The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-03-13
A WIDOWS
RUSE
By MARGARET c. DEVEREAUx

In a%ntebellum days there lived in
Georgia on a large plantation, which
he owned, one David Dupont. His
wife bore him one child, a son, and
when the baby vas but a year old the
father died, leaving his property to his
wife in trust for his son. But Du-
points affairs had always been in the
hands Of one John Coulter. in whose
business ability and integrity the
planter had every confidence. He
therefore left the management of the
estate to Coulter as executor.
Mrs. Dupont had always distrusted
Coulter, but SO great was his influence
over her husband that she dared not
speak her mind.
One day she set out from the plan.
tation to visit a friend. Her trunks
were taken to the station by the ne
groes, but the widow carried in her
hand what in those days was called Il
bandbox made of pasteboard, intended
for the carrying Of women's bonnets
or mems hats. This box she would
trust to no other hands than her
own. She told all Of the household
that her baby was to remain in the
hands Of Chloe, his nanny, and no
one else was to have anything to do
with him.
Mrs. Dupont had been away from
the plantation but a few days when
Chole's husband. Sampson, appeared
to inform her that little Archie. her
son. was very i'll. She hurried home
and. going to the Nckroom. shut her
self up there, giving orders that no
one except the doctor, who had been
the family physician for years, was to
be admitted. The doctor came and
went. but when asked how the baby
was getting on always hurried away
without giving any satisfaction. One
day when he came out of the sick
room he said:
ITS all over"
Two days later Simpson carried a
little coffin from the house. followed
by the widow. the boys nanny and
all the negroes on the plantation. There
we're walls from the dusky mourners,
but none walled so loud as the dead
boys nanny. The coffin was carried
to the family cemetery. where It was
placed in a grave that had been pre-
pared for 1t.
John Coulter during Arches sick
ness. death and burial was away ON
business. When he returned he found
his plans seriously interfered with.
There was a provision in David Du-
points will that II his son died before
his widow the estate should be hers
instead Of in trust for the boy. The
widow ut M claimed the property
and told Coulter that he must turn
It ove to her. ..
The executor was In q hole. He had
partly accomplished his plans TO get
possession of the property and had it
not been for the child's death would
doubtless soOn have got 1t into q posi-
ton where he would appear to DO the
riRhtful owner. As 1t was, be could
only undo what he had done and turn
the estate over to the widow. He was
q long while doing it. and. she was
obliged on several occasions to threat
en- him with a charge Of misapproprfa-
ton to force him to disgOrge. When
be had done 80 she dismissed him. hop
ing that he would leave the neighbor-
hood. But in the service Of the Dupont
family he had accumulated some mon
ey. with which he bought q small plan.
tation In an adjoining county. whore
he settled.
Some eight or nine years after Archie
Dupont's death the widow brought to
the plantation a boy whose ago was
given "a twelve years and adopted him.
George Etheridge was the boys name.
and he soon became q favorite with all
the household. Chloe and Mrs. Dupont
both seemed to have transferred to him
their love for little Archie. George
grew up a fine fellow and. thanks to
his mother BY adoption, was we'll edu-
Gated
When Etheridge was about to be-
come Of age Mrs. Dupont granted him
a celebration Of the event. The plant
err from rOund about were invited to
the fete, and. strange to say. John
Coulter. who had continued to prosper
and had become q prominent citizen,
received an Invitation. Surprise was
manifested ut the extent Of the prop
aratiOns. and some persons who re
men,bered the boys age as given out
when he c:,me to the plantation de-
clarpd that he had come Of age q year
or. two before.
However. there was q 6ne gathering
in honor Of the event. On the birthday
when the clock struck u the guests
were gathered ON n lawn ear the
housse. Mx. Dupont was there With
| George Etheridge. old Chloe and al
| the household negruts.
my friends" said the widow. '-and
Mr. Coulter. this In my son Archi-
bald Dupont. When he was \ rear
aid I gave out that he was dead This
! did in order to get p0saeasiOn IT my
~prOnerty. which was passing into the
hands Of the executor Ut the extnte. I
took my baby away In q bandbox.
Chloe. N ! had arr, ,,ged with. her,
cent me word Of his illness. and re-