The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-09
AN UNSIGNED WILL.

grim Oh woman VINO opened the door
Il don't know. Better SEQ yourself
I'm no DOCTOR" was the rough reply
The room was low and mean, but the
wcmau who lay on tho bed struggling
with death had n coquettish air that
FLASHED with her age. Perhaps it camc
from the real lace on her nightcap. per-
haps from tho valencienncs that encir-
rlcd her sllrivelcd brown throat, or
maybe tho golden fringe, which. too
young for the shrunken face, gave it TO
her
"Amaryllis," said the s,,rly woman.
here's the doctor'
The humble country practitioner step
ped forward, and even III the dim lamp
light could be seen the flannel cuffs.
hiatus of gray stocking between old
trousers and clumsy boots fr!ycd linen
twofold collar. silver watch chain and
greasy, ready made tie that betrayed the
small local practice.
Amaryllis, wake up, wake up. Doc
tors here. God knows you've called
enough for him. -
The woman Oh the bed, whose name
seemed jest, opened her heavy, vague
eyes, coughcd faintly and groanod.
Is it DIR. Watson, JANET" she asked
''Of course There's none other for
miles, was the testy reply
DR.. Watson went through the orthodox
farce of feeling pulse and taking temper
allure, but saw at glance that she was
at the last whirl i'll her dance of death.
Has she mado her will?" ho asked
softly.
However, Amaryllis caught the words,
and i'll Il cracked scream Of excitement
said
That's it That's it, doctor. want
20 mako q will L cant die easy. Janet,
get him pen and ink -
Its nonsense, DOCTOR" said Janet.
Let her die in peace. She need make
no will-she's no kith nor kin hut me,
her sister,
Put tho pillow under my head, both
pillows, called the patient. I'm chok-
ing Yes, that's it. Now, doctor, for
Gods mercy do what 1 ask--,Janot will
let ms-or can t die easy"
Janet's face grew bl;ick with anger
she's not fit to make will, and
I'm all sho has i'll the world, " said She
Listen, listen, doctor! I'm III my
mind; I can't die easy It's short
enough-f3, 600 and the cottage to
Janet, the rest TO Charles Hartford, now
ON the training ship, the Monarch. "
The doctor took out n stylographic
pen and picked up from the fender an
old letter, on only one side of which
there was writing.
''Stop, stop" said Janet. She's mad
There's no such person. Ask her who
he is :"
"God forgive me-" groaned Amaryl-
lis. III die happier if some one knows.
I've been Il wicked woman "
The doctor sprinklcd some can de
cologne on her head from Il curious old
silver bottle that stood on IL chair by the
bedside and gave her something to drink
ont of Il medicine bottle Then with
desperate energy the old woman told
her story, despite the efforts of death to
check her speech.
Father &nd mother were cruel, good
people, and l was blithc Young woman
that hated church and psalms and dull
Sunday books, SO when he came, Frank
Hartford, the handsome sailor, he had
my heart for the asking. They would
none of his addresses, for lie wasn't a
God fearing man. they said, so off we
went with no blessing from parson, but
curse from father 1t lasted for ten
years we'll enough. had a little house
not in cold Norfolk, but here in this
village, and lie passed as my brother
when on land, for he was most while ut
sea. However, the time came. I was
older than he by some years and frcttcd
for his abscnce-yeS. and drank bit
so he grew tired, but didn't break with
me, was afraid to, | think-Ciod knows
why Then her face caught him
Maly'S, the coast glardsman S daughter
lie kept II from me, but the village Cos
sped. lie meant TO marry her and cast
me off. How / hated her, poor thing I
knew HIM we'll enough handsome devil |!
He'd have married her because he
Thought no other way would do, and 1
vowed Inc should not marry her nor any
but me, and me he wouldn't 1 asked
her to the house, and he courtcd her be-
fore my face and thought me a blind
fool.
lone night, his birthday had her
TO supper and got down from London
some champagne She vas TO stay the
night, home was SO far off and the
weather rOngh. The little fool the lit
tie ignorant fool, believed that the
ChamWgnc-ncvcr before seen in our
villasc-was only fine cider and drank
her share, and he was boiStcrous mt the
jest Then | went out on a prctcxt, say
ing I'd be back in an hour. The next
day sho ran away with him. Confound
her! never saw him again. ="
AT this point Amaryllis seemed to