nigh gone the rounds of the girls
he would care to marry. One he had
not tried. She was Lucy Ellis, an
amiable, happy go-lucky girl, from
whose shoulders trouble rolled off cas-
lily and whose financial necessities were
such that she was quite familiar with
the pawnshop.
To Miss Ellis George concluded to
make a proposal, but. being somewhat
discouraged in his quest for compan
ion in his trouble, offered her much
better terms than any he had yet pro
posed. After modestly telling her that
he thought his income would suffice
as well as a larger amount for the pur
pose of making him forget what was
coming he promised to settle his whole
estate upon her If she would marry
him.
To his surprise, she threw her arms
about his neck and said. with tears in
her eyes: Wen spend it all. And
what will lot of money be compared
with the remembrance that we shall
have at least a short time togetherT
But" he protested, what will you
live on when ! am gomez?
'sWhy. won't be any worse off for
money than am now, will I?'
She looked up at him from pair Of
ingenious, childlike eyes through her
tears, and then and there his heart
was won.
very WELL" he said. BE it as you
say
s Neverth eless 1t was not as she said,
Nor George on the day of the wedding,
unknown to her, placed 100000 in