The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-07
MY WLFE'S INHERITANCE.
IN Three Chapters.
CHAPTERIlI. (Continued.)
THE CONFESSION.

ShAI En- hl1ItOOntlHueu.)
THE CONFESSION.
'Tn order that you may comprehend
all tie circumstances of the case, must
goback nearly seven years, to the time
when first entered the family Of Mr.
Russell as governess to his niece Ellen. l
was then only seventeen years of age,
and my pupil fourteen. The family
consisted Of Mr.. Russell, Ellen, and a
nephew, Charles. This nephew was
\ about year younger than myself, and a
I fine, handsome lad. There were whispers
young as he was, his habits were very
d irregular; and it may have been 80. l
p had no means'of judging. only know
/, that to my girlish mind he seemed all
3 that a young man ought to be, and so
&when he began to take notice of me and
4 make love to me, l lent him very will
sing ear. This went Oh with more and
nmore warmth, until, for some reason or
Y other, he was compelled to leave his un-
Itcle's roof; but even after this we man
ISaged to meet at frequent intervals, al
! though, of course, all unknown to Mr..
i Russell or Ellen; indeed, they neither of
q them had the slightest idea Of there be-
= ing anything between us. At length
!. Charles left his Lncle's Office altogether,
i and decided to go to London. we'll re-
member the last night before he went
! away. People said he was wild and
a wicked; but only knew that l loved
him, and he declared that he also loved
Z. me. He said that when he got situa-
Z ton in London lie would send for me /;
4 IN the meantime, he wished me to remain
In Mr.. RussePs service, and keep HIM in
+ formed of all that occurred.
II faithfully promised, and when, on
y the completion of Ellen's education, l
h was asked to remain as her companion, l
n gladly agreed for Charles sake. Well,
3 time passed on, and nothing particular
occurred. Mr.. Russell returned from bu-
asiness, and we removed to Cottam; then
{ came his illness, and your introduction
+ to the family. was ever on the watch
n for any scrap of information that might
4 be interesting to Charles, and 1 did not
Z, fail to tell him of the growing intimacy
between you and Ellen, as well as Mr..
Z RussePs partiality for you. These last
; items seemed to give him considerable
| annoyance, and he requested me to re-
! double my vigilance. JH5
"One day heard servant tell you
that Mr.. Russell wished to see you in his
bedroom. You remember how these
rooms were arranged; that opening out
of the bedroom was small dressing
, room, which itself communicated with
the servants staircase, to afford facilities
for lighting the fire, bringing water, &c.
Now, as you went up the main stairs, l
very quietly slipped into the dressing
room by the Others, as l thought it pos
sible that something might be said touch
ing the interests Of my dear Charles. ]
thus managed to Overhear enough
.of the conversation to gather its i'm
port; especially did I take note Of
the directions for opening the Sc
cret place in the desk; and wien got to
my own room wrote them down, lest
should forget. Well, | Immediately
wrote off to Charles; and the news must
have troubled him considerably, for in q
very short time had letter saying that
he would arrive at Kinton the next day
and appointing time and place for me
to meet him. l did 50; and after max.
ing me repeat as well as could all that
had heard, he boldly proposed that ]
should get possession of the will and
bring it to him. He proposed Ito facili,
tate matters) that as he was quite un.
known in Cottam, he would go there and
engage rooms at an obscure inn called the
Red Lion, and should find him there
any evening. confess this proposal star.
tied me, partly because of its difficulty,
and partly because it was my first
step in crime. However, he overcame my
scruples, and promised to do what ]
could; at any rate, l would visit him at
the Red Lion at 7 the next evening. For.
tune favored me. The next day Just at
dusk-it was the latter end Of February
, Ellen asked me to sit by the bedside a
/, few minutes until the night nurse ar
rived; of course | agreed, secretly de-
|, lighted, for Mr.. Russell being asleep, |
n had little difficulty in securing the will.
!. remembered perfectly the directions:
NJ lOp mluuit uIdWtlD duu Pcu-uOlucT
klthrough the top right-hand corner, then
sglook at the back In fact, had opened
I the secret panel more than once to see if
hI had heard Alright. Soon after, the
nurse arriving, I was at liberty, and has
itened to meet Charles. found him
q alone in an upper room Of the Bed Lion,
2 and the table strewn with papers.
"'Have you gotit he eagerly in
uuired, the instant the door closed be-
Hihind me.
Il "My only reply was to hand 1t to him.
Without word he broke the seal, and
NIhaving read the contents, said: You
f.were quite right 1t is as you supposed
N Heha left the whole of his property To
,,fEllen, except few paltry legacies. Now,
you shall see what will do.
"Dol Why, ] suppose you will burn
K It, and then you will come in for an equal
i share with Ellen. But mind, there il
1 something left to me in that will, and il
/ Is only because we are to be married that
agree to its being destroyed
"'Fear not; you shall be made all