The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-01-22

as the last rites were administered that
soft-hearted old gentleman wiped away
big tears from his eyes with . haring
red silk handkerchief He could hardly
think 1t true that the close friend OF his
early days had been carried OF so sud
denly and it was with sad heart that
he turned his back on tho grave. There
was no ostentatious display; every thing
was simple as the honest old million
aires life had been. He had but few
friends during life whom no could call
friends and three Of them wept at his
grave.
Hearing of his death large number
Of his relations had presented them
selves at his house in New York and
commenced interferences which were
boldly and decisively checked by Mrs
Delaro and tho lawyers. Many OF them
were persons who treated the dead mill
ionaire very badly before he migrated
to California, but they had often en-
deavorcd to become more intimate with
him in later years. These he had sue
cessfully kept at arms length; neverthe-
less they rallied, like carrion crows.
filled with the fond hope that he had
not forgotten his relations in his last
hours. and all expected that their names
would be found in the will in connec-
ton wifL fat legacies. Had they been
mindful Of the old proverb how much
less severe would have been their dis
appointment
In most cases they were ignored a.
together and only few Of their
names were mentioned in the will
which was few weeks later
admitted to probate. To the astonish-
ment Of all. and more especially to the
New England relatives, the bulk Of
Joel Wilcoxs wealth including mining
and railroad stocks representing enorm.
Gus sums he bequea.hed to Percy Lowell.
To Mrs. Delarc ne left nearly all HE
California estates and among them was
the Posada vineyard which was now
once more the property OF the Delaros.
To Armida he gave his beautiful
mansion and grounds in the Sonoma
valley, and the rest Of his few
requests consisted of various sums left
to charitable institutions and those Of
his relatives for whom he had still re-
tanned some regard. This, briefly, was
the last will and testament Of Joel
Wilcox.
1t was not until his body was laid to
rest that Mrs. Delaro thoroughly com.
pretended how true and staunch
friend she had lost, and she now felt
very much alone in the world. True,
her daughter remained, but tho stout
hearts who had passed their word to
assist her in every way to accomplish
tho purpose OF her life had left her side
and she had grave fears that her
Efforts might now fall short OF her one
cherished desire.
Tho house in which Mr.. Wilcox had
died soon became too dreary place for
Armida to be confined in and her mother
noticed it 1t would never do to see
the healthy color leave those checks
. change must be sought, and that very
soon. Yet something ought to be
learned OF Percy Lowell, thought Mrs.
Delaro. What was to be learned came
soon to hand, but it was cminently un.
satisfactory.
The letter from the American Consul
at Buenos Ayres merely stated that .
gentleman travelling as Mr.. byron
lIuntly had appeared in that city, hut
his stay had boon only brief one. He
had taken trip into the interior. he
said. and nothing had been heard from
him since. But as such occurrences
were not infrequent ii had caused no Sc
rious Investigations to be made, though
should any other news come to hand the
Consul promised to advise Mr.. Wilcox.
This letter did not arrive until after
Mr. Wilcox's death, and it troubled
Mrs. Delaro not little. She had heard
that Mr.. limerick was again in New
York. and she had advised Mrs Breezy
Of the fact, but had not seen that good
woman since.
Some few weeks later another letter
arrived from Bucnos Ayres conveying
tho sad intelligence that the body Of
man. dressed exactly as the supposed
Mr.. Huntly was known to have dressed,
had been taken from the river few miles
below San Nicholas the last place from
whence things OF the traveller had boon
received.
This communication was great blow
to Mrs. Delaro. What should she do
now that she had no adviser left? And
how should she complete the only pur.
pose she acknowledged in her life?
Then there was all that idle wealth OF
Percys, left him by Mr.. Wilcox-what
would become Of that? She finally felt
| that the thought OF all that had hap
pened within the past few months would
be too much for her among such close
/ iaf MI I'd -
1t. so she resolved to 60 away and seek
in change OF scenes at least little re-
pose. She would leave every thing in
the lawyers hands and go to Europe.
While these thoughts were passing
through her mind Armida walked into
the room where her mother was sitting
and said that Mr.. Blodger had just made
a hurried visit and had been speaking
OF Mrs. Breezy. lie had told her that il
was almost impossible to get the
Frenchwoman to leave New York, now
that she knew that Mr. limerick. whom
she still persisted in abiding to as her
husband, was in town. She had ayowed
her intention OF seeing him face to
face, though her efforts up to tho pres
ent had proved unsuccessful. To-day
she had learned that he was down at his
Office very often far into the night, and
she was determined to approach him and
demand an interview that very evening
But, fearingthat some harm might befall
her, Mr.. Blodger had gone down to Mr.
Emerick's office to try and induce the
mysterious merchant to give the worna n
a hearing and dispcl her strange fancy
II trust he will be successful" said
Mrs. Delaro, quietly, 'for it is better
that tho poor woman should know the
truth"
AS Mr.. Blodger entered the Office OF
limerick and Company, the surviving
member OF that firm sat in a chair in
his private Office gloating over the item
OF news in Buenos Ayres newspaper
stating that the body of Mr.. byron
Huntly had been picked up in the La
Plata river. What his reasons were
for desiring that the Englishman should
como to such an untimely end were bes,
| known IN himSalf hut plaaaurn ,,,,