... Nothing to
say--eh? Well, I thought so! We're guilty of the charges preferred,
and I'm going to pass sentence.... But before I do that, there's one
thing the parson didn't mention, that in my opinion should be told,
to wit: Miss Lydia Bolton's money--all that she had--came to her from
her uncle, an honest hardworkin' citizen of Boston. He made every
penny of it as a soap-boiler. So you see 'twas _clean_ money; and he
left it to his niece, Lydia Bolton. What did she do with it? You
know! She poured it out, right here in Brookville--pretty nigh all
there was of it. She's got her place here; but mighty little besides.
I'm her trustee, and I know. The five thousand dollars found on the
dead body of Andrew Bolton, has been made a trust fund for the poor
and discouraged of this community, under conditions anybody that'll
take the trouble to step in to my office can find out...."
The Judge paused to clear his throat, while he produced from his
pocket, with a vast deal of ceremony, a legal looking document
dangling lengths of red ribbon and sealing wax.
"This Bond of Indemnity, which I'm going to ask every man, woman and
child of fifteen years and up'ards, of the village of Brookville,
hereinafter known as the Party of the First Part, to sign, reads as
follows: Know all men by these presents that we, citizens of the
village of Brookville, hereinafter known as the Party of the First
Part, are held and firmly bound unto Miss Lydia Orr Bolton,
hereinafter known as the Party of the Second Part.
Pages:
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273