The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-12-04


, who had been suddenly stricken with deaii
he shook frigh,fully, his eyes glared, BIZ
teeth cha,tered, and his mind seemed wan
/ dering.
"Yonr name is Steele, think-Georgt
Steele?' said, quietly.
He stared vacantly; then said, "yes
George Steele; you're right, sir, Georg'
!. Steele"
"You are cousin. | think, of your wife
} and Of the late Mr.. William Steele, the sur
geon?'
: "Yes.n
: "Do you remember how long it was af
ter your trial a, Liverpool that you chang
ed your name?"
"No," he answered he!plessly.
] "IIad not Mr.. Steele another sister be
sides your wife-one who displeased hin
by marryng?"
"Yes, Miriam's mother"
An exclamation from his wife, who stood
, in box behind, startled him little, but
he shook his head dismally, and said, as il
10 himself '.It's no good"
/ ssWhat was her name-Mrs.-Mrs.-?
, aud turned over my brief as If to look
for it.
"Mrs Blackwood, she married young
Will Blackwood. the squre's 500, as had
been courting Martha afore Fanny left
school,"
j The whole thing was now plain-legi.
Ib!e TO my mind as il | had it upon my briet
| but, as fac, after fact rapidly followed,
corroboratod and explained each other, ]
3 began to fear tina. should lose the connec-
lion, and not shape my questions SO as to
bring out the truth for the jury.
~.When was it that you first knew the
child left at Mr. S,eele's door to be his sis
!, ter Mrs. Blackwood's child?"
mot fer good while; but Martha knew
il soon AFTER
"That relationship is tho reason, sup
pose, why she dislikes the girl SO much
| her sister had captivated her sweetheart.
j eh?-and Of course she did not like the
Icbld!'
, .Yes, that reason, and anolher?r he an
swered gIoomily.
i "Georger' exclaimed voice, which all
recognized as that Of bis wife. He heard
lit, ns he had before, but took no heed.
| "Ay, that was the will, supposed"
"The will!''
ayes, that document which was contain
, ed in the letter which Mr.. Steele gave 10
r Miriam, you know"
"a document; how came you to know
. ANYTHING about ,hat'" he asked, as if sud-
denly awaking from his dreamy state TO a
consciousness Of all that was going on
around him.
@Oh, knew all about il? You drew up
the first will, you remember, ten days be-
fore Mr.. Steele's death, but this deed,
which altered that disposal Of his property,
and left il 10 his sister Fanny's child, was
, executed the very day of his death, and
was stolen from Miriam while she slept"
| Thought this probable, and acted as if it
were certainty; but the man looked sur.
prised, and said, "Hc did not leave it all
to her,"
n "No!-I've been misinformed then!--
How much did he leavcs"
sGeorger" said the warning voice.
i "How should know?n answered the
frightened man.
"Take the woman into custody," ex-
, claimed the Judge, sit she dsturbs the
court again"
J, The man was now thoroughly alarmed
and perplexed.
"How much besides the house did he
leave to her!" lasked, quietly, fixing my
ewes steadily upon his quvering face.
z 81 don't know"
| okns frn
upon your oath, man, and answer me tru.
Ily; how much did Mr.. Steele leave TO bis
] niece?"
! s.Whnt's the good Of bullying me? ltell
YOU don't know"
n Then came a moments pause, and then
: said suddenly
i "Who mixed up the medcinesy'
The mans face was horrible to look at,
as asked this. White ]. had been all
along; but now !: was ghasily: the eyes
started and glared, and white froth came
out, fringing the blue Iiyid lips. ! shud.
ldered as looked. There was evidently
some terrible mystery. and dreaded al-
most to speak lest It should overwhelm me.
"Who mixed up the medicnss?" asked
! again.
A vacant stare of terror was all my an.
!, swer.
81 must have an answer" said stern
ly, .or shall ask his Lordship to comm,
you" =,
i "Oh Lord, Martha, it's come at last y
exclaimed the wretched man: 81 knew ii
would!" and uttering h,deous scream, he
fell upon the floor of the witness.box IN
strong convulsions.
i After this witness had been carried out,
and as soon as the confusion had subsidized,
Mr.. Ashley rose TO reply upon his evi-
dence; but as il was impossible to recall
the man, and endeavor TO set him right
with the jury, or 10 remove from their
minds the fearful impression be had made,
the counsel confined his remarks TO few
commonplace observations, which-he bur.
lried over AS quickly as possible.
i Lord Cranstoun than summed up, but
1.-The jury needed him very little: they, in
common with all the court, were gazing
on the prisoner, who bad tainted in the
box and whose beautiful and sorrow.
stricken face lay white aud moveless be-
fore them. Her head was supported by
one Of the turkeys, and a surgeon, who
n