Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-03-08

ttouuee 20 prove the destruction OF
the original
What do you suggest could have
peeh my object in destroying the will.
supposlng ! were capable of doing
such a thing2" inquired Mrs. ockdyne,
recovering her presence OF mind sufii-
GENTLY to be conscious OF the neces-
SHY OF realizing her position.
Inc motive is obvious" replied
MIR. Boyle. with smile. "If your
husband had died intestate, you
would have been entitled, as his wild.
ow. roughly speaking, TO half his prop.
perty instead of e, 900 only"
Inc significance of this reply had O.
crushing effect upon the poor lady,
whose perceptions. naturally far from
dull, were rendered doubly acute by
the danger of her position. She
realized that the very act of PROV
ing her innocence of the mon
strous accusation brought against
her would reveal the secret which sine
mad tondly hoped was now forever
burled-the story of her supposed
shame. ii brought to trial, it matter.
ed not whether she might be found in
nocent or guilty of the principal
charge; IN either case the miserable
story which had wrecked her life would
be dragged forth and published to the
world.
You doubtless perceive, madam,
that your attempted fraud will not
avail you. The destruction OF they will
Is q crime in itself, which renders you
liable, l believe, to penal servitude,n
resumed William 0ckdyne. glancins
at the lawyer. II am unwilling, how
ever, Pie added, for the sake of my
brothers memory, and for the sake
OF our family name, which you have
the right to bear, that scandal should
be caused. Ii. under Mr.. Rogles di-
rections, you will sign the necessary
documents to enable me to administer
to my brothers estate and to retain
possession of his property. which /
am entitled to under the terms OF his
will. will be content to let the mat
ter rest"
Having said this, William Ockdyne
resumed his former position upon the
hearthrug, while the lawyer proceeded
to explain the details OF the proposed
arrangement. The poor ladys first
impulse was to accept the conditions
offered, but the sense OF justice fortu-
nately restrained her.
81 will consider your proposal" she
said TREMENDOUSLY, because, so far as
the money is concerned, / am abso.
lutely Indifferent. But / must have
time for reflection"
"How long do you iequire?" said her
brother-in-law, reluctantly.
A AZ
with dignity from her place at the
table.
Will Ockdyne exchanged chances with
the lawyer, and seemed on the point
OF demonstrating with her; but appar-
emily he changed his mind, for he per-
mitted the sister-in.law to retire from
the room without another word.
AS matter of fact, however, Mrs.
Ockdyne had already resolved to
comply with his demand sooner tnan
Incur the odium and scandal involved
in public trial. 1t was absolutely true,
as she has stated, thatshe was indiffer-
ent TO the pecuniary aspect of the
question; for she was not an avari-
cious woman, and she possessed few
thousand pounds of her own. 1t was
only her proper pride and selfrespect
which had suggested to her to take
time for consideration. 1t was inn
possible to doubt, from her brother
inlaw's demeanor, that he seriously
believed she was guilty of the charge
he brought against her; and this led
poor Mrs. 0ckdyne to wonder uneasi-
ly whether she could really have de-
stroyed the will. Allan Graham's
letters formed bulky packet, and it
bad certainly not occurred to her to
go through them in order to ascertain
that there was no other paper tied up
with them. Her husbands will was q
short document, and it would have
been characteristic of his brutally vim
dlctive disposition if he had placed
the letters with his will, as sort of
grim explanation to her OF the cause
OF the meagre provision he had made
for her. This idea. far-fetched as it
might have appeared to her in calmer
moments, nevertheless tended to
strengthen her decision.
Having arrived at this conclusion,
Mrs. 0ckdyne was almost relieved at
receiving a second visit from her broth
er-in-law, who called later i'll the
evening to urge her to sign the neces-
sary documents, waving her legal
claims. without delay. He had
brought the papers with him, and
Mrs. 0ckdyne could not Withstand
the temptation of disposing of the
whole miserable business without the
worry of further harassing reflections.
William 0ckdyne's manner, moreover.
though peremptory and overbearin2,
was nevertheless more concilliatory
than it had been earlier in the day,
and he evinced desire, which poor
Mrs. Ockdyne in her trouble appreci.
ated. to spare her feelings by avoid
ing any unpleasant illusions. She
had actually taken up her pen for the
purpose of signing away her interest
in her husbands property, when
maid-servant entered the room and
rather mysteriously requested her to.
come outside at once.
William Ockdyne impatiently asked
her to sign the papers before she left,
but his sister-in-law. resenting his in
reference, laid the pen aside and rose
in response to the servants summons
Outside the door the girl whispered
that gentleman was in the dining
room who would not give his name
when he heard that she was engaged
with Mr.. William Ockdyne, but de-
sired to speak to her forthwith.
Considerably mystiiied and vaguely
alarmed, Mrs. 0ckdyne proceeded to
the dining-room, where she found
awaiting her queer-looking, rosy
checked. gray-haIred old gentleman,
who, advancing toward her with pa.
ternal air, held out his hand and said
his name was Parchment.
al am deeply grieved. my dear mad
am, that owing to absence Fl ON town,
did not hear 'ofyour husband IS death
till my return to-day. His strict in
functions were that, should he ever be
suddenly taken i'll, which he seemed to
apprehend. / Twas Immediately to COM
municate with ) on. Hearing from the
servant that you were engaged with
Mr.. William Ockdyne, thought it adj
yisable to ask you to to step out and
see me-" he added, confidentially.
MAY | enquire the object OF your
VISIT" said Mrs. Ockdyne, staring at
him.
"Your husband called upon me my
dear madam, a few months hack, on
the subject of his will He showed me
the will which his former solicitor, a
Mr.. Rogle. had prepared for him, and
told him that it was wicked, cruel
and unjust will" said the old gentle
man stoutly.
.Did my husband explain" muir
INJURED Mrs. 0ckdyne, with rising
color.
"He explained everything, and
his explanations did not alter my
opinion" said Mr.. Parchment, look.
ing at her benevolently. ITO make a