The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-23


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think she began to suspect me. 60
home very late that night. The capor
was more than done, and 80 was thu
oyster saucel
Mr.. Bramleigh died the next morning
at ten o'clock. Soon after l had left h
became unconscious, in which state h,
remained till shortly before his death
when there was q rally. Opening hi
eyes yithyan eager look, as if he missed
Something, he threw one arm outsid,
the c0verlet, and crying, +" Magdalen
Magdalehr' he Ubeyed the summon.
which babe him thole his assize-yea
In that dread Court where {" Not prov
en- is unknown. Guilty or not guilty
Who shall say?
The funeral took place on Saturday
but an engagement prevented me from
following. Mrs. Churton had written,
requesting that would attend with the
will, which still remained in my pos.
session with the one drawn by her.
arrived at the house little after
one o'clock and was at once taken into
the dinil e room, where found DIR.
Ramsey, MIR. Robson "a brother prac.
titioner), and handsome young fell
lew, who was introduced to me as
Lieut.. Maitland, the late MIR. Bran.
leigh's son-in-law.
The door opened, and a young lady
entered. It did not require any intro.
duction to tell me that she was the
original of the portrait, still with its
front turned toward the wall. Her face
was very beautiful, notwithstanding Its
extreme paleness and the tear-swollen
eyelids. She seated herself by the
fire, her husband standing behind her,
leaning his arms on the back of the
chair.
Mrs. Churton had closely followed
Magdalen Maitland into the room. She
was dressed in deep mourning and wore
black Grape cap, thus Offering a
marked contrast to Mrs. Maitland, who
was wearing gray dress rather travel
soiled. Apparently she had had no
time to prepare her mourning.
DIR. Ramsey politely pulled forward a
chair for the housekeeper. Taking it
from him with a cold "Thank you. -
she placed it at the end of the table,
directly facing me. Very stern and
forbidding she looked in her black gar
ments-her features immovable. her
hands resting on her knees.
was about to unseal the envelOp
containing the will, when Lieut.. Matt
land interrupted me.
One moment, if you please" he
said, placing his hand on my arm.
6 Before this will is read, l wish to say
few words. Mrs. Churton tells me
that Mr.. Bramleigh has left her every
thing Internationally. 1 simply wish
to express my firm belief that Mr.. Bram-
leigh could only have been induced to
make such will by unfair and foul
means. Although 1 have been the
cause of an estrangement between faith
er and daughter, cannot think that
he could 50 far forget his love for her
as to strip her of everything. It is my
intention, for her sake, to contest this
will; and it Is with this view that
have requested my old friend, Mr.. Rob-
son, to be present to-day as my legal
adviser"
His frank, manly face was flushed
with honest excitement as, leaning over
the back of his wife's chair, he took her
face between his hands and kissed it.
g For your sake-not mine, dearest" 1
heard him whisper.
l read the will slowly and distinctly.
It was very short. Save the annuity of
ESQ to Hannah Churton for life, every
thing was left to DIR. Ramsey and my
self in trust for Magdalen Maitland, to
be settled on her as we in our discretion
should think fit.
Astonishment is a mild word to ex-
press the feelings of those present, nor
will 1 attempt to do SO. My tale lies
with Hannah Churton. Starting to her
feet. she pushed the chair from her,
and stretching out one arm, gave utter
ance to fierce torrent of invective.
The veil was lifted, and the native
cOarseness of the woman's nature stood
revealed. 1t was as had feared. I'm
mindful of the bounty of but too gener-
Gus master, she heaped obloquy on
his memory, and fearlessly asserted
that she had wasted the best years of
her life in his service!
Magdalen Maitland covered her ears
with her hands, to shut out the hard
words. Her husband led her toward the
door; but Hannah Churton intercepted
them. Tearing her cap from her head.
she threw it on the ground before the
frightened girl.
"Trample on itr' she cried, in a
frenzied voice. "Your fathers victim
has no right to wear itr' l must admit
that she looked grandly tragic as she
detained these fierce words. l felt
half sorry for the poor defeated Great
ure.
Nine years have passed since then,
and Mrs. Maitland declares that there
are "silver threads among the gold y
The cares of young family have sonic
what marred her good looks, but they
will live again in my little god-daughtei
Magdalen, who promises to rival hel
mother in beauty.-Chansbers' Journal
The Drama Before Shakespeare's Day.
BEFORE the invention of printing