Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-05-24
MARF AaMaat}hk Y0a'S R0MhaccE>
RvIOHN STRANGE WINTER.
Copyright, 1898, by the Author.
CHAPTER vi.
TIE HAND OF THE DEAD.

Mr.. Lawson ceased speaking and fixed
his attention upon his companion. Mary
vlso turned her clear eyes upon the Law
,er and awaited what he might say
ext To say the least Of it. his remark
was unexpected II may say at once
that did not make this will Of Captain
Conway" he said In polite and strict.
" professional accents 1T was made
by some person unknown to me and
handed to ME BY Captain Conway. seal
ed as you see it. with instructions that
should necessity arise ! should at once
seek you out break the seals in your
presence and make you acquainted with
the contents.
II am quite at your service. " said
Mary tremulously.
The lawyer at once broke the seals
and drew from the long, tough envel-
ope a folded paper. Mary sat. with
hands Quietly clasped in her lap. wait
ing Mr.. Warrington cast his eye over
the writing. ,frowned. bit his lip.
glanced at the girl widow spprehen-
sively and then coughed nervously.
"You have no idea-I should say
mean he stanmered.
Mary looked up. Twill you read itf
she suggested. II have no idea what is
in it. but shall be surprised at moth
ing Captain Conway had strange ideas
on some subjects "
"Very strange murmured Mr.. Law
son. who gathered from the lawyers
manner that the will contained nothing
Of pleasant import to the lady.
II will read it. said the lawyer.
then coughed again and began
Il Edward Conway. captain Of the q. b.
Arikhama. being Of sound mind on this the
llth day Of July, ls-, declare this to be my
Last will and testament. All and any property
of which die possessed give and bequeath
70 my nephew, Howard Conway. to be abso
lutely and entirely at his own disposal.
edward CONWAY.
In the presence Of Henry Challerton. John
Walker
For a few moments the widow and
the shipowner were too much surprised
to speak. OF the three Mary was the
most composed Mr.. Lawson was. how
ever. the first to break the silence.
"You were perhaps otherwise provid-
ID for. Mrs. Conwayf" he said gently.
Mary shook her head mo; I am
entirely unprovided for. she replied.
"But-but such will is preposter-
oua Warrington. is there no possibil-
ity of upsetting its"
wills have been upset. Of course. and
will be again. said the lawyer. guard
edly "In this case. however. such a
course would be costly-and uncertain.
Mrs Conway was living with her hus-
band up to the time Of his leaving
home. she is living under his roof now,
and it would be difficult to prove that
the nephew had possessed or exercised
any undue influence or that the testator
was not Of sound mind at the time OF
making the will You. for instance,
could not come forward to throw any
doubts Spon his sanity from your own
observation. for the jury and the public
would alike ask what were you about to
send out a vessel like the Arikhama in
charge Of a person whom you believed
to be more or less Of lunatic-
"You could not say it. - put in Mary.
rising to her feet. "Nor should wish
it Gentlemen. you need not trouble
about mel dare say Mr.. Howard Con-
way will not turn me out of this house
while my mother is 80 ill-or until she
is gone where there is no need Of any
refuge.
II will communicate with him at
once" said Mr. Warrington. lit is
not at all likely. especially as he in
herits everything. which must be a
great and unexpected thing for him.
he added.
..Then | need not detain you any
longer. said Mary. holding out her
hand.
Mr.. Lawson possessed himself Of it.
"Forgive me. my dear young lady. he
said. kindly. "but have you means for
the momentH If you have illness in the
house. and you spoke Of your mother
my mother is very i'll. very. very
ILL.," said Mary. ''She was an invalid
when | married. but the news Of Cap
tain Conway's death came upon her
without warning and brought on anoth-
or stroke. a very serious one. We have
not much hope of her.
Her voice dropped away to what was
little more than whisper MIR. Law
son kept hold of her hand and murmur-
ed consoling little phrases Mary. how
ever. was quite dry eyed. Her grief and
despair were too deep for ordinary
ways of sorrow "You must let me see
you through this. he said at last.
"Your husband was in the service OF
my company for many years. and you
must not hesitate to take from me what
Ia necessary to tide you over this un'
looked for time Have you formed any
idea or plans YETI But no-of course
you have not Who was to expect that
such will would be left behindr'
Mary looked upon him with her won
derful clear eyes. II earned my living
for years before was married. che
said. simply. land shall be able to earn
it again Just now. Of course. | am all
out Of reckoning and can set about
nothing You are very kind. Mr. Law
son. but have some money left
~ will supplement it, - he said. hur'
riedly. and tore himself away. unable
longer to bear the dumb pain Of her
eyes and mouth
At last she was left alone. alone to
think over the end to which her fine
marriage had brought her. to think that
here she was in house which she had
thought her own. but which had been
left away from her to one whom her
husband had always professed to hate