The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-06-10

dressed herself to the business of the even.
ing.
II have felt q little unwell lately, Mr.
Deeply, and I wanted to see you respect
ing my will You know I did IS my hus-
band wished, and made q will leaving to
his nephew all he left to me. But since
then Ihsve managed, being very careful,
to put by 8 few savings, and 1 have no idea
Of Mr.. Richard having them. He'll be
rich enough without in all consequence
so L want you to draw a codicil, with some
legscies to relations of my own"
"Certainly, Mrs. AinsWorth; by the way
may 1 ask if you have lately heard from
Ms, Richsrds2"
"Not ], indeed, not once since he was
married. he VII te t me then, to say he
was going to take q wife; and l wrote
bsck to say that 1 thought he was very
foolish and that was all the writing be.
tween US. He knows he'll get nothing from
me as long rs I'm alive; and so he never
writes, and it's much the better he should
not"
"Ah, my dear madam, don't be too hsrd
on hIml L hear he is miserably poor;
and iIs hard, you know, to make an empty
sack stand upright We that are well
Off
"spesk for yOurself Mr.. Deeply, ifyou
please"
well, ms'am, we that are comparative
ly we'll eff should make allowances for
him.
al know you persist, like other people,
IN thinking me rich, Mr.. Deeply" resumed
the woman, forgetting she mad just said
how rich her heir would be, if he inher-
tied but q part of her present possessions.
81 was left pretty well of by my husband
and I've been careful since then that's
all"
MI. Deeply knew that the savings, of
which his client spoke so modestly, could
not be- very short Of sixty thousand pounds;
but assured thst she meditated no such
thing as disinher1ting her nephew, he was
content to humor her in minor matters.
After further conversation it was ar
ranged that he should renew his visit on
Monday. Meantime Mrs. Ainsw worth
would draw up q list of her intended
legatees, and the several sums she desired
to leave them. As soon as Mr.. Deeply
had driven from the door she called for .
candle mot csndles), and addressed her
self to the distribution of her ready money.
She sat writing and erssing, and rewriting
for some time, then pushed the paper from
her, as though, ever in imagination, the
parting with her money was sbhorrent to
her.
"Let me see. l might leave two thous-
sand to my cousin Alice HoWsrth, and one
thousand to William Longsworth;-but
l don't know, should I wish to alter it, if
they don't behave we'll to me, it would ba
frightfully expensive to make q new will.
They all look upon me Al person to be
preyed upon. l think"
Then she rang the bell which the ser
want answered.
"Cbristie," said Mrs. Ainsworth, "has
DruggerDy sent me my draught as usual2"
On, yes, ms'sm. Will you take it
now ~
"Why, upon my word, Christie, I've
been thinking it's a terrible expense to me
those drsughts once q week. l
thought Of trying if I could do without
them; but then, you know, if 1 became
really III, I should have such expenses as
wonld ruin mel 1 think l tciLE take it; but
not now-by sLd-by. You can bring it
when 1 go 70 bed. Christie, I've been talk
ing with Mr.. Deeply about arranging the
disposal Of my little property. Now, if
you continue to satisfy me, why, besides all
you get now, you'll one day find yourself
handsomely remembered. OIL recollect
1 can't afford any waste in myhouser'
And Christie retired from the room. Her
mistress resumed he occupation, and con
tinued writing down figures and names for
an hour or two more; then she rang the
bell, and long before eleven the house was
dark and quiet.
About s o'clock the next morning the
of Darwin were started from their
late Sunday slumbers by the tidings that
mrs. Ainsworth had b5en found dead in
her bed. The poison of which Richard HAD
himself was said, by the few who
were acquainted with its qualities, to leave
no traces of its victims. And the coroner's
jury, who sat in Dsrwen Hall, reported the
of death as natural, though startling.
MI. Druggerby stated the composition of
the draught, which, as Christie de posed, her
mad taken before retiring. And
the physician from Manchester designated
the fatal complaint by some long name,
which 1 will spare myself the trouble OF
and you the trouble of residing.
The anger of her relatives who found, from
the paper left in her desk, what handsome
they had narrowly missed receiv-
l may also leave to your Imagination.
But Richard acted very generously, and
gave large sums to all OF mem who could
BE- thought 10 stand in any particular need
of money. He meant in all things to be q
liberal steward of the wealth which had
come to him in sven greater abundance
than he had expected. He felt, To gain
sill this 1 have taken a bold departure from
the right; only by doing the utmost good
with my wealth can 1 hope to be clear in
Gods sight or my own"
Their sudden prosperity came on Mr..
and Mrs. Richard in time for them TO enjoy
the latter part of that years London Sea-
Quitting the New Kent Road for ever,
they took for the month q set of apartments
somewhere near the Regents Park. In
August they proposed to give themselves
what they had long vainly desired-s Con-
t%inental tour. In autumn they would re-
turn home, to find Darwin Hall refltted
and refurnished, and to commence that
long course of ~benevolsnce and hospitality
of which Darwin was henceforth to be the
favored scene.
They sat together q morning in July,
talking of their past privstions and future
prospects. Christian M'Tarnie, at her
own desire, had been permitted to enter
their service. She might butter bread in
freedom now. The beggsr-maid whom
King Cophetus made his queen q hardly
have had q larger accession of comforts
than a mere change of service had brought
to poor Christie; but IS Mrs. Richard
was remsrking TO her husband, the Scotch
woman looked as if something were on her
mind which she wished, but could not re-
solve to make known. Especially, if any
thing was ever said about her dead mis-
tress, Christie betrayed confusion, and
seemed to hesitate whether she should
speak or be silent.
Richard told his wife that ne bad no
pleasant thoughts connected with Mrs.
Ainswortb, and would rather dismiss her
from his remembrance.
"You look dresdiully dull, my DEAR" he
presently remarked.
81 was only thinking" she replied.
"But 1 don't like to see you thinking,
my love. You Can very we'll afford to dc
without thinking now; so pray don't
thinkp'
No, he was in earnest he did not like
her to be thinking. He felt as King Hen.
nv may have felt flair Rossmond's Henry
when he heard that Queen Eleanor had t.