Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-08-11


body comes. They have all deserted
me-even my daughter Blanche. l knew
she never liked my marriage, but l
didn't think she would refuse to come
and see me when am dying. Virginia,
why are you dressed so? To see me
die?"
Virginia Aubrey turned aside her head
a moment. Her eyes cleaned evilly
Then she came and knelt by his couch,
twining her lovely arms about him.
"You asked me to put on this dress.
Don't you remember, dear ?" she said.
" You told me TO dress just the same as
if you were well. YoL did not want to
be reminded of your sickness by my at
tire, you said, and you told me to put on
this very dress. l5..l. "a.
'''-''- Yes, yes. remember now. You're
dear, good girl, Virgie, always humor-
ing my whims. You've been good
wife to the old man-unselfsh and de-
voted. You never married me for my
money, as Blanche said. I am satisfied
of that now."
"How could you ever doubt me Z"
murmured the lovely kneeler.
81 don't know but did. And-and,
Virginia, darling, I've something to con-
fess. You know that 1 made my will
soon after we were married, and gave you
most of my property? p
eyes, dear; you told me. 1 thought
it was not right then. 1 had much rather
you had given it all to Blanche. Then
she could not think such dreadful things
Of me-"
"You are an angel; but listen to me,
my sweet. l was dreadfully jealous of
you afterward. L was jealous of you
and Harry Gaines"
Virginia started slightly.
"You never had any reason, she said.
"You loved him once -
"Neverl" cried Virginia.
"My darling, do you believe Mr.. Jndd
will come tonight? Some one must go
for him or Leeds again; my strength is
failing. I am sure [ shall not last till
morning."
The face of the young wife whitened
again.
"Robert," she said, "what do you
want with a lawyer? Do you wish to
alter your will? Do you want to leave
your property to your daughter Blanche
instead of me?"
ooh, no, no" he groaned.
"What then?" Is it anything you
want altered in it? I will obey your
wishes, dear, as implicitly as if you had
had lawyer write them out for you"
"Angel angel !"
"Blanche never liked me- but L will
do her justice, all the same," Virginia
said.
"Send for Mr.. Leeds. I know Judd
is not coming" said the husband.
Virginia shuddered.
"You do want to make a new will
then ?" she said bitterly.
81 did make one-I was jealous OF
you and Gaines. I thought you had
made it up between you to wait until I
was dead, and then marry and enjoy my
money; so I'made O new will secretly,
and gave everything to Blanche. I wish
] hadn't. want to alter it now. Send
for the lawyers again. Virginia, do
send"-
But Virginia had already flown to the
bell at the first intimation of this terri
BILE truth which she had never guessed.
The ready James, her own tool, made
his appearance once more.
Mrs. Aubrey stepped out and put her
hands upon him.
"Take the fastest horse in the stables,
and ride for your life after the first
lawyer you can find. If you get him here
in time you shall have hundred pounds
Yourself.
James stared at her.
"Do you mean it this time ?'
"I mean it. L have made an awful
mistake. I shall be beggar if the law
yer doesn't get here in time to make q
will. Fly |"
81 will. I'll have him here in forty
minutes by the clock. The old man
won't die that soon," James said, as he
dashed away.
Virginia Aubrey masked her deceitful
face in sweetness again, and went back
to her dying husband.
He seemed sleeping.
She glided into the next room and
swiftly removing her velvet dress, put on
soft, unrustling wrapper of merino.
sit would never do to be seen in dress
like that at such time," she muttered.
Then she went and sat down where
she could watch the sick mans ivid
face and the clock alternately.
An hour went by, and no lawyer.
Why did not James come back?
James was lying by the roadside, about
mile away with broken leg.
He had taken the fercest horse in the
Stable, and not being much of rider,
had been thrown.
Virginia Aubrey stole out of the room
at last-she could endure suspense no
longer-and sent another man after
Lawyer Judd.
1t was nearly morning then, and day
was breaking as the lawyer at last rode
up to the door of Aubrey House.
But he was too late.
Virginia, going back to her husband
after she had dispatched second mes
senger for Mr.. Judd, was struck by the
singular stiffness of the room-that
awful stiffness which we who have ever
been in room with the dead know is
like no other.
She went straight to the bedside and
touched the quiet face on the pillow
with her hand.
He was dead.
The woman shut her teeth hard to
keep back scream, and went to search
ing the house for that second will of
which he had told her.
But she could not find it.
She was still searching when the law
yer arrived.
The day of the funeral came.
Robert Aubrey was buried with due
pomp and ceremony.
His young and lovely widow-lovelier
than ever in her deep mourning-sat in
the library after all was over
The first will, which gave her every
thing. was in her possession.