Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-03-02

''There never were any mortgages, u
said Madeleine, "but those are my
own signatures-all of them"
'They are dated as if they had been
signed three years ago." he said; "as
soon as you were old enough. It's q
very completely finished piece of rob-
berry. Hellow! What's this?"
"She signed her will that very day, u
replied Madeleine. ''Aunt Wickham
and Judge Wickham, and two other
gentlemen, came here with Mr.. Lap
ham, and we were all in mothers
room, but none of them knew what
was in the will"
"Exactly!' said JEFF. "How they
did work the matter! Here are two
wills, made the same day. How could
they make those stupid witnesses sigG:
twice?"
"I heard Mr.. Lapham say, Sign
here, and sign here, said Madeleine.
Judge Wickham was leaning over
mother and saying something to her. u
"He was unsuspecting," said jeff.
"This is really her will, giving all to
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. It says
great deal more, but it's fraud"
At that moment he was lighting a
match and removing the blower from
the library-grate.
"Oh, JEFF, you dare not!" exclaimed
Madeleine, "you must not! What are
you going to do?"
Nothing at all, he said, calmly.
"But fire is good for fraud. How
we'll it all burns! There go the deeds,
and the mortgages, and the bonds,
and all the notes. The will went up
like fash"
"Dear me" she said; but JEFF was
once more investigating the safe.
Madeleine" he said, "here's q
stack of greenbacks, and it's your own
money. 1t is right where he can get
it. Don't you think it ought to be in
q safer place?"
cit must be mine!'' she exclaimed.
s'It can't be hisl He hasn't'anything,
He meant to steal it, surelyr'
meant to?" replied jeff. "Why,
he has already stolen it and hidden it
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
I found it," he said, as he did SO.
"They Ill saw it deposited here?"
Eyes" replied Madeleine. "Uncle
Wickham and the witnesses came down
aud saw it put away there
"That's 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! Thatll
do, T guess. Now, Madeleine, I
must co.
Not many, not very many, seconds
later jeff walked unconcernedly out
of the house, as if nothing eztraordin-
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 q tall, grim-looking
woman stood in it.
Chow is mother" asked Madeleine.
ssIs Mr.. Lapham there?'
"He is asleep just now," said the
nurse. "She has not stirred or
spoken. 2"
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 10 misunderstanding OF the mes
sage it conveyed.
"Oh, if could but speak to herl"
thought Madeleine, while her whole
frame shook and her own face grew as
white as was that upon which she was
gazing, and then q faint whisper broke
through her lips:
"Mother!'
A pair Of blue eyes opened languid-
", and the nurse now ut the window,
did not hear rs acutely as did Made
leine:
"My daughter! Kiss mel"
So quick, so passionate, so agoniz.
ingly intense was that meeting at the
lips; but Madeleine could now whis-
per:
"JeG has been here mother. He
sent his love to you. %
"Give him My love, dear. My son!
It is easier to leave you with
hir,-"
just then the nurse turned sudden
ly from the window, aud burly form
which had lain upon sofa near it
sprang vigorously to its feet and strobe
to the bedside.
Madeleine Lane! how dare you?
She must not talk! Have I not for
bidden this sort of thing?"
"She is my mother, Mr.. Lapham.
and you are not my father" said
Madeleine, resolutely. "But | think
it best not to speak to her again, just
now. If I did think best I should do
So"
There was a motion of a thin hand
on the coyerlet, 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 Wiekham," he said to tho