Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-02-14

written in pencil, there was not a
word or sign written upon either OF
the two inclosed sheets OF paper.
Melissa sat staring at the papers.
What could it meanP She had heard
of "eyanescent 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 guiltily, he
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 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
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
tiers. His intention was to abandon
| ba. in oaeo NJ b;o fa1linn hair IN tho
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 the latter had MORALLY
offended her Aunt Jollifer 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 a widow and very poor; and
Alicia woman can easily discover
what man can not about love affairs.
Alice was, as Miss Judd knew, engaged
to that impecunious 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
clenched her hands involuntarily. Oh,
if she could be revenged!
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 off the andirons to the hearth.
Mrs. Jollifer 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
: ly preparing the cruel, presented it
seasoned with tansy vinegar instead
of wine! Melissa -ungrateful, treach-
erous Melissa-was trying to poison
her! And without a moments delay
the old lady ordered her to 50 at once
for Mr. Steele; so that by night new
will reposed under lock and key in
Mrs. Jollifer's desk. Then the ole
: lady went to bed; and, whether from
the effects of her agitation or the tansy
vinegar, or from other causes un
known, there she was found next morn
r ing, stiff and stark in death. And IL
S less than an hour the news had spreat
a all over town, with the additional tha
the last act of her life had been t.
i make will entirely in her nephew
favor. 1t was surprising how friendly
q the whole populace Immediately be
r came towards Mr.. Peck.
: In compliance with the express de
: sire of the deceased her will was t.
4 be opened and read by Mr.. Steele i'm
2 mediately after the funeral, and il
;, presence of all whom that occasion
a might bring together. Wherefore
: as soon as the burial was concluded,
S goodly number assembled in the par
g lor of the Jollifer mansion, where, a
d table, Messrs Steele and Smelling
y occupied conspicuous place. Mr.
It Peck sat near, in Grape bands an,
l. with preternatural solemn face. Ill
o never glanced toward Miss Judd
r who, on her part, kept her eyes rig
l. idly fixed upon him. Mrs. Hayes an
Il Alice were present, the former look
If ing sad with the genuine regret tina
It after all there should have been n
7. reconciliation with her aunt before he
Y death.
q There was dead silence as MI
d Steele arose and, after some remark
and formalities, solemnly broke th
n seal Of the will. Mr.. Peck's eye
10 cleaned despite himself, and he stol
4 one furtive side-glance at Miss judo
II only to meet that lady's gorgon-lik
it gaze.
10 As the lawyer slowly unfolded th
G. important document the eyes of a
st were upon him, and they wondered ;
1t the amazed and bewildered look wit
is which he regarded the paper. H
"a turned it over and over, held it to th
Id light, and with Mr.. Smelling CAREFUL
ly examined it.
il This is very extraordinary" h
le said "a myself wrote and scale
~ this will, and am certain that it h;
I'd not since been tempered with. II
l. seal was intact and the paper I'll
it doubtedly the same upon which
u wrote. Here are marks to prove i
but the writing itself, with the sign
r. lures, have disappeared"
I'd Every body stared. Ambrose Peel
k. with white face and wild eyes, can
err forward.
S. "W-what ink did you use?" |