Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-10-27

but black look came over her face.
[ think she began to suspect me. /
got home very late that night. The
capon was more than done, and so was
the oyster saucel
Mr.. Bramleigh died the next morn
ing at ten o'clock. Soon after | had
! left he became unconscious, in which
state he remained until shortly before
death, when there was rally. Open
ing his eyes with al eager look, as if
he missed something, he threw one
arm outside the covering, and crying,
Magdalen, Magdalen!" he obeyed the
summons which babe him to his assize
yea, in that dread court where -" Not
proven is unknown. Guilty or not
guilty? Who shall say?
The funeral took place on the Satur-
day, but an engagement prevented me
from following. Mrs. Churton had
written. requesting that I would at
tend with the will, which still remained
! nmy possession with the one drawn by
her.
/ arrived at the house a little after
one o'clock, and was at once taken into
| the dining-room, where found DR..
Ramsey, Mr.. Robson a brother practi-
toner, and handsome young fellow.
who was introduced to me as Lieuten-
ant Maitland, the late Mr.. Bramleigh' g
son-in-laH.
The door opened, and a young lady
entered. 1t did not require any intro
duction to tell me that she was tho Or
! iginal of the portrait, still with It's
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 a 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 garments-her
features immOvable, her hands resting
on her knees.
was about to unseal the envelope
containing the WILL when Lieutenant
Maitland interrupted me.
"One moment, ifyou please" he said,
placing his hand on my arm. "Before
this will is read, | wish to say few
words Mrs. Churton tells me that Mr..
Bramleigh has left her everything I'M
conditionally. | simply wish to express
my firm belief that Mr.. Bramleigh
could only have been induced to make
such a will by unfair and foul means
Although have been the cause of an
arrangement between father and
daughter, I cannot think that ne could
so far forget his love for her, as to strip
her of everything. 1t is my intention
for her sake to contest this will; and il
is with this view that have requested
my old friend, Mr. Robson, to be pres
ent to-day as my legal adviser"
His frank, manly face was flushed
with excitement, as, leaning over the
back of his wife's chair, he took hel
face between his hands and kissed it
''For your sake-not mine, dearest"
heard him whisper.
[ read the will slowly and distinctly
1t was very short. Save the annuity o
$50 to Hannah Churton for life, every
thing was left to Dr. Ramsey and my
self in trust for Magdalen Maitland, tc
be settled on her as we, in our discre
ton, think fit
Astonishment is mild word to ex
press the feelings of those present, no
will [ attempt to do so. My tale lies
with Hannah Churton. Starting to he,
feet she pushed the chair from her, anC
stretching out one arm, gave utteranct
to fierce torrent of invectives. The
veil was lifted; the native coarseness o
the woman's nature stood revealed. [
was as [ had feared Unmindful of tn,
bounty of but too generous a master
she heaped obloquy on his memory
and fearlessly asserted that she mac
wasted the best years of her life in BIZ
service!
Magdalen Maitland covered her ear
with her hands to shut out the hare
words. Her husband led her toward
the door, but Hannah Churton inter
copied them. Tearing her cap from
her head, she threw it ON the grount
before the frightened girl.
"Trample on it p she cried, in /;
frenzied voice. "Your fathers victim
has no right to wear it !" [ must admi
that she looked grandly tragic as sh'
acclaimed these fierce words. [ fel
half sorry for the poor defeated crea
ture. "
Nine years have passed since ther
and Mrs. Maitland declared that there
are "silyer threads among the gold.
The cares Of young family have some
what marred her good looks, but they
will live again in my little god-daughtel
Magdalen, who promises to rival hel
mother in beauty.
A Romance of Pretty Foot.
| phi1adaIpbio TiuaS