Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-06-29

"st:ll, if the inquiry were carried on in
eral questions would be raised, and it
may be as well for me to be thoroughly
informed on this point. VIII you please
state briefly what were the conditions
of that will? will note them down as
you proceed"
1.-THE document itself was very brief
and to the point. With the exception
of a certain income to be paid annually
to me so long as / remained a widow
and continued to reside under this roof
two distinctly tyrannical conditions
which must be complied with. both and
severally, otherwise SO far as Mr.. May
nard's wealth was concerned, should
be left penniless-witht the exception of
this conditionally granted income, in
consideration of which my right of
dover was set aside, all of Mr.. May
nard's large fortune was willed to his
relatives. Think of it, Mr.. North, such
a sweeping disregard of my rights!"
The undercurrent of indignation rip
pied the calm surface now just for an
instant as these words were. warmly ut
tered.
made few brief dashes in his note
book while in his mind n very trivial
question kept repeating itself: ''Why
does she sometimes call him Mr.. May
nard and sometimes the major?'"
''And this, You see," continued Mrs.
Maynard, delicate satire in her tones,
was the sympathy that Mrs. Dunkirk
offered me: Mr.. Maynard used his own
discretion in the matter, and his right
to do so no one can dispute It was not
entirely his own discretion, as very
we'll know"
"Ah, then there was undue influence
exerted to induce him to make this will?"
inquired North, quickly; thinking, with
the unconscious professional instinct
that no legal point, however slight or
extraneous, ever eluded: eff that were
proven, his will can easily be set aside,
when the time comes I wonder if this
mas never occurred to her?'
Remember, I have no proof of this,
Mr.. North" Mrs Maynard said, slowly,
as If answering his very thoughts.
''Nevertheless, 1 am convinced that he
was influenced to my disadvantage.
However, this is depression. My un-
happy differences with Mr.. Maynard
are not at present under discussion,
believe"
North experienced peculiar sensa-
ton as he listened to this direct a1lusion
to the tragedy of Mrs. Maynard's do
nestle life; but he smiled as conposedly
as if her last remark had been the
merest commonplace, and proceeded
with his inquiries
Mrs. Dunkirk's letter, then, so far
as have cited it, refers to this will, OF
which YOU had written her, and to your
comments on it?''
''Yes; that is ALL"
come to this terrible arraignment, on a
charge to which many of US, fear,
would have to plead guilty: You were
always over fond of money Can it be
possible, Mrs. Maynard, that anything
ever occurred in the course of your long
acquaintance with Mrs. Dunkirk that
would justify her in suspecting You OF
being the least particle mercenary in
your disposition?"
Mrs Maynard glancing up in surprise
and encounterlng an extremely QUIZ
zical expression in the keen gray eyes
that were regarding her so intently
able to perceive the drift of North's in
euiry. Then she said, speaking slowly
as if still specializing on his motives:
81 cannot say, Mr.. North, that ever
consciously did anything to warrant
Mrs. Dunkirk in forming such a concur
sion. She was rather given to hasT