The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-01-12
MRS. OCKDYNE'S FRIGHT.
How and by Whom the Mill Was
Destroyed

How and by Whom the Mill Was
Destroyed
When John Ockdyne lay insensible from
the apopleciic seizure which terminated in
his death, lis wife acted as though she
were a sineularly heartiess and deceitful
woman. Taking advantage of the tenn
porary absence Of the doctor, who had pro-
nounced that fatal issEe of the sick mans
malady was. humanity speaking, inevitable,
Mrs. OckdyuC possessed herself of her hus-
bands keys. and crept stealthily down to
his study, where she unlocked a drawer in
his escritoire, and took from it a bundle of
DOCUMENTS, which she carefully concealed
ABOUT her person. She then returned 10
the sick-roCrl. replaced the keys with a
trembling hand beneath the pillow on
which the dying mans head rested, and re-
sUmed the anxious and watchful position
by the bedside which she had occupied for
many hours previously. But she looked so
pale and agiiated that the doctor, who made
his appearance a minute afterward, accom-
panied by his assistant, glanced keenly at
her, and said, in a peremptory tone:
EtMrs Ockdyne, you must really obey my
directions. Please go 10 your room and
rest, and take some refreshment. Your
hus band may remain in his present state
for hours, and you are already yoverwrought
and fatlgued. If the slightest symptom of
q change occurs you shall be sent for in
stantly."
al would rather remain" said Mrs. Ock-
dyne, with decision.
The doctor shrugged his shoulders irri-
tably, and turned his attention to the pa
tient, whose labored and stentorian breath
ing rendered inaudible the whispered con-
sultation which ensued between the medical
men. This was interrupted by the entrance
of William Ockdyne, the younger brother
and partner of the invalid, tall, stern,
elderly, unsympatheticlo looking Individual,
with cold, steel-blue eyes, which, after a
quick glance at the unconscious form upon
the bed, he directed with suspicious scru-
tiny upon the pale face of his sister-in-law,
as she advanced to greet him.
]'How long has he been like thisf" he in
quired, abruptly.
''Since midnight" answered Mrs. Ock-
dyne
''Why did not you send for me before?'
he demanded, in a harsh, unpleasant voice.
Il sent for you as soon as DR.. Thorne pro-
nounced the case TO be hopeless" said Mrs.
Ockdyne, tremuously.
Airs. Ockdyne evidently resented this
cross-examnation for some weighty rea-
sons, and her handsome features hardened
while her brother in-law spoke William
Ockdyne, whether consciously or other
wise, evaded her glance, and his cold, blue
eyes ranged round the apartment with a
look of cunning suspicion.
Come, Mrs. Ockdyne," said the doctor,
removing his fingers from the sick mans
pulse, ''now that your brother-in-law has
arrived you need have no hesitation about
going to your room. We will remain here,
and will remember my promise"
Either yielding to the doctors persua-
sion, or in consequence of the uneasiness
and aversion which the presence OF her
brother-in-law evidently caused her, Mrs.
Ockdyne no longer persisted in her objec-
tiou, but rose from her chair without a
word, and left the room with an air of sup
pressed agitation and emotion. Walking
quickly along the passage and down the
staircase, she entered a small sitting-r room
on the half-landing, and having closed and
locked the door behind her, she fell in an
almost fainting condition upon the nearest
sofa.
Very different was now the aspect of
Mrs Ockdyne from that Of the proud, cold,
self-contained woman of a moment ago. All
her energy and spirit seemed 10 have de-
serted her, and she looked the picture of
helpless misery and apprehension. The
hard lines about her face had disappeared,
revealing character of weakness, irreso-
luton, and even feebleness. Her features
were no longer handsome, but rather
showed the remains of q soft, tender, girl
TSl, III, 90 k.,lE Iii
of hardship and unhappiness. She pre-
sented. in fact, glimpse of her true self;
the Mary Banuermau who had married
John Ockdyne ten years ago; a woman de-
signed by nature to be a gentle, tender,
loving wife and mother, but transformed
by harshness and tyranny into the SEM
blance OF a strangely dissimilar person.
ality.
Ten wears agol 1t seemed q century I.
And vet it was, in fact, less than ten
years since that fatal day when her hus-
bands rough kindness-for it would be
profane to dignity his selfish affection for
her by the name of love-was turned into
relentless distrust and tyranny. The visi-
BILE cause of this transformation she now
held in her hand-a bundle Of letters writ
ten in ink which was now faded. Alasl if
they had been written with her hearts
blood she would not have suffered less.
There is no occasion TO rake up the de-
tails of her unfortunate fliration with Allan
Graham. 1t was not generally supposed to
be OF serious nature by those who knew
of it st The time. A weak, giddy, thought
less girl, married against her viii, to a
man twenty years her senior; young SOL
dier-lover OF former days, culpably reckless
of a woman's reputation, but meaning, per-
hsps, no great harm; q fercely jealous
husband, of disposition cruel and vim
dictive-common ingredients these, in
blighted lives and domestic misery; and as
Mrs. Ockdyne's story contains not hing
novel or entertaining, we win pass it over
lightly-as the world did for q wonder
without imputing blame to any one.
John Ockdyne. however, neither forgot
nor forgaye. His brother William, wheth-
er from basely selfish motives, or from
real suspicion bred of the proneness of
some contemplate minds to disbeiieve in
innocence, helped to keep alive this resent.
InenG He did not separate from his wife;