The weekly Butte record., 1863-01-03

Ior over twenty years, crossed lis inFeS1o.d-
There were many strange stories abou, her
She bore one Of the Oldest names in the Quaker
city. She was wilov. and utterly os'raagei
from her sons and all her friends
Some said old Mrs Dwyer was mad; some
that she was mere misar, boarding up count
less thousands, with which rumo7 endowed her.
Edward Stevens, until now. had little heedai
these ramors; but oa this special evening he
recarred to the ranor Of her riches and her
parsim9ny with almost 4 feeling Of anger.
"Ot what use are her riches? Is not Ilea
ven unjast? Here, divided by a little lathe
and plaster. Just above me, are the means to
bring before the world the talents Heaven
should not have given me had it intended they
should waste in iile0ess The boarded wealth
Of this old womaa does not even make her hap
py. yet it is as impossible for me to whom
few thousands would open LIES brilliant ca
reer. to obtain them from her, as to take them
from out the public treasury. She, too, is
solitary. counting over her wealth. I, too am
sad aal solitary. lamen;ing over the dark fate
before me, that promises nothing but drcary
years like this"
At this ilncture Edward Stevens was start
LED by a sharp distinc; knock a his door. He
started up. then paused. but 4 repetition Of the
knock showed HIM that he had not dreamed.
and hastily he opened the door There stood
before him then tall, angular woman, pale and
thin, and dressed in a scanty grey drapery,
that gave her ghos;ly, shadowy appearance.
Without any OF the usual social greetings, this
grim visitor addressed him by name.
Mrs. Dwyer wants you to come up stairs
to her"
Edward Stevens began to question the how,
aud the why and the wherefore but the grim
woman stopped him by repetition of her first
words.
Mrs. DTyer wants you to come up stairs
to her
So Edward Stevens. without another com
ment, turned the key and walked up stairs
after his shadowy guide.
He entered an apartment furnished in the
fashion Of ffty years ago-neat, prim, and ut
terly silent-till at length he was shown into a
room in which was bright light and baz-
ing fire. the first indication of inhabitants he
had seen.
In a large chair by the fire reclined form
50 enveloped in shawls and coverings that no
figure could be distinguished. The face only
was visible-the pale, yellow, wrinkled face of
a woman the gray hairs gathered under plain
muslin cap and the eyes closed. As this wo-
man leaned back on the high chair so still and
stern. Edward Stevens startled and turned to-
ward the woman who had summoned him.
Great Heavens woman. l am neither q
physician nor an undertaken
1t the sound Of his voice the woman in the
chair opened her eyes, and leaning forward
gazed iutently a. Stevens.
I'VE do not want either yet, said She in
low harsh voice eve want lawyer"
" am lawyer" said Stevens sinking into
a chair and lost in amazement.
Read this"
This is viii ?"
" Yes, made twenty-five years ago, and sign
ed Jasper Dwyer"
Jasper Dwyer was my husband You need
not read the whole; it is an enumeration Of
our property; read the last clause"
"If, at lle death of my wife, Sarah Dwyer,
her daughter and mine Rachel Dwyer, who
mysteriously disappeared from her home, sbo'd
not have been heard Of, the whole of my for
tune shall 90 to my two sons-by former wife
or their descedants, unless my wife Sarah
Dwyar should have married again when leave
the whole Of my fortune at her disposal, to do
with as she sees fit"
" Is that clear ?"
" Clear aud legal"
Then the descendants Of my husbands sons
will inherit all nv boarded wealth
Unless there is a trace of Rosa Dwyer"
" Rosa Dwyer is dead" said the woman, in
50 terrible a tone that Stevens shuddered
Then, as the second contingency has not
suppose taken place yet, your stepsons in-
herit."
But Sarah Dwyer is not dead yet. Do
they think that Sarah Dvyer ever torgave
their cruelty to her child, their scorn of her
mother? No, Sarah Dwyer lives yet, and can
despoil them Nothing shall cheat me of my
revenge Edward Stevens" continued she
leaning toward him and taking the will from
hin. "You are poor, you are ambitious, YOU
have courage and industry. l know, have
watched you. Yet the world is hard upon you.
l am an old woman. nearly seventy. I, Sarah
Dwvsr. ask you if you viii take NE to be your
wife Mind make 10 promises do not
bribe you. You see what am. an old woman
helpless, paralyzad, yet, Edward Stevens, I ask
you to be my husband"