The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-01-09
cost her nothing, Melissa had hu.
mOred IL.

A@
So the autumn came, and on GER
tain evening Miss Melissa Judd had
occasion to open leather trunk,
wherein she kept stored away her
most valued and secret possessions.
This trunk, to be secure from Mrs.
Jollifer's prying, was kept in the attic,
out of reach; and thither Miss Judd
now proceeded, leaving the old lady
indulging in her usual afternoon nap.
From this she nover woke until four
o'clock, in time for her pert wine
cruel, and the prudent companion
would take care to be back in good
time.
On opening the trunk Miss Judd was
dismayed to find that the rain, drip
ping from leak in the roof, had
found its way through crack in the
lid and moistened aportion Of the con-
tents Among these was the little box
containing Mr.. Peck's letters. which
she Immediately FASTENED to examine.
They were dry and uninjured. But as
she turned them over something
strange in their appearance arrested
her attention. There were the post
marks, but what had become Of the
addressp Hastily opening them her
dDtonishment increased. Beside the
date OF receipt, which she herself had
written in pencil, there was not a
word or sign written upon either OF
rthe two inclosed sheets OF paper.
Melissa sat staring at the papers.
What could it mean? She had heard
of ''evanescent ink," and these letters
must undoubtedly have been written
with something of the kind. Then she
remembered having come upon Mr.
Peck while all alone in the office he
was engaged in writing her name with
endearing appellations on sheet OF
paper. He had been experimenting with
the ink! She remembered how hastily,
and, as she now thought, guilty, ne
had thrust away the paper and the
mulberry-colored bottle into a pigeon
hole above his desk. He had in
tended that the writing should
disappear-but why? And with
the question there gradually dawned
upon the acute mind of Melissa Judd
a full perception Of Ambrose Peck's
design, in all its unmitigated villainy
and duplicity. And to think that she
should so easily have been made a
fool of. He had managed to get pos
session of her written promise OF mar
riage and to destroy his own, and to
prevent her discovery of the trick he
had requested her to seal up the let
ters. His intention was to abandon
her in case of his falling heir to the
property; and ten to one he would seek
to marry that chit, Alice Hayes, tc
whom he had been paying attention G.
late. Miss Judd hated Alice and hei
UOther When the latter had MORALLY
offended her Aunt Jollifer by prefer
ring to share poverty with W par
she lbved to remaining undef her
as pampered slave and pensioner OF
her bounty, Miss Judd had stepped. il
and secured that place for herself, an(
had ever since, by means of false re
ports on either side, managed to keel
the aunt and niece apart. Mrs. Hayes
was now widow and very poor; ant
Alicia woman can easily discover
what q man can not about love affairs
Alice was, as Miss Judd knew, engaged
to that impecunious young doctor whit
would probably have to wait a dozel
years before he could afford to marry
in any event, thank goodness, Mr.
Peck could never get Alice. As for tn
rest, Miss Judd set her teeth ant
enched her hands involuntarily. Oh
if she could be revenged!
She was aroused by great knocking
proceeding from Mrs. Jollifer's room
liurrying down, she found it long pas
four o'clock, and the room full o
smoke from burning log which ha'
rolled off the andirons to the hearth
Mrs. Jollifer was furious. She had n
d 1ubt but that Melissa had purposel
nut her up there to be suffocated. An
h 3r anger and resentment reached 1t
.imax when Miss Judd, after hurried
ly preparing the Cruel, presented i
seasoned with tansy vinegar instea
ct wine! Melissa-ungrateful, treach
erous Melissa-was trying to poiso
. her And without moments della
the old lady ordered her to 60 at ono
Tor Mr.. Steele; so that by night ne'
{ will reposed under lock and key i
Mrs. Jollifer's desk. Then the oil
lady went to bed; and, whether frol
, the effects of her agitation or the tans
= vinegar, or from other causes III
> Known, there she was found next morn
, ing, stiff and stark in death. And
/ ess than an hour the news had sprea
y all over town, with the additional ths
/ the last act of her life had been I
: make will entirely in her nephew
o favor. 1t was surprising how friendl
r the whole populace Immediately b.
/. came towards Mr.. Peck.
i In compliance with the express d.
4 sire of the deceased her will was
(. be opened and read by Mr.. Steele in
!. mediately after the funeral, and
Y presence of all whom that occasio
9 might bring together. Wherefor
d as soon as the burial was concluded,
goodly number assembled in the pa
n lor of the Jollifer mansion. where,
q a table, Messrs. Steele and Snellir
= :.