Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-01-15
gu Original Stnrg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE THREAD OF FATE.
BY VICTOR VERNON.
CHAPTER w.

"No WILL Mr.. Mathews, to be found any
where. I've looked high and low, among his
private papers, in his desk, in his secretary,
and in every room and closet of this house
and no trace of will can find" :.
"And yet, you say, you are positive ne
made one 81"
81 am positive he did, and we've spoken OF
it together hundred times. You know ne
drew it out himself, because he had studied
the form, and said he could make as good and
valid a will as any one needed. 1t was SO
plain and clear, he said, anybody could un-
derstand it when it was read"
."You never saw it, however ?"
"No sir, never. I never could bear even
to talk about it," said Mrs Thorndale, weep
ing, 'tand for that reason he wouldn't trouble
me by showing it to me. Of course knew
it was. all right whatever he chose to do or
say. Iwould never question his reasons for
anything"
"Of course you know that everything he
has left comes into your possession, by the non
appearance of this will. Perhaps, on think
ing it over, he concluded that this would,
after all, be the best disposition of his proper
ty, and, therefore, destroyed what he had
written" .-
ut was all to be mine, sir, during my
life, and afterwards the child's-our little
Edwards 1t ought to have been his poor
mothers; we've always felt that, and want
ed to make it up to him. He's innocent, poor
lamb, and don't deserve to suffer for his pa
rents faults"
"Well, you can leave it to him if you
like. He need not suffer, if you choose to
make provision for him. Still, it seems odd
your husband should change his mind about
leaving so special wish as this, of yours
both, recorded in black and white"
"Its very odd, sir and incomprehensible.
It seems to me 80 singular that he should
have changed his mind, or been able to des-
troy any Of his papers without my knowing
it, and he SO feeble and looking to me for
everything. And it's not fortnight back
that we were talking over this very matter,
and I'm sure it wasn't in his mind to destroy
it then"
Was no other person with him during his
last hours ?"
"No, sir; at least not alone with him. l
wouldn't have trusted him to anybody's care
but mine, for the world In fact, he couldn't
bear to have me away from him."
"Well, there's certainly a mystery about
this" said the lawyer, shaking. his head
"and if, after further search, this will can't
be found"
81 wish you to make search for it your
self, Mr.. Matthews. I'll give up every key
in the house to you, and you can look where
you please"
"Have you searched all his clothing? Is
there no gown or wrapper, in the pocket of
which paper might have been slipped and
forgotten
"Oh, I've looked in every pocket, sir, even
of the clothes which he hasn't worn for
months and months"
The lawyer appeared more puzzled than
ever. II can't understand it, he said at
last However, I'll look through his things
if you desire it. Possibly | may light upon
some secret drawer or other receptacle which
has been overlooked. If it's anywhere to be
found, Ill find it"
Long and diligent was his search, but
equally vain as Mrs. Thorndale's had been.
At last he gave it up, declaring it was of no
use to look farther. The will, by some mys
terious means, had certainly been made away
with beyond recovery.
Mrs. Thorndale was much troubled and per-
picked by this circumstance Had she felt less
assured of Mr.. Mathews thorough knowledge
of her own character, she would have feared
his snspecting her of some completely in the
affair, since Oh no one but herself could such
suspicion reasonably light; but fortunately
the old lawyer had known her intimately
from child, and needed no proof to convince
him of her rectitude of purpose and action in
all cases.
"a wouldn't worry myself any more about
this" he said, when, all search having been
declared fruitless, he was again discussing the
subject with her. Gas the case stands, it
really isn't of very much Importance whether
will exists or not. If your own wishes did
not tally so exactly with your husbands, it
would be quite different; but am sure no.
body's interests that he had at heart will ever
suffer through your agency"
So the matter was laid over, and after a
time ceased to occupy their thoughts. The
farmer was taken to rest in the grassy old
churchyard where all his relatives slept, and
where a space between his brothers grave
and his own was left for his wife to occupy
when her turn should come to lie down be-
side him; and after that life at the farm
went on as usual-save for the shadow and
gloom cast over everything by the loss of the
masters presence-until an unlooked.for
change occurred, which brought new inter-
est into the saddened routine of things as
they now were.
A letter reached Mrs. Thorndale one day,
announcing the death, in distant city, of a
cousin of hers of whom she had been very
fond, and whose dying request had been that
her little daughter, child of eight or ten,
should be given to Mrs. Thorndale to bring
up and provide for. The child was portion
less, her mother having died in destitute cir
cumstances, and there were no nearer rela.
tives to take charge of her. Mrs. Thorndale
felt reluctant to accept any additional respon-
sibility or care in her present depressed state
of mind but of course she did not feel at
liberty to refuse, and sent reply saying that
she would be ready to receive her young rela'
tive whenever they chose to send her on.
Edward was naturally full of pleasure at
the idea of having a companion at home.
The only drawback was her sex, as he had
not an exalted opinion of girls in general
He thought they were teasing things" but he
cherished hope that this particular girl
might prove an exception to the rule. He
asked twenty different questions about her.
which Mrs. Thorndale, never having seen
her, found it difficult to answer; and wait
ed with impatience for the time to arrive
which should bring her to the farm.
At last the appointed day came, and to:
wards evening the conveyance which had
been sent to meet the little stranger stopped