The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-06
MY WIFE'S INHERITANCE.
In Three Chapters.
CHAPTER III.
HOW IT WAS RECLAIMED.

Ihad, however, no choice hut leave the
mystery to>be solved by time. In due
course Ellen and were married. She
received her two hundred and fifty
pounds; an opportunity just then occur
ring, ] bought a practice at Kinton, to
which place we removed. We saw moth
ing of Charles, but heard that he had
gone abroad. And so days and months
passed on; / was happy in the love of
my dear wife, and we both tried to for
get Tswhat might have been," or that we
had ever looked forward to the possession
q of a fortune.
One evening about twelve months af-
ter had settled at Kinton, was called
into the surgery to attend lady. Of
course, i had no other thought than that
1t was a patient; nor was my opinion
changed when / saw her, for her cheeks
were hollow and her eyes sunKen; but
what was my surprise on looking closer
to recognize in that wasted form the once
passably fair, if not brilliant, Miss Le-
clerc.
She saw recognized her, and, without
waiting for me to speak, said:
"You are surprised to see me here,
Doctor, but have something important
to say to you. Can we be alone2" 1
eve shall not be disturbed here" 1
said, and still not doubling that it was
medical advice she required, I added:
' "Well, now, tell me your symptoms aud
will perscribe for you"
"No, Doctor, your medicines would do
me no good in the purpose have in
view 1 require your help, not medicine,
and, let me say, that in helping me you
Will help yourself in way you lit
tie expect"
"Iell me how, and if I can do 1t l
will"
"You can do it / am sure, and equally
sure you will after you have heard my
story"
81 am all attention"
"Weil, then, listen. I must 60 back
10 the time Of Mr.. RussePs death. You
we're very much surprised and disap-
pointed at the disposition of his property,
we're you not?'
Ibowed assent.
'In fact the will was complete mys-
terry toyouT
''It was indeed deep mystery"
'1 can explainit."
"You! said, springing to my feet
"youl Why, you had very little COM
munication with Mr.. Russell in his last
Illness"
"Ne; and yet I tell you / can explain
the mystery, on two conditions, will.'
"Name them. They must be very
onerous, indeed, If l fail to comply with
them."
"Oh, they are not difficult; they are
simply these: First, that in considera-
tion of this my assistance in obtaining
your rights, you will not have me pun
ished for the part myself took in the
matter; and secondly, that you will sup
ply me with money enough to 60 tc
America, where have friends"
"But if crime was committed, have
the power to promise you immunity
from punishmentT
'tBe content. You have; for thu
crime-and I won't deny that it was {
crime--injured no one but you and Mis-
Ellen; and if l make restitution by en-
abling you to secure the real culprit, yor
can surely let the tool go Free"
"Well, promise," l said after few
Y moments consideration. "Do what you
have said, and I pledge my word tina
neither | nor any one in my behalf shal
bring you to justice for YOUR share Of th'
transaction. That being granted th'
other condition is easily fulfilled"
"That is enough. I will now proceed
But first l must tell you why I do this
1t is not, as you might suppose, out o
consideration for you, or even for Mis-
Ellen, although my conscience has Otter
troubled me for my ingratitude towart
her. No." she said; Il have purpos
to serve, and that purpose is-REvENdE
Nay, start not. 1t is the desire for re
venge that nerves me to the confession
You remember whatI was. Look at m
now. See my hollow cheek and wastes
form; hear Of my blighted life, and thel
wonder that crave for revenge on tn,
cause. But pardon me; must begin a
the beginning. Soon after Mr. Russell
death, and thes affairs were all settled
Charles left England for Paris Thi
you knew, but you did not know that
went with him. As his wife, do yo
nski Mol Poor silly fool that I was,
trusted his promise, that we would b
married in Paris. Well, we lived gail
enough for two or three months; til
ylarriage was put off on one pretext or ar
other, until one day he went out, neve
returned. He had left me-left me a
most penniless-to starve or die, nc
) caring which, 1t was some days before
could realize that was really deserted.
thought some accident had befallen hin
and made inquiries in all directions
even visited the dreadful Morgue, br
without avail. At length l heard thu
he had gone to Lyons, on his way
Venice; and thither / determined to fol
low him, but ON the road was struc
down by illness. When / recovered, a
trace of him was lost. How got bac
to England ] hardly know; but l ws
buoyed up by the hope that after a
there might be some mistake, and that