Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-06-21

FELLOW chatterlng away, under the
potent influence of the coffee. Ordin-
arily, not only his mental faculties but
his power of speech were partially
paralyzed, SO that he spoke in a singu-
lar tone.
As the nervous excitement became
greater, what was my establishment to
hear him go over in that strange,
automatonl-like way the very words
which I had written the day before at
Judge Brewers.
I soon after dismissed him. The
entire scheme was plain to me, and I
saw my way clear.
| developed my plan to the old
squire, and we agreed upon q plan Of
operations.
During the day I received a note
from Mrs. Brewer, requesting me to
attend the meeting of the relatives,
when the will was to be read. Squire
Buckrum and myself were busy in
making our arrangements until the
hour appointed, when we both went to
the Brewer residence.
There were but two relatives present,
and the large parlor was not half full.
Agnes Brewer was there, her mourn
ing dress setting off the fairness of her
sweet face. Mrs. Brewer was stately
and beautiful in her widows Grape
Her brother leaned upon the corner of
the mantelpiece like a grim Caryatid.
The grave servant sat at a respectable
distance, admitted, I presume, by
special favor.
AS the waiting silence grew deeper
and deeper, man glided through the
hall, past the door. No one saw him
save myself. At length Mr.. Brewer
gave me sign. I took no notice of it,
but Squire Buckrum, rising with much
parade, drew the will from his pocket,
and clearing his throat, began to read.
esquire Buckrum
Mrs. Brewer had risen and fastened
to interpose, but only those two words
were uttered when her brothers hand
was laid heavily upon her shoulder, and
she sank into her seat while the squire
| proceeded. .a tasc
As the squire pronounced the last
words, and wound off the concluding
paragraph with flourish, Mrs. Brow
er's large black eyes grew bright.
esquire Buckrum, she said, in her
peculiarly sweet tone, ono one will
question the genuineness of the paper
you have read, but a will of a later
date-quite recent-changes the dis
posal Of the property. Mr.. Halidash,
sir, please explain"
&c am aware that fictitious paper
is existing" said the squire.
interposed. | pitied that proud
lady's shame.
"Will it not be best that Mrs. Brewer
request all but immediate friends to
retire %
She grew deathly white when spoke,
but her courage never faltered.
"Sir, 1 desire all my friends to re-
main p
Gas you will, the old squire resumed.
81 am aware of the existence of fc-
titious paper which you propose to
foist upon us as the will of the late
Judge. warn you to desist | am
prepared to prove"
"What, sir?" she interrupted, her
lips curling in scornful contempt.
"This, madam: That you carefully
secluded your husband from all your
friends-even from his own daughter
by whatever ingenious pretexts you
could devise. You did this to obtain
complete control of him. That your
husband died on the 10th of October,
and you, in concert with others, kept
his death a secret until the 18th. That
In the interval you taught the wretched
creature-whom we all know-to per-
senate your husband, and, stimulating
his wandering wits, made him. able to
go through the farce. We are prepared
to prove that you did this to secure the
greater portion of the inheritance for
your son and yourself, thus half disin-
heriting the daughter and wholly de-
frauding the exiled son, whom you
drove to prohigacy. I say we can
prove this; but, for the sake of the fam
lily reputation, we are willing to make
terms" H95
Squire Buckrum paused, quite out of
breath oofaie.-..- sas4
You hear this fine story, my dear
friends. Laughable, is it not ?" 13'i'o IS
"Mr. Southwyn, you have heard
said the squire calmly. 8" It is for you
to propose withdrawal"
= eve will have the new will read"
SS1Iu OOuIuWyu, MTS. DrOWerS DrOLner,
defantly. ,iHC
/ arose, and, amid breathless 81
lence, read the paper.
The document was passed around,
the signature criticised, and low MUIR
muir of assent followed. aces
think" said Mrs. Brewer, you
have formidabletask upon your hands,
Squire Buckrum."
" | am prepared to prove it, and also
that you did, at various times, admins
ter poison to your late husband, which
first paralyzed his faculties, then termi-
mated his life. I can prove this by the
accessory to your crime p
Mrs. Brewer was now as white as
snow, and her eyes glistened. She point
ed her finger toward the grave servant, |
and Kissed a sentence from between
her ashy lips:
Devil Hound The hends devour
and torment you p
/, to whom this last revelation was
new, still gazed at Mrs. Brewer. While
| looked a crimson stream dyed her