St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-09-13
Selected Story.
TWO WILLS.

was serious cdSe-QOuDly SO lO1
Brown-for not only had his no.
toriously sure diagnosis failed him
in this case, but the patient was one OF
a family with which he had been on a n
intimate footing for years, and con-
sequently his personal interest was
awakened. The doctor saw no hope
whatever for the sick woman. Since
early morning he had hourly expect
ed her death. Weary and dispirited,
after light and hasty supper, he
sat down at his writing-t and
once more passed in review the whole
course of his patients illness. Ev-
cry circumstance was recalled.
"Unaccountable! perfectly unac-
countablei" he murmured over and
over again, and, with each repeti-
ton, he shook his gray head.
"Doctorw Brown started up in
alarm. He had not dreamed that
any one beside himself was in the
room. AS he looked up, he saw
lady standing by the door, dressed
in peculiar night-robe with only
shawl thrown overit.
my Cod What is that?"
1t was indeed the subject of his
thoughts. Amazed beyond express
sion, Brown sprang from his arm
chair and FASTENED toward the in
truder.
"My dear madam Mrs. Morley,
in heavens name, why are you
here"
Never mind, doctor Sit down
and write what 1 tell you"
Brown mechanically obeyed the
command. There was something in
the look and bearing of his visitor
which forbade contradiction.
Strangely thrilled, Brown took up
his pen and wrote at her dictation
the following words: Il hereby di-
rect that. in case of my death, my
body be opened, and the cause Of
my illness and final demise be official
ly and authoritatively stated by a
competent physician. l am con-
WINGED that l am poisoned, and that
by own husband, and only through
such statement as aforesaid will it
be put out of his power to get pos
session Of the property coming to my
only child, his step-daughter. My
will relating to this property is in
the hands of my lawyer, Mr.. Bait,
in London Mr. Bait is, as l have
unfortunately only lately discovered,
a man open to bribery, and my hus-
band counts upon this characteristic
for the attainment of his object: that
is to say, he hopes to induce this
lawyer, by pure falsiica ton, to make
the will read in his favor. l believe
he has already succeeded in doing
this, for when, yesterday, l desired
to see a lawyer of this town, in order
to have him take down my last
wishes, my husband put every OBJ
stacle in the way of his coming.
have put a sealed copy of my will in
the double bottom of the little box
which stands upon the table at my
bedside The ostensible contents of
the box are my daughters first cap
and lock of my fathers hair"
DIR. Brown had driven his pen as if
under the domination OF a higher
power. He was not conscious of
having once lifted it from the paper
to the inkstand, and yet there stood
the written characters, black and
clear, upon white paper and reminded
him that he was not alone; further !
more, that the head and heart whose |
wish and request these characters re-
corded, belonging to an existence
which held his own being, thought, |
and will in its power.
He made an heroic effrot to regain
the mastery of himself, and with
powerful shake, as if to free himself |
from the grasp of this strange will,
he arose. Madam, /"
Yes, but, doctor, the master sent !
me to tell you to come right away.
Mrs. Morley has been lying for two
hours like dead, and the master
thinks it must be nearly over with
her."
Brown staggered back in amaze
ment, and stared so vacantly at the
waiting coachman that the man was
struck dumb.
Ian? Where did you come from?
Mrs Morley is not yet"
Dead? No, doctor, not yet, but
the master says she can't last much
longer"
Very well. You see to the horses,
and I'll come right away"
DR.. Brown put his hands to head.
He had need to convince himself by
some means of his own mortal exist
ence Then he seized his hat and
coat and hurried after the coachman.
Ora wing his coat tightly about
him, he leaned back in the corner of
the carriage and racked his brain
over the strange occurrence, but to no
purpose. The doctor was a hard
headed, practical man, and if any
one had related to him the events of
the past day, he would have laugh
ed him to scorn; but, earnestly as he
tried to do so now, it was impossi-
BILE for him to conjure up a smile.
The carriage stopped and Mr.. Nor
ley was at the door to receive him.
Il am glad you have come. doctor.
/ rrnS afrnid rnr, r,,n,,ld he tnn Iafe |