The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1914-02-27
AWIDOW'S
RUSE
By MARGARET c. DEVEREAUx

wife bore him one child, son, ana
when the baby was 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
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 few days when
Choices husband. Sampson, appeared
to inform her that little Archie. her
son, was very i'll. She hurried home
and, going to the sickroom. 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:
ats 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
were 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 grave that had been pre-
pared for it.
( John Coulter during Archie's sick
ness, death and burial was away on
business. When he returned he found
! his fpians seriously interfered with.
There was a provision in David Du-
points will that if his son died before
his widow the estate should be hers
), instead of in trust for the boy. The
II widow at once claimed the property
and told Coulter that he must turn
it over to her.
" The executor was in a hole. He had
|. partly accomplished his plans to get
possession of the property and had ii
, not been for the child's death would
II doubtless soon have got it into a posi-
. ton where he would appear to be the
rightful owner. As it was. he could
{ only undo what he had done and turr
g the estate over to the widow. He was
long while doing it, and she was
obliged on several occasions to threat
t. en- him with charge of misappropria
', ton to force him to disgorge. WheI
, he had done so she dismissed him. hop
e ing that he would leave the neighbor
hood. But in the service of the Dupon
family he had accumulated some mon
n ey, with which he bought a small plan
n tation in an adjoining county, wher'
he settled.
Some eight or nine years after Archi
- Dupont's death the widow brought t
the plantation boy whose age wa
y given as twelve years and adopted him
la George Etheridge was the boys name
II and he soon became favorite with al
the household. Chloe and Mrs. Dupon
both seemed to have transferred to hir
their love for little Archie Georg
" grew up fine fellow and, thanks t
IN his mother by adoption, was well edu
* Gated.
When Etheridge was about to bt
come of age Mrs. Dupont granted hill
q a celebration of the event. The plan
ers from round about were invited
TX the fete. and, strange to say, job
al Coulter, who had continued to prospe
= and had become a prominent either
received an invitation. Surprise wa
n manifested at the extent Of the pref
he arations. and some persons who. r.
membered the boys age as given oil
ns when he came to the plantation d
lis clared that he had come of age a yes
as or two before.
However. there was fine gatherir
in honor of the event On the birthda
of when the clock struck II the CUES
on were gathered on lawn near Il
house. Mrs. Dupont was there wit
IN. George Etheridge, old Chloe and q
N, the household negroes.
my friends" said the widow. "aI
~ Mr. Coulter. this is my son. Arcl
n bald Dupont. When he was ye
I'D old gave out that he was dead. Th
| did in order to get possession of II
az property. which was passing into t
EN- hands of the executor Of the estate.
* took my baby away in bandbo
Chloe. as had arranged with b,
'ee sent me word of his illness. and | I
10 turned TO bury wax doll When
lis grew old enough not tn be known f
himself | brought him here. The
W precautions are no longer neceSSaI