The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-01-07

Cnurlty DC uOuOteu wncthcr MIS- vulgar,
coarsc-grained temperament enabled him
to realize the full extent Of tho suffering he
inflicted. He kept Allan Graham's letters,
and in savage moments produced them and
taunted her with them. He held them
in terrorism over Notwithstanding to show
them, even; though his wife, cowed as she
was, could never believe him capable of
this bascness. Still, the very fact OF these
compromising documents continuing In
existence had always haunted Mrs. Ock-
dyne Will an uneasy feeling of insecurity,
and she had appealed over and over again
In vain her husband to destroy them.
John Ockdyne's sudden illness had been
totally unexpected, and little rs his wife
had cause to love him, she did not hear
without emotion the DOCTORS startling vcr-
dict. But in tho midst of her distress tho
recollection Of those dreadful letters came
upon her with d painful shock for her hus-
band had more than once told her with sig
nicance that he had appointed his brother
William executor of his will Horrified at
the prospect that her brother.in-law, whom
she could not but regard as her enemy,
knowing his hostile influence upon her hus-
bnnd, would obtain possession of the let.
ters, she had yielded to an irrepressible i'm
pulse which urged her to secu re them
while vet there was time.
Having accomplished her object, the poor
lady was considerably frightened at what
she had done, for her terror OF her husband
overshudowed her, even though he lay
helpless at DEATHS door before her eyes.
The possibility of his recovery suggested
startling reflections to her agitated mind;
while she dreaded scarcely less her action
being found out by her brother. n.law. The
demcnnor Of the latter, which. to her ex-
cited imagination, seemed plainly to indi
cate some suspicion OF what sho had been
doing, increased her uneasy apprehension,
and she was grateful indeed to avail her.
self of the DOCTORS interference and to flee
from William Ockdyne's hatred presence.
When she found herself alone, however,
in her own boudoir, she pluclsed up her
spirit, and determined to destroy the let
ters at once, resolutely disregarding what
might happen in case her husband should
recover. Without more ado she stirred the
fire into blaze and thrust the packet OF
letters into it. Words would full to de-
scribe the blessed sensation Of unspeaka-
BILE relief with which she behelG the fatal
papers ignite and slowly burn and smoul-
der away into shapeess mass of cinder.
But she was not allowed time to completely
recover her composure, for barely had the
flame died down when she was startled by
knock at the door. Instantly apprehend-
ing message relating to her husband, she
rose at once and turned the key back in the
lock; but before she could grasp the handle
the door WAS opened from without, and her
brother-in-aw stepped nimb!y into the
room.
"What is the matter?" inquired Mrs
Ockdyne, in alarm and confusion
"Your husband is worse" said William
n n
round tho room as he spoke.
"Worsem exclaimed Mrs. Ockdyne.
"Yes; another seizure.''
Mrs. Ockdyne rushed past without giving
another thought to her own affairs. Had
she done so, she would have waited to al
low him to precede her, for in the single
instant that he fingered on the threshold of
her room, he unhappily caught sight of the
charred embers in the fireplace. Not a
word did he utter, however, but followed
silently to his brothers. bedside.
The seizure which William Ockdyne came
to report turned out to be the last flicker OF
John Ockdyne's life. A few minutes later
he had expired.
Mrs. Ockdyne left the chamber of death
with that awe-stricken and chastened feel
ing which the last earthly scene never
fails to inspire, and when, later in the day,
she went down stairs to give some orders
to her servants, she learned that William
Ockdyne had just left after taking pos
session of the dead mans keys, and thor
oughly overhauled all the dead mans pa
pers. Seals had been placed upon her hus-
bands desk and escritoire, upon the plate
chest, and even, as she was informed, upon
the door OF the wine-cellar. Mrs. Ockdyne
experienced some natural Indignation at
these proceedings, considering that her
husband had ceased to breathe but q few
hours previously. The news, however, af-
fected her chiefly as proving what q wise
precaution she had taken in securing those
fatal icttcrs--now, happily, no more; fact
which rendered her completely Indifferent
to William Ockdyne's proceedings.
There was curious Difference in the
tone of the servants when they mentioned
the name and stated the orders given by
her brother-in-law, and q marked mystery
in their manner toward herself, which puz-
zled Mrs. Ockdyne. though she forbore to
make any remark on the subject. But she
concluded from these 81 gns that 1t had gone
forth that William was his brothers. heir,
and that she herself was, SO to speak, de-
posed. Her brother. in. laws bearing toward
her, however, during the interval before
the funeral did not entirely bear out this
idea. 1t was truo that he took possession
Of his brothers. valuables, aud assumed q
control over the household which Mrs.
Ockdyne did not care to dispute. But
while treating the poor lady with the
scantest courtesy, he seemed to regard her
with sort Of jealous suspicion, which ap-
peared quite unaccountable. The result
was, that although Mrs. Ockdyne strove to
take comfort from tho reflection that he
was powerless to harm her in any way, she
was seized with vague and uncomfortable
presentiment of evil which she could not
shake cff
William Ockdyne did not let fall single
word about the contents of his brothers.
will to his sister-in-law before the funeral,
and rs he seemed desirous to avoid the sub
ject Mrs. Ockdyne forebore to question
him. But on the afternoon OF the day when
the funeral took place he grimly requested
her, when the other mourners had lett the
house, to step into the study to hear the
will read. This she accordingly did, more
because she thought it WAS expected Of her
than from any pressing desire for informa-
tion, when she found her brother-in- law in
| company with q shnrp-featured, red whis.
kered little man, whom he briefly intro
duccd to her US Mr.. Boyle, the solicitor who
had prepared the will.
AS soon as Mrs. Ocldyne had seated her
self Mr.. Boyle produced from his pocket q
somewhat torn and dilapidated looking
| document, from which he proceeded to
read in brisk, high-toned voice. The will
| of the deceased, which was dated some
years back, may be briefly summarized as
| follows: The widow took only legacy OF
g2,000 and certain furniture, and tho bulk