Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-01-22


for"
"There never were any mortgages.
said Madeleine, ''but those are III,
own signatures-all of them
They are dated as if they had beer
signed three years ago." he said; "a
soon as you were old enough. It's
very completely finished piece of rob
berry. Hellow! What's this?"
"She signed her will that very day,
replied Madeleine. aunt Wickhan
and Judge Wickham, and two othe1
gentlemen, came here with Mr.. Lap
ham, and we were all in mothers
room, but none of them knew wha
was in the WILL"
Exactly" said JEFF. "How they
did work the matter Here are two
wills, made the same day. How coult
they make those stupid witnesses sigl
twice?'
II heard Mr.. Lapham say, 'Sigr
here, and sign here, said Madeleine
Judge Wickham was leaning owe,
mother and saying something to her.
''He was unsuspecting," said JEFF,
''This is really her will, giving all te
you and making Judge Wickham and
Deacon Morris her executors. This
other thing gives all to Jacob Lap
ham and makes him sole executor
giving you only life estate. 1t says
n great deal more, but it's fraud"
At that moment he was lighting O
match and removing the blower from
the library CRATE.
ooh, jeff, you dare notl" exclaimed
Madeleine, ''you must not! What are
you going to do?"
Nothing at all, he said, calmly.
''But fire is good for fraud. How
well it all burns! There go the deeds,
and the mortgages, and the bonds,
and all the notes. The will went up
like n fash
"Dear men' she said; but jeff was
once more investigating the safe.
"Madeleine," he said, "here's q
stack of greenbacks, and it'syour own
money. 1t is right where he can gel
it. Don't you think it ought to be in
a safer place."
'It must be mine!" she exclaimed.
"It can't be his. He hasn't anything.
He meant to steal it, surelyn'
"Meant toe" replied JEFF. "Why
he has already stolen it and hidden il
here. This is your safe, to be sure,
but it isn't safe enough. You are
going to put your money into the
Compton National Bank. Fifteen
thousand dollars and more. All that
old Jacob Lapham has stolen during
several years, except what Steve has
wasted; one way or another"
Put it into the bank for me, JEFF, ~
said Madeleine. ''I dare not, and I
cannot bear to leave the house."
"I'll put the will right back where
7 found it," lie said, as he did so.
"They all saw it deposited here?"
Yes" replied Madeleine. "Uncle
Wickham and the witnesses came down
and saw it put away there"
"Thats where they will find it,
then, when they come to look for it, "
said jeff, and he seemed to be worry
ing in very curious way around the
lock of the safe. "There! That'll
do, L guess. Now, Madeleine, I
must CO."
Not many, not very many, seconds
later jeff walked unconcernedly out
of the house, as if nothing extraordin-
ary had happened. Madeleine, on the
other hand, after closing the door be-
hind him, went slowly and thought
fully upstairs.
A door at her right opened at that
moment, and tall, grim-looking
woman stood in it.
How is mother?" asked Madeleine.
SIS Mr.. Lapham there?'
"He is asleep just now," said the
nurse. "She has not stirred or
spoken"
Madeleine walked past her into the
room, and bent above an emaciated
form lying upon the bed.
The face was placid, but there could
be no misunderstanding of the mes
sage it conveyed.
"Oh, if I could but speak to her!"
thought Madeleine, while her whole
frame shook and her own face grew as
white as was that upon which she was
gazing, and then a faint whisper broke
through her lips:
"Motherr'
A pair of blue eyes opened languid-
ly, and the nurse now at the window,
did not hear as acutely as did Made
leine:
"My daughter! Kiss met"
So quick, SO passionate, so agoniz-
ingly intense was that meeting az the
lips; but Madeleine could now whis-
per:
JEFF has been here mother. He
sent his love to you"
"Give him my love, dear My son!
It is easier to leave you with
him"
Just then the nurse turned sudden
ly from the window, and a burly form
which had lain upon sofa near it
sprang vigorously to it's feet and strobe
to the bedside.
huuelelne ILaile. HOW uuTe you.
She must not talk! Have L not for
bidden this sort of thing?"
"She is my mother, Mr.. Lapham,
and You are not my father" said
Madeleine, resolutely. ''But L think
it best not to speak to her again, just
now. If did think best 1 should do
So"
There was motion of a thin hand
on the coverlet, and it was obeyed.
Madeleine stopped and kissed her
mother, and then glided out of the
sick-room, closely followed by the
wrathful face of old Jacob Lapham.
As for Jefferson Meredith, his walk
to the village had been rapid, and his
first visit was made at the bank. His
next errand was to dinghy respect
able law Office.
'Judge Wickham," he said to the