The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-01-03


had requested her to seal up tho let
tors. His intention was to abandon
hor In case Of his falling heir to the
property; and ten to one he would seek
TO marry that chit, Alice Hayes. to
whom he had been paying attention OF
late Miss Judd hated Alice and her
mother. When tho latter had MORALLY
offended her Aunt JOilifer by prefer
ring to share poverty with the man
she loved to remaining under her roof
as pampered slave and pensioner on
her bounty. Miss Judd had stepped in
and secured that place for herself. and
had ever since, by means OF false re-
ports on either side, managed to keep
the aunt and niece apart. Mrs. Hayes
was now widow and worry poor: and
Alicia woman con easily discover
what man can not about love affairs.
Alice was. as Miss Judd knew. engaged
to that impecunionS young doctor who
would probably have to wait dozen
years before he could afford to marry.
In any event, thank goodness. Mr..
Peck could never get Alice. As for the
rest, Miss Judd set her teeth and
clenchcd her hands involuntarily. Oh.
II she could be revengcd!
She was aroused by great knocking
proceeding from Mrs. Jollifer's room.
Hurrying down. she found it long past
four o'clock, and the room full Of
smoke from burning log which had
rolled of the andirons to the hearth.
Mrs J0llifer was furious. She had no
doubt but that Melissa had purposely
shut her up there to be suffocated. And
her anger and resentment reached its
climax when Miss Judd. after hurried
" preparing the Cruel, presented it
seasoned with tansy vinegar instead
OF wine! Melissa treach-
erous Melissa-was trying to poison
her! And without a moments delay
the old lady ordered her to 6 !, at once
for MIR. Steele; SO that by night q new
will reposed under lock and key in
Mrs. Jollifer's desk. Then tho old
lady went to bed; and, whether from
the effects Of her agitation or the tansy
vinegar. or from other causes IN.
known, there she was found next morn
ing, stiff and stark in death. And in
less than an hour the news had spread
all over town, with the additional that
the last act Of her life had been to
make q will entirely In her nephew's
favor. 1t was surprising how friendly
the whole populace Immediately be-
came towards Mr.. Peck.
In compliance with the express de-
sire OF tie deceased her will was to
be opened and read by Mr.. Steele i'm
mediately after the funeral, and In
presence Of all whom that occasion
might bring together. Wherefore,
as soon as the burial was concluded. q
goodly number assembled in the par.
lor of the Jollifer mansion, where, at
. table. Messrs Steele and Smelling
occupied q conspicuous place. Mr..
Peck sat near. in Grape bands an1
with preternatural solemn face. He
never glanced toward Miss Judd,
who, on her part, kept her eyes rig
idly fixed upon him. Mrs. Hayes and
Alice were present the former LOOK
ing sud with the genuine regret that
after all there should have been no
reconciliation with her aunt before her
death.
There was q dead silence as Mr..
Steele arose and, after some remarks
and forInalities. solemnly broke tn,
seal Of the will. Mr.. Peck's eyee
cleaned despite himself, and he stole
ono furtive side-glance at Miss Judd.
only to meet that lady's gorgon-!ike
gaze.
As the lawyer slowly unfolded the
important document the eyes Of all
were upon him, and they wondered at
tho amazed and bewildcred look with
which he regarded the paper. He
turned it over and over. held it to the
| light. and with Mr.. Smelling carefully
, examined it.
This is very extraordinary" he
said. Il myself wrote and sealed
this will. and am certain that it has
not since been tempered with. The
seal was intact and the paper un-
doubleday the same upon which |
wrote. Here are marks to prove 1t;
but the writing itself. with the sigma
lures. have disappeared"
Every body stared. Ambrose Peck,
with white face and wild eyes. came
forward.
"W-whst ink did you usee" he
gasped
The lawyer turned suddenly to Miss
Judd.
..Miss Judd, can you produce the
bottle Of ink which you presented me
for the writing Of this will2"
mo. sir" promptly replied the
lady. rising as il on the witness-stand
Of court OF justice. If you re-
member, ! informed you when went
for you that there happened to be no
ink In the house, and asked permission
to take a bottle from your Office, which
did while you put on your coat; and.
after the will was written. / requested
!, you to take the bottle back with you to
the Office. which you did"
Certainly. I remember now; a
bottle with mulberry-colored label
or wrapper. which l had noticed on
! your desk. Mr.. Peck. Perhaps it
would be as we'll to produce it."
Mr.. Peck turned his eyes wildly up
on Miss Judd. What he saw in the
/ gaze which unfinchingly met his own.
only himself knew, but he mt once.
| without uttering woro, sank limp
al helpless into chair, trembling as
though ,,nder q stroke Of palsy.
| The affair was moro than nine
days wonder TO the good people Of
the town. For there ensued -ery
complicated lawsuit, in which it WAS
finally decided that no legal and au.
thentic will Of the late Mrs. Jollifer
had been or could be produced; her
whole property naturally reverted to
her niece. Mrs. Hayes. So Alice and
the doctor We're enabled to marry
without further waiting. and were