Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-27

Oh my side. You shall not be in the dark,
whichever way you decide. l will be very
ii trust not painfIlly-explic;t 1t is in
no petty or boastful mood that say have
behaved well to you and yours"
You have behaved, SIR said, most
literally, most generously. A lifetime of
gratitude could not repay you"
81 will be content with less" he said,
dryly. "There is not much merit in what
I have done; what you have received from
me l could well spare. In all my life |
have really loved but one human being
your mother, my only sister. When your
father fell into misfortune resolved upon
my course; and once resolved, nephew
Richard, it needs, indeed a powerful rea-
son to move me. Oblige me by unlocking
my despatch-box." He paused occasional
| ly, as / attended to his instructions. "Be-
-,"c+r ~ cash-6ox are some papers tied
round with red tape. Bring them for
ward. Lawyers papers, nephew Richard.
Lock the box again. Unite the papers,
and take from them the largest and most
important. 1t is my will. You may read
it if you like"
Excuse me, sir I shall feel more at
my ease if do not"
"As you please. 1t is my will, making
you my heir to the greater portion of my
property. For what / have done for you
for what have cheerfully and ungrudg-
| ingly done, / have never asked from you
the least return; have never requested
you to render me the slightest favor.
| For the first and only time 1 ask now a
favor at your hands; give your consent to
the union of your daughter with friend
| Mortlock"
II cannot, sir"
weigh well your words, nephew Rich
ard. The consequences of your refusal
will be that l shall destroy this will, max
ing another person my heir. To you and
yours not one shilling; nor shall you ever
receive another shilling of my money"
My heart tainted within me; absolute
beggary stared me in the face; and with
that beggary, as it seemed to me, disgrace
81 regret" continued my uncle, "that I
should have been forced into speaking so
plainly. L give you till tomorrow morn
| ing to reflect, to talk over the matter with
your wife, if you care to do So Till then,
we will speak no further upon the subject
What have resolved upon is irrevocable,
and there is nothing surer in life than that
you and have done with each other for
ever if you then determine to oppose my
wishes. Obige me now by leaving me-
At this hour of the day I always seek a
! little repOse."
saw that it would not improve matters
if | remained with him; therefore l left
him and sought my wife.
"What has happened?" she asked, in a
voice of alarm. She read the news in my
| face.
1.-THE worst,'' replied.
II
spairing as she was, she said that I had
acted right
do you realize what it means?" 1 said,
ave shall have to quit this place at once;
we shall be thrown upon the world to
starveP And then 1 started up, and
paced the room in state of terrible ex-
element, saying that it was monstrous
such blow should be dealt US by feeble
old man.
feeble and old,'I repeated, vacantly:
Eyes, feeble and old. He is over seventy
If he should die to-nightp' The words
froze upon nay lips.
''Richardr' cried my wife.
"God forgive mer' 1 said; 81 know not
what l am saying. But it shall not-shall
not-shall not ber'
All her sweet efforts were pewerless to
calm me; in uncomfortable agitation
rushed from her presence.
How the day passed 1 can scarcely re-
call. know that my wife sent note by
hand to Harry Clanronald requesting
| him not to come to our house this even
| ing | know that we Mdlle. Rosalie, Mr.
| Wilmot, and Mr.. Mortlock, dined togeth-
er, and that l was forced to play the part
| of host | know that the three whose
names l have written were full of sparkle
| and animation, while we were moody and
silent. / know that Mdlle. Rosalie and
Mr.. Mortlock played and sang. And then
came the goodnight all round, and / was
| in my bedroom with my wife. Her eyes
were encircled by dark rings; her face was
wan; her limbs shook; her voice trembled
as she spoke.
81 have made up my mind to do some
thing" she said, in pitiful tone. "To-
morrow morning l will speak to your IN
Gle myself. and will try to move him"
"You may as well try to melt rock"
l said. And in my mind stirred the re-
frain, He is feeble and old; if he should
die to night!-if he should die to-nightr'
81 shall need all my strength and bright
ness" said my wife. 81 have not slept for
the last three nights, so great has been my
anxiety. A nights good rest, and should
rise in the morning equal to the task Of
saving our dear child"
And still the refrain was in my mind
"If he should die to-night!-if he should
die to-nighti''
There was an opiate on the mantelshelf
which l occasionally took to insure sleep.
/ poured the requisite number of drops
into glass, and diluted them with water.
! "Drink this ~ I said to nv wife: you
will sleep soundly and well, and then, in
the morning, if you still think of carry
ing out your plan, you can try our last
hope"
knew that it was vain hope, and
that her appeals would be thrown away
upon this man, who held in his hands the
threads of our fate.
My wife undressed, knelt down to pray
-fervent and long were her prayers on
this fatal highland then she went to
bed. l handed her the opiate, and she
drank it.
'tAu will be well, my love-" she said,
dreamily. MY mind assures me that all
will be wellI Goodnight. dear love-God
bless your
She drew me to her breast, and kissed
her lips. In that embrace she fell asleep.
l crept from the chamber in my slippers,
and stole through the dark and vacant
rooms.
He is feeble and old; If he should die
to-night!-if he should die to-night'
| 1t was like a prayer. and made itself felt
as well as heard as trod softly here and
there, now standing by window looking
out upon the shadows, now moving away,
with unutterable despair in my heart.
The Shirt of Murder was in nv housed