The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-01-07

document, from which ne proceeded 70
read in q brisk, heightened voice. The will
of the deceased, which was dated soma
years back, may be briefly summarized "a
| follows: The widow took only a legacy Of
e., 900 and certain furniture, and the hull,
| Of the testator's property went to his
brother William, who was appointed sole
| executor.
sit is what expected" said Mrs. ocs.
dyne, quietly, when the lawyer had
finished, ina ginning from the way that he
and her brother -in-law stared at her. that
she was expected to say something.
mo doubt, madam, it is what you AK
pected," said Mr.. Boyle, briskly, as he
folded up the document. "And now, if YOU
please, will you kindly hand me the orig
inalf"
THE original will, do you meanin in
quired Mrs. Ockdyne, innocently. "Is not
that itl'
mo, madam. This is the draft of the
will which prepared for the testator, and
which l saw him execute" said Mr.. Boyle.
shaking the document at her impressively.
1.-THE testator took away the original, and
kept it himself"
"Why do you suppose that / have the
will" exclaimed Mrs. Ockdyne, in sur
prise.
The lawyer looked slightly embarrassed
at the question and glanced up at William
Ockdyne, who had remained standing in
front Of the fireplace during the scsne
watching his sister-ln-law intently. He
now came forward and said, slowly and
distinctly:
Because you took it out Of the escritoire
yonder when my brother was dying& ~
Mrs. Ockdyne half rose from her s. A.
this startling accusation, but dropped back
into it again, as she realized that the occa-
sion referred to was when she abstracted,
Allan Graham's letters.
Il never saw the will, and know nothing
about it," was all she could say in her agi-
tation and alarm.
"Did you burn it, madam, in your room
that day when interrupted you with the
news that your husbands last moments
had arrivedfn said William Ockdyne, lean
ing forward and addressing her in harsh
and menacing tone.
I'll. No. Certainly notn gas ped
the poor lady, fairly overwhelmed with this
| fresh accusation.
| "One OF the servants can prove that you
| left your husbands bedside when you
thought you We're unperceived, and came
in here with your husbands keys in your
| leuu' 1uOLuGT Gun COTGODOrdUO my evil
dence that Immediately afterward you
burnt document in the fire in your room.
Some of the ashes have been collected and
will be put in evidence" continued her
brother-in-law, evidently seeking to con-
vince her of the hopelessness OF denial.
THE case is quite complete" added the
lawyer, in a seIf-satisfied tone. probate
will be granted on this draft, upon the
strength of the evidence-the strong evil
dence-which we can produce to prove the
| destruction Of the original"
"What do you suggest could have been
my object in destroying the will, supposing
l were capable of doing such thing?" in
quired Mrs. Ockdyne, recovering her pres
ence of mind sufficiently to be conscious of
the necessity of realizing her position.
''The motive is obvious" replied Mr.. 3D.
gle, with smile. IF your husband had
died intestate you would have been emit
| tied, as his widow, roughly speaking, to
half his property instead of e2O0O only"
The significance Of this reply had crush
ing effect upon the poor lady, whose per-
| ceptions, naturally far from dull, were rem
| dered doubly acute by the danger OF her
! position. She realized that the very act of
| proving her innocence of the monstrous &C
cusation brought against her would reveal
| the secret which she had fondly hoped was
now forever bured-the story OF her suy-
| posed shame. If brought to trial, it mat
| tered 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 the will is a crime in
itself, which renders you liable, believe,
| to pen al servitude," resumed William Ock-
! dyne, glancing at the lawyer. 81 am I'M
willing, however" he 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. Bogle's directions, 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 mis- will,
l will be content to let the matter rest"
| Having said this, William Ockdyne re.
sumed his former position upon the hearth
rug, while the lawyer proceeded to explain
the details of the proposed arrangement.
The poor lady's first impulse was to accept
the conditions offered, but the sense of JUS
tlce to herself fortunately restrained her.
Il Will consider your proposal" she said,
TREMENDOUSLY, because, so far as the money
is concerned, | am absolutely Indifferent.
But | must have time for reflection"
"How long do you require!' said her
| brOther-in-law, reluctantly.
"a week." said Mrs. Ockdyne, rising
with dignity from her place at the table
William Ockdyne exchanged chances
with the lawyer and seemed on the point
Of demonstrating with her; but apparently
he changed his mind, for he permitted his
sister-in-law to retire from the room with
out another word.
AS matter OF fact however, Mrs
| Ockdyne had already resolved to compy
with his demand sooner than incur
the odium and scandal involved in a public
trial 1t was absolutely true, as she had
stated, that she was Indifferent to the pc
cuniary aspect of the question; for she was
not an avaricious women, and she possessed
few thousand pounds of her own. 1t was
only her proper pride and self-respect
which had suggested to her to take time for
consideration. 1t was impossible to doubt.
| from her brother-in-Iaw's demeanor. that
he seriously believed that she was guilty of
the charge he brought against her; and
this led poor Mrs. Ockdyne to wonder nm
easily whether she could really have de-
stroyed the will Allan Graham's letters
| formed bulky packet, and it had certainly
/ "a l..