The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-03
MY WIFE'S INHERITANCE.
In Three Chapters.
CHAPTER II.
HOW TT WAS LOST.

lot more Inan mOntn. nau several
conversations with Mr.. Russell; but the
will was never brought out again l
also cautiously sounded Ellen as to her
cousin Charles; but she could tell me
very little about him, except that he
atif was the son of her Uncle David, and on
10 his fathers death-which occurred when
no Charles was about fourteen years of age
lom his uncle took him to his office and
'g 1 home. He was fine, bright, clever lad,
ega1 but when he was about eighteen he
sr Of seemed to fall into evil courses. His
hcal uncle bore with his Irregularities for
lone some time, bat at length could do so no
longer, and therefore requested him to
Tht find apartments for himself in some other
Iard quarter of the town. s"From this time,"
raj, continued she, ~ saw very little of him,
as b although he still continued his attend
as b ance at the Office. 1t appears, however,
Mr. that his conduct, instead Of getting bet
isit ter, got worse; and shortly afterward l
as al heard that he had been sent away alto
ntil gether. Inever rightly understood the
exact cause of this, as dear uncle never
The would talk about it, and was always an
ours cry when it was mentioned. believe.
aper however, it was some forgery, which
xult would have brought disgrace on the Of
he fee had not uncle paid considerable
ilads sum of money to hush it up. That"
ion. said Ellen in conclusion, "is now four
re 3 years ago; and since then have heard
ions nothing Of him, except that he is living
in London, but how have no idea"
Dis This was all 1 could learn of the
hat nephew at that time, though had reason
Gngl, to know more of him afterward.
ecoi My readers may perhaps wonder why
Ellen and l did not get married forth
Ay with, as everybody seemed to favor it.
aids MIR. RussePs state gave us great anxiety,
y. and we certainly could not think of our
reat own happiness while his health was SO
i'm. precarious. 1t would have been really
esen unkind to have taken her from him Just
Ll1 at that time, and my professional duties
s.,I avI Obliged me to live in the vill'ge. We
Icot 10y were now in the middle of March, and
nd all hoped that as spring advanced the
etu old gentleman would rally; but alas!
I'll our hopes were doomed to disappoint-
yii ment. He gradually became weaker;
reg and by the end of April it was plain to
NO ~ me that his end was approaching. I
hsl now hardly left the Willows, except in
aci the daytime, Just to run round to my
atb other patients. We had engaged nurse
w upou hlShOj LIilCu pCl-
0u forming that service during the day.
hs ~ For the last few nights slept in a chair
ot in a small adjoining dressing-room. At
rel length it seemed to me that the last night
had come,.. and Ellen and remained in
i anxious expectancy together in the same
ee little room. Mr.. Russell was asleep, but
inf we gave strict orders to the nurse to call
,hs us when he awoke. We waited till day
nd light, but the call never came He had
ev passed calmly and peacefully away-the
te loving heart and once active brain were
forever at rest.
According to his request we buried
] him in the quiet country church-yard,
es in a plain and simple manner. There
OF were few mourners. Ellen and myself,
e, together with "a Mr.. Benson, from Kinton
occupied one coach; and Mrs. Watkins
Nc and Miss Leclerc another At the grave,
I'd however, the funeral cortege was Joined
by tall, dark young man, aud Ellen
whispered to. me that it was her cousin
| Charles H was dressed in complete
is black, and behaved in proper and be-
i coming manner. When all was over,
we had returned to the house, was
1 much surprised to see him also enter.
His temerity and coolness astonished
me, as certainly he dared not have done
so during his uncle's lifetime. As, how
Il ever, he really belonged to the family,
"a and as the will was about to be read, in
,aas which knew he was mentioned, told
Y Ellen to speak to him, and invite him to
stay.
! Perhaps" said to myself, "his pres
N, ence may be taken as token of repent
'ri ance."
ori, 1t did not occur to me just then that
Feb 1t was somewhat strange that he without
intimation, should have known the ex-
act day and hour of the funeral.
Leaving them all seated in the draw
ing-room, went upstairs opened the
'au secret receptacle and brought out the
90 will 1t was in the long envelop, sealed
N as had sealed it, and indorsed, "The
Fen, will nc CborIe. Rnssah Fehrnor, o
VIZ 1870" Returning, ! passed it over to
,onf Mr.. Benson. requesting him, as an old
3ro friend of the family, to break the seal
hat and read it. He took it, and holding it
,ats up in full view, asked if we were all will
Sili ing that he should do 50. As no one OBJ
al jected, he opened the envelop and drew
!, 1t forth. / dare say it was an anxious
~ moment for some there-Elien, Charles,
an Sn' Mrs Watkins, and Miss Leclerc; but, as
for me, knowing already its contents,
,olo was quite calm.
N Mr.. Benson began in steady voice:
10Y 81, Charles Russell, of the Willows,
,ut Cottam, declare that this is my last will
.oI and testament. / bequeath to Elizabeth
mi Watkins, my house-keeper the sum of
\ one hundred pounds. l bequeath to
tt Jeannette Leclerc, the comnanion of nv
e niece, the sum Of fifty pounds. also
y beoueath to my niece, Ellen Saunders.
i, The sum of two hundred and fifty
y pounds"
"Whatp interrupted. Read that