The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1894-11-29
BY s. s..Moirl',tIto5,a,. !

complained rather bitterly OF 1t as un-
Just f. me and not at all what I had .
right TO expect = ri, ''.s . 5. i,
. : Had you then discovered for the first:
time that he had made this will?''' I'd /
cob, no! !, knew his intention in re-
gard to the matter long before this.
Mr.. Maynard told me plainly what he
intended to do, and l was present when
the will was drawn. There was no Sc
.cret made of it., assure you. The ma
jor was only too anxious forme to know
what had been determined upon, that
he might triumph in my discontinue. "
Her dark eyes flashed as she spoke,
and tiny spot Of scarlet glowed in her
cheeks; but her tones did not vary for
an instant from their cool sweetness
nor her manner from its gracious re-
pose. - S<.1'f = W ~ " :'.s - S,S'., H.,
danger signals-the domestic skele-
ton at handr' thought North, ruefully;
nevertheless he did not swerve one de-
gree from his perilous Investigations.
1T may not be considered important,
:, or directly bearing on our case,'' he OBJ
served in meditative way as he glanced
up at Mrs. Maynard over his notes,
@'st:ll, if the inquiry were carried on in
court, / apprehend that all these collat-
eral questions would be raised, and it
may be as well for me to be thoroughly
informed on this point. Will you please
state briefly what were the conditions
Of that will? Twill note them down as
4 You proceed" .s .@.
'.The document itself was very brief
!, and to the point. With the exception
q ofla certain income to be paid annually
to me, so long aas ! remained awidow
{ and continued to reside under this root
two distinctly tyrannical conditions
which must be complied with, both and
severaally, otherwise SO far, as Mr.. May
'nartd's wealth was concerned, I should
lbses left niless--wit the exception Of
this conditionally granted income, in
consideration Of which my right Of
dover was set aside, al Of Mr.: May.
innsrid'sa large fortune was willed to his
relatives. Think Of it, Mr.. North, such
isiTTsweeping disregard of my rightsw',
The undercurrent Of indignation rip
pied the calm surface now just for an
instant as these words were warmly ut
tered. ..g.- .s..s$ .s,rst yss.ez}
'sPreposterous!''' declared North, as he
made few brief dashes in his note
book while in his mind q 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,
s'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 I very
well know" a&y. ...a. Sd. -
"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: If that were
proven, his will can easily be set aside,
when, the time comes wonder II TINS
has never occurred to her"
'sRemember, have no proof OF this,
Mr.. North" Mrs. Maynard said, slowly,
as if answering his very thoughts.
Nevertheless, am convinced that ne
was Influenced to my disadvantage.
However, this is depression. MY I'M
happy differences with Mr.. Maynard
are not at present under discussion, l
believe"
North experienced q peculiar sensa-
zion as he listened to this direct allusion
to the tragedy of Mrs. Maynard's do
nestle life; but he smiled as composedly
"a If her last remark had been the
merest commonplace, and proceeded
with his inquiries.
"Mrs. Dunl1irk'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?'' ~. ,.s.s..5.., fIzt.r
Eyes; that is al" -. ss...
EssAnd now" continued North, I'VE
come to this terrible arraignment, on
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
heinnr the least particle mercenary in
your disposition?" ........ j f.f..t.
Mrs. Maynard glancing up in surprise
and encounter1ng an extremely quiz
sical expression in the keen gray eyes
that were regarding her SO intently
hesitated for an instant, evidently I'M
Able to perceive the drift of North's IN
on;rv. Then she said, speaking slowly
as if still specializing on his motives:
81 cannot say, Mr.. North, that l ever
consciously did anything to warrant
Mrs. Dunlzirlk, in forming such a conclu-
sion. She was rather given to nasty
judgments, and she chung to her op'n.
Ions with great tenacity. She knew, OF
eourae that I looked upon wealth q az 3