Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-05-16

But not until now did she have sus-
picion of the depth to which he could
descend. From her front piazza she
could see not far away the walls
around the state penitentiary. Reach
ing home, and stopping to rest upon
rocking chair On Fe the epaa paazze et Hf Hfo6fed
upon it for several moments. Turning
away at last, she said to herself
aloud:
Except for the dishonor, l would
rather live there than here"
In the interval before her husbands
return she strengthened herself as well
as possible for the work which she felt
had been imposed upon her. Wiley
found her dressed with somewhat
more than habitual care, and n slight
coloring was on her cheek. At supper
he remarked that she looked unusually
well.
'T'm well enough, Mr.. Amerson;
quite as well as deserve or care to be-"
"Why, what's up now?"
1t was in his way, which, from i'm
punity of habitua1 use, had grown
more and more dogging. He looked up
from his plate, and, noting the cour-
ageous scorn on her face, shrank some
what, then said:
II declare, Julia, / haven't the
slightest idea what ails you"
Rising and resuming the shawl she
had laid aside, she said:
"If you care to know the occasion OF
this present special trouble, Mr.. Amer
son, and if, after you are through with
your supper, you will come into the
piazza, will tell you"
Then she went out.
"Whats the matter with your mis-
tress, Betsy?" he asked of the maid.
"I declar', marster, / don know.
She went to Miss Plume's little while
dis evenin', and sence she got back
pear like somethin' on her min"
"Umph-humph. That's very often
| the case. Clear the things off as quick
as you can; then go to the kitchen and
stay till you're called. Hear?"
"Yes, sir, marster."
1t was full moon in mid-September.
The beams played with the yet green
| leaves of the locust trees which grew
on either side Of the long walk lead
| ing to the front gate. Amerson soon
| afterward came out, and, placing
chair near his wife, with his back to
| the street, said, in tone which did
not succeed in trying to sound entirely
| unconcerned:
"Well, Julia, let's hear what's the
.difficulty?"
"Mr. Amerson, what was the precise
date Of your fathers viii, which, as
learned this evening for the first time,
you've had proved in court?"
Apparently she was calm as II she
| had asked about a matter of indifPer-
ent concern.
81 don't know" he answered, that
noticed it particularly, Julia; but IT
was somewhere in the summer four
years ago"
$50 l guessed. was surprised
/ that you hadn't said anything about it
at home"
"Why, you know l seldom speak Of
business matters here"
THAT is true; and haven't been in
quiring or interesting myself about
them, as you know. In this matter,
however, | cannot but feel very much
interest, for two reasons; first, for the
sake of your brother and his family,
who are cut off, except an inconsider-
able portion, from the estate, but
chiefly because TO my certain knowl-
edge your father destroyed, or tried to
destroy, and believed that he had de-
stroyed, the will made by him not long
after Cullcn's marriage"
"Well, now, I'd like to know II when
man has destroyed one will he can't
! go to work and make another"
Doubtless. But heard your father
say more than once that he had never
had but that one which he made when
he was in pet with Cullen for marry
ing Hannah"
ole simply forgot what he'd done.
That's all that's in it. Nou know how
weak he got in his mind towards the
last"
IL know nothing OF that sort On
the contrary, your fathers understand
ing, until within less than n day be-
fore his death, seemed TO me as clear
as ever it was. / know also that after
that temporary estrangement from
Cullen, which ought aeIeE, 10 haYe