Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-09-27
THE VERMONT PHOENIX, BRATTL-

voice was hoarse and tremulous when he
thanked the physician for all the pains
which he had taken during the long illness
of his wife. concluding with, al shall new
er forget it,
Dr. Brown only shook his head He
was thinking of the dead woman's will
and answered evasivey, 81 could not have
helped your wife much. since | never dis
covered the real cause of her Illness"
ono self-reproaches, doctor, You did
what you could, and whether this disease
can be exactly diagnosed seems to me,
from what | know of it, altogether doubt
full"
Every disease replied the doctor,
"must finally disclose its cause to the pa
tient and thorough investigator; but in
this case there were so many accompany
ing phenomena that it was quite impossi-
Bile to discover the exact cause of the pre-
dominant disorder at least i'm the living
body
The doctor, as he said this, looked
sharply at his companion, over whose
countenance a slight cloud seemed TO pass
yet there was scarcely any discernible
change in his voice as he replied ono. no,
doctor. we won't do that, The beloved
body was sufficiently tormented in life in
death at least it shall rest, 80
les. but it was the wish of the dead
and isn't there any direction to that effect
in the will2'
'No,-yet perhaps don't know. Any
way the will is to be read tomorrow, and
should any such direction be found there
well, l suppose / shall have to carry it out.
! will send Immediately an announcement
of the death TO our attorney. Mr.. Bait of
I ar,. mill no a4 IN
ing Of the will, will you not?'
"Most certainly"
The doctor during this conversation had
again approached the bed of death He
carefully scrutinized the surroundings and,
as if in an absent-minded manner, picked
up little box from the table which stood
beside the bed and carelessly pushed back
the cover. AT sight of the contents he
could hardly restrain an exclamation for
there, exactly as had been described to
him. were a baby's cap, yellow with time,
and lock of hair tied with a ribbon.
Probably some Of your wifes keep
sakes"' he remarked, turning inquiringly
to Morley.
yes, and as such they must be given
into the hands of her daughter
evil you allow me the pleasure of
sending them to her by my sister who is
going TO Switzerland Tomorrow
II suppose 1t would be more proper that
she should receive them at my hands: and
yet as ! shall have 10 remain here Tor
some time yet. and journey home IN her
delicate state of health would be bard for
the child. l shall he very much obliged 10
you If YOU will send them 10 her Give
her my blessing with them, and tell he,
that from this time forth l shall bee more
father TO HEY than ever
Dr. Brown thrust the little box deep
into his breas pocket. and took hi, leave
with the assurance that he would faithful
ly execute Nh. Morleys commission.
once at home under the light of the
lamp, he was not long in searching for the
further contents OF the box. and he was
filled with both horror and establishment
as his search brought - light. from be-
meath a cuuninC.y contriyed double floor,
The will as il had been described to him--a
clear, correct copy. After this discovery,
the doctor awaited with teverisn anxiety
the hour for the announced opening OF the
viii
At last it arrived. and Brown had 10 ac-
knowledge TO himself that It's contents
agreed exactly with the COPY in his hands
until it came TO the names OF the heirs.
Here appeared clearly and plainly, "my
daughter, Mara Dix" and there, inst as
plainly my husband, John Morley" No
directions with regard TO an inquest or
autopsy appeared therein
81 demand proof OF the commences of
that Will rang loud and clear through the
room. No one could imagine from whom
the words proceeded The viii had been
drawn up and carefully preserved 10y
prominent attorney in London. and the
family involved was one OF the first iu the
county. and now came this demand.
which. as everybody knew. was am uumit.-
gated insult Who had brought ID for
ward The chairman looked all abou, the
room. There me stood-Dr. Brown He
had again, quite unconscious.y, come uu-
der the spell of that mysterious power
/ and in obedience 10 Its behest had called
ont those words: now that they We're spok-
en-, he would not recall them. standing
upright, the doctor repeated ~ demand
an examination of the will As he spoke.
he had the comfortable feeling OF having
kept promise.
by what authority" asked the attor-
ney.
'As the guardian of the deceased 5
daughter"
Have you anything to offer in support
of this request9'
yes, copy OF the original will O."
"WM?"
"And this has reference to an entirely
different party
''Allow me to look at the document"
DR.. Brown handed over the copy. a
committee retired with it TO another room.
On their return the chairman announced
that, in accordance with Dr. Browns re-
/ quest, a preliminary examination of the
will having been made the Judge had de-
| cided to enter a complaint against Attor-
ney Bait of London for having falsified
the will, and at the same time TO place the
| property of the heiress-at-law under legal
| protection.
"Dr. Brown, have you anything further
! TO say in the matter?'
81 beg You will order an autopsy"
con what grounds
at was the wish of the deceased
is that your only reason
"No, but because l have a strong suspi-
/ cion that the deceased came TO hel death
/ through slow and prOtracted poisoning
All present were filled with horror.
Again the court withdrew. and again
the decision was a fulflment of the doe
/ tors request and when the verdict at the
ensuing inquest was brought in, it was eX-
/ pressed in one word; Poison -ROmdncC.