The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-09-16

needing the shout Of Mr.. Clamp, who had fol-
lowed them to the house.
"It might seem mean" said Mark to Mr..
Afford "but I think you'll agree presently,
that it wasn't case for ceremony"
He stripped the clothes from the bed. The
pillows were stuffed with valuable furs fne
linen and embroideries filled the holsters. The
feather-sack contained dresses Of rich and
costly fabrics,-the styles showing them to be
at least twenty years old. And in the mat
tress were slowed away the dinner and tea ser
visss of silver, together with porcelain, crys-
tai, and bohemian ware.
"What deal o comfort body could take
in sleepin' on bed stuffed nike this 'ers ~ said
Mr.. Afford 81 sh'd think he'd dream Of the
'Rabian NiShts."
"Aftss this, Madam," said marx, upon re-
turning to the hall, ssyou can hardly expect
any special lenity from me. The will allow
cd you an annuity Of one thousand dollars
while yon remained single; since you are
married your interest ceases but You shall re-
csive two hundred aysar. The house, howsv-
er, belongs TO my wife. Your husband there
has home to which you can CO."
eyes," srid the lawyer, che has home,
and won't be beholden to any man for q roof
to shelter his family" s.-.
The pride Of the woman was still unbsnt.-
Though her cheek was blanehed and her lips
were bitten blue, still she stood erect and her
head turned queenly a ever. TIE glance she
threw to the man who called her wife was
enough to have pierced him. Turning to
Mark, she said,-
"If you will come to-morrow,-or Monday,
rather,-you can have possession Of the house
and property. Ny own things can be easily
removed, and it will be simple matter to
make ready for new comers."
"I could keep them out Of II year, if !
choose" said Mr.. Clamp.
"But do not choose" said she, with sup
urb baughtiness.
"Wal, good mornin'," said Mr.. Afford.
As they left tho house, Mrs. Clamp sat
down in the silent room. Without, the wind
whistled through the naked trees and whirled
up sirai columns Of leaves the river below
was cased in ices the. .passsrs-by looked pinch
ed with cold, and cast hurried glances over
their shoulders at the ill-fa.ed house and the
adjacent burying-sround. Within, the COM
motion, the chill, the hurry, the fright, were
even more intense. What now remained to be
done9 Her son, vanquished in love by .
blacksmi,h's protege, had fed, and left her to
meet her fa.e alone. The will had been dis
covered, and, as il by q special interposition
Of Providence, the victi n Of her sons passions
had been the instrument OF vengeance. The
lawyer who had worked upon her fears had
proved unable to protect her. The estate was
out Of her hands; the property with which
she had hoped to escape from the hated town
and join her son was seized, she was ruined,
disgraced woman. She had faced the battery
Of curious eyes, as she walked with the hus-
band she dispised to the Sunday services but
what screen had she now that her pride was
BUNDLED? The fearful struggle in the mind of
the lonely woman in the chilli and silent room,
who shall describe IL? She deniec admission
to the servants and her husband, and through
the long evening still sat by the darkening
window, far into the dim and gusty night.
Squire Clamp went to bed moody, il not en-
ragged; but when, on waking, he found his
wife still absent, he became alarmed. EARLY
in tie morning he tracked her through light
snow, that had sifted down during the night,
to the river-bank, at the bend where the cur
rent keeps the ice from closing over. An hour
after, some neighbors, hastily summoned, made
search at the dam. Ore Of them, crossing
the Aums by Mr.. Hardwick's shop, broke the
wly-formed ice and there fond the drifting
body Of Mrs. Clamp. Her right hand, strstch-
ed out stiff, was thrust ag inst the Aoats Of the
water-whesl, as IL, even in .ath, she remem-
bered her hate against the family whose for
tune had risen upon her overthrow
CHAPTER XVIII.
Mark and Mr.. Afford, after their disagreea-
BE interview with the Clamps, went to see Mr..
Hardwick, whom they wished to congratulate.
At the door they were met by lizzie, whose
Sad face said, "Hush p' Marks spirits fell In
stantly. sis be worse ?" he asked. A tear
was the only answer. He asked Mr.. Afford
to 90 for Mildred. s'Sas has just come" }" said
Lizzie.
They found Mr.. Hardwick preppsd up in
bed, whence he could look out Of the window.
The chureh-spirs rose on the one hand, and on
the other the chimney Of the shop was seen
above the trees On the river bank. BY night
the column Of sparks had gladdsned his eye,
a. he thought OF the cheerful industry Of his
sons. Mark tsndsrly pressed his uncle's hand.
and leaned over him with IN aGsctionate, sor.
sowing interest.
"Der-dont take Il to heart, my boy" said
Mr.. Hardwick. 81 am very h-happy."
III an glad that the boys won't lose the
shop" said Mark. 81 ses you are looking
out to the chimney"
"Ycr-yes, 1t was thoughtful OF Mr.. Kinloeh,
and special Pr-Providsncs that the will was
eound.0
"You know hs mentioned his claim against
me-" said Mark "that 10 paid, and Il doesn't
matter bnt can't guess the reason for the
unusual kindness be has shown towards me-"
The old man answered slowly, for his
was diAlcult and often painful.
"It 10 IN old story, - the dried f-Aow-
srs that Mildrsd told me of,-but il had q