Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-07-10
gu 0rigiual sturg*
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
JOHNS WIFE.
BY E. VICTORIA L0MAX.
CHAPTER XVII.

see me"
at was entirely on your own account.
The doctor tells me have not long to live.
I don't believe him but if it Is so, it is not
worth while for me to keep my secret any
longer, as it cannot benefit me-
"What secret?" I asked.
"'rhe secret of your mothers will. Doyou
know where that will now is ?"
'No, not exactly; but I know it is in some
safe place"
"You think Owen Morris has it?"
eyes"
"You are mistaken; it is not in his posses
sion."
I thought he was delirious and that it
would be useless to contradict him; but ne
suspected this and said
':I see you do not believe me !; perhaps you
will believe him. Ask him to come here"
When Owen came in, he said
"Well, Walker, what is it you wish to speak
to me about"
81 have sent for you to tell this lady that
the will she sent you for safekeping' is no
longer in your possession"
To my astonishment, Owen remained silent.
"Is he telling the truth, Owen ?" l asked.
eyes, Matte the will was taken from me
during my illness. I came on to tell you OF
it, as soon as I was able to travel, and was
only waiting until you had recovered sutti-
ciently to bear the intelligence, to make it
known to YOU
"Now, hope you are satisfied, Matte !"
said Mr.. Walker.
as this the only reason you sent for me"
"No do you remember the man you shotT
eyes"
"He was the man who took the will from
Morris"
81 thought you told me he was dead"
$50 did; but when man is dying, you
know, he is rather more apt to tell the truth.
You may believe what tell you now. Twas
the man who held the lantern on the night Of
the robbery, and the person you shot was
Stone-the man John hired, and allowed to
sleep in one of the attic rooms. l took him
to nv house, where he remained concealed,
until he recovered. 1t was about this time l
heard of Owen Morris arrival in New York.
was led to suppose, from your manner, the
first time I saw you after the robbery was
committed, that you had sent the will on to
him. found ready agent in Stone, as his
feelings toward you were far from friendly.
He consented to 90 to New York and try to
find the will. Owen can tell you what an ex-
cellent nurse he was"
81 remember him perfectly, now" said
Owen; "my surprise is, that did not suspect
something wrong, when he seemed to be so
we'll acquainted with you, and this part of the
country"
"Confound the rascal I told him never
to mention my name to you. But l will not
abuse him, for he got that will and sent it on
to me. To be sure had to repay him, by
making my will, and leaving all my property
to him but that was nothing to me. l did
not care who had the place, so that none OF
the Leslie blood owned it. He sent your
mothers will to me, and I destroyed it."
"Then, at your death, Elmwood will belong
to that man Stone?"
"Yes; that is, if I do not change my mind
at the last moment, and leave it to you. l
think owe you something for all that have
made you suffer. Besides, you showed such
pluck, when you fired that gun, that have
thought better of you ever since"
"Don't leave it to me give it to John,
please"
"Hush! Matte" said Owen, "there is no
time to lose now; let him do as he wishes.
We can arrange matters afterward."
leave it to John! No, I'll never do that
But send for some witnesses and Elmwood
will be yours by this.time tomorrow"
Owen wrote off a will according to his
directions and it was duly witnessed and
signed. I saw the excitement had weakened
him very much, and said
"Shall I bring Nellie in to see you?"
"No; why should I wish to see her? She
has never given me a kind word, or even q
look, in her life"
"She is your daughter, you know"
"She had better forget that as soon as pos
sible. Do you wish to leave me, that you
spoke of sending for her?'
"No, I will remain with you. Would you
not like to see minister ?"
"a minister! What for? TO have him
come here, with his long, sanctimonious face,
and tell me + am going to the devil. No!
He would not do me any good. do not be-
lieve in death-bed conversions. don't think
believe in anything much, except"
"What?" I asked.
81 believe in you. had rather have one
prayer from you than dozen from those par
sons"
as there anything you would like for me to
do for you?"
eyes; do you remember that when l was
put in the carriage after was hurt, you rest
ed my head on your knee?
eyes"
II have never forgotten that. 1t was the
first act of kindness that had been shown me
bya woman since your mothers death. | was
conscious then-but soon-I forgot every
thing, and now wish-you-to-"
waited for the remainder of the sentence,
but still he was silent.
"What is it you wish ME to do?'
He put his hand on mine and said feebly
and slowly
"I-wish-you-would-"
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