Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-06-22
AN UNSIGNED WILL.

frosty winter nlSnJ, illlu ne was i've
miles from home, and cold and hungry.
"How is shc?" he said to the gaunt,
grim old woman who opened the door.
II don't know. Better see yourself.
I'm no DOCTOR" was the rough reply.
The room was low and mean, but the
woman who lay on the bed struggling
with death had a coquettish air that
clashed with her age. Perhaps it came
from the real laco on her nightcap, per-
Ihaps from the valenciennes that encir-
rled her shriveled brown throat, or
maybe the golden fringe, which, too
young for the shrunken face, gave it to
her.
"Amaryllis, said the surly woman,
"here's the doctor.
The humble country practitioner step
lped forward, and even III tho dim lamp
light could be seen the flannel cuffs,
hiatus of gray stocking between old
trousers and clumsy boots, frayed linen
Itwofold 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 ON the bed, whose name
seemed jest, opened her heavy, vague
eyes, coughed family and groancd.
''Is it DR.. Watson, janet" she asked
"Of course! There's none other for
miles, i" was the testy reply.
DR.. Watson went through the orthodox
farce of feeling pulse and taking temper
ature, but saw at glance that she was
at the last whirl i'll her dance of death.
"Has she made her will?'' he asked
softly.
However, Amaryllis caught the words,
and in cracked scream of excitement
said:
"That's it. That's it, doctor. want
to make will. can't die easy. Janet,
Iget him pen and ink. p"
Its nonsense, doctor" said Janet.
LET her die i'll peace. She need make
no will-she's no kith nor kin but me,
her sister"
''Put the pillow under my head, both
Ipillows, called the patient. I'm chok-
ling! Yes, that's it. Now, doctor, for
Gods mercy do what 1 ask-Janet will
let me--or can't die easy
Janet's face grew black with anger.
"She's not fit to make will, and
I'm all she has in the world" said she.
"Listen, listen, doctor! I'm in my
mind; 1 can't die easy. It's short
enough-e3, 600 and the cottage to
Janet, the rest to Charles Hartford, now
ON the training ship, the Monarch.
The doctor took ont II 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. "I'll die happier if some one knows
I've been n wicked woman"
The doctor sprinliled some eau de
cologne Oh her head from curious old
silver bottle that stood on chair by the
bedside and gave her something to drink
out of Il medicine bottle. Then with
desperate energy the old woman told
her story, despite the efforts of death to
check her speech.
Father and mother were cruel good
people, and Twas 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 he wasn't q
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 Attic house
not in cold Norfolk, but here in this
village, and he passed as my brother
when Oh land, for he was most while at
sea. However, the time came. was
older than he by some years and fretted
for his absence--yes, and drank Il bit
so he grew tired, but didn't break with
me, WAS afraid to, / thinl:-tiod knows
why. Then her face caught him
Mays, the coast guardsnml' s daughter.
He kept it from me, but tho village gos-
sipcd. He lneant TO marry her and cast
me of. How hated her, poor thing!
knew him we'll enough, handsome devil
He'd have married her because he
Thought no ether way would do, and
vowed he should not marry her nor any
but me, and me he wouldn't. / asked
her to the house, and he courted her be-
fore my face and thought me n blind
fool.
lone might, his birthday, had he1
to supper and got down from London
some champagne. She was to stay the
night home was so far off and the
weather rough. The little fool, tho lit
tie ignorant fool, believed that the
champagne-never before seen in oul
villaSe-was only fine cider and drank
her share, and he was boisterous ut the
jest. Then l went out on pretext, say
} ing I'd be back in I'M hour. The next
day she ran away with him. Confound
her! never saw him again.
AT this point Amaryllis seemed te
break down, but after dozing for few
minutes she continued in faint voice
HE left her soon enough and Went
to sea, leaving her and the baby to shift
as they might Me he dropped after thai