Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-08-25
perfectly fearless of him.

encounter her brother-in-law.
The conversat ton which ensues between
the brothers relates solely to the little boy,
whom William, Notwithstanding the oppo-
sition he is likely to encounter from his
wife, has taken a great fancy to adopt.
He wants to persuade James to make
will, appointing him sole guardian of the
child, subject to no control whatever OF
the mother, in the event of which he
promises to make little Willy his heir, and
bring him up to the profita bic business of
wool merchant
Sand so l will byme-bymeby- as
severates Jenny, who is beginning to. be
slightly incoherent under the influence Of
the brandy.
Better do it at once" urges his brother.
Il have drawn up paper that will an
swer all the purpose, if you will just write
your name at the bottom-here. Stop,
though! we must have witness. Will
your landlady officiate, do you think?'
Dunno" says James.
"Well, we can but try" replies Will
liam, ringing the bell.
When the landlady answers it, he meets
her on the Threshold
Mrs. Timson, will you oblige us by
witnessing my brothers. signature? q
have been inducing him to make proper
provision for Mrs. Moray in case of his
DEATH" he adds in a lower tone, land
really his health appears to be breaking
up so fast, that think the sooner it is all
settled the better.'D
with pleasure, STRIP replies Mrs. Tim
son.
James Moray just manages to sign his
name legibly, and when his brothers and
Mrs. Timson's autographs have been add
ed to it, the ceremony is complete. Then
the landlady retires, and James Moray
applies himself afresh to the brandy bot
tie.
Il don't think you had better drink any
more tonight, Jem," says William, as he
buttons up the paper that has just been
signed in his breast pocket. ''Why not
go to bed and sleep? You'll be another
man tomorrow morning. I'm afraid l
can't stay any longer"
''It won't be long before you'll have
played out your little game, and 1 shall
be able to claim the boy as my own" he
thinks, as he makes his way down stairs
with the paper securely fastened in his
breast. Strange to say, the thought gives
him the greatest pleasure. He does not
love the child, but he covets him.
James, meanwhile, with the brandy bot
tie still close at his elbow, sits and rumi-
mates over the events of the past day. He
is not quite certain as to what he has
committed himself by placing his sigma
ture to that paper, but he remembers it
was something to "vex" his wife, and
that idea alone is sufficient to give him
pleasure. He would like to do a great
deal more than "vex" her.
If she We're only gone now-out Of the
way--unable to trouble him any more!
The wicked thought presses on the burn
ing brain, more than ordinarily confused
by the approach of illness, until it gains
the ascendency, and that which appeared
an impossibility ten minutes before, seems
the easiest thing in creation now. If he
only had a knife-a sharp, good knife
that he could trust-she is sleeping sound
~, and it would be over before she could
awake.
The man rises and gropes his way in
drunken blindness to the cupboard.
whence he draws an ordinary knife and
regards it stupidity. 1t is dreadful after
that to see him kneel down by the fire.
place and sharpen the blade upon the
hearthstone, drawing it deliberately back
ward and forward, while a malicious
smile plays about his countenance.
Then he tries the instrument upon his
own finger, and drawing blood with the
action, laughs softly to himself, and hav-
ing opened the door stealthily, makes his
way into the next room.
Della is sleeping soundly. She does not
hear her husbands step. Nothing disturbs
her rest, until she feels the pressure Of a
hand upon her body, outside the bed
clothes, as it is feeling it's way up to her
throat.
She stirs-the hand is still; she asks lis
anyone there?'
The only answer she receives is the
falling of a heavy body against her in
the dark, while a hand grasps her arm
and something sharp and cold is drawn
across her unprotected shoulder. In an
instant the truth flashes upon her mind
that her husband is attempting her life.
With a scream for help that rouses half
the household she wrestles with the arms
that attempt, Intellectually, to hold her
down; then leaping from the bed, makes
for the door, and throws it open, letting
the full light from the gas upon the land
ing stream into the room.
There he stands-a detected criminal
shiyering like wretch upon the brink Of
the gallows, with the knife still in his
hand. Mrs. TimsOn, clad in a mysterious
brown garment which she always dons in
cases Of emergency, has come up the
stairs to inquire what the disturbance is
about.
Della is about to denounce him when
both women start back with horror and
surprise He stands where Della saw him
last but now the knife has fallen from
his grasp, and he is shaking violently
from head to fos. His countenance, Gsu-
ally so pale, has assumed a dark purple
tinge, and works violently, his eyes pro-
trude and the foam is bubbling round his
lips.
james! James! speak, for mercy's
sake" exclaims his wife. Il forgive ev-
erything-I will be silent as the grave
Il
Rut before she can conclude her sem