The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-06-22
Post Morfem
Rec enSe


" NipN anu lltl sui, lNtUlN 1.-Two yours
old, the Issue of former marriage. en-.
tered, followed by n girl of nineteen,
the daughter of the tcstator. The
elder woman was dressed in deepest
mourning. Her son wore as sombcr
garments rs his mother, his studs and
sleeve buttons oven being black. So
deep was the grief of the stcpdnughtcr
that she seemed unconscious of what
she wore. Her stcpmother and step
brother, however, left scat for hor
between them and regarded her from
time to time with tender, sympathetic
glnnccs. \ few relatives of the de.
ceased followed these principal mourn
ers, the family lawyer bringing up the
rear. When all were seated he un.
folded the will and read:
81, Henry Arthur Clifford, being of
sound mind and body, declare this to
be my last will and testament. | be-
quenth all my property. real and per-
sonal, TO my beloved wife, Elizabeth
Clifford, In perfect confidence that she
will make suitable provision for my
daughter, Anna Louise Clifford
This WILL" remarked the lawyer,
was made two years ago. and 1t does
not appear that any other has been
made since. There are no codlclls."
1t seemed to those present that IL
there was any case wherein step
mother should be thus honored with
confidence 1t was this. The girl sat
mute. Indeed she seemed to be
so overcome with grief that she had
no thought for the management OF her
interests. She allowed herself TO be
kissed by her stepbrothor and his
mother. Then the three were about
to RS" to 90 out when they heard Il
vo' % f'om Lch!nd, at which the widow
st iricl. In It she recognized her hus-
Lanes bosom friend.
81 hC'" TO offer later will"
Tho lr.rf announcement had Il with.
cring effect upon the widow. She
caught Mt the arm of the chair, from
which she had partly risen, and stared
ut the speaker.
There IL no later will" she said,
IF YOU have one, II Is II forgery"
The man advanced and handed n pa
per he carried In his hand 10 the law
yer, who took it, scrutlnlzed 1t and,
after n careful examination Of the sig.
nature, said:
This instrument Is properly drawn,
bearing date only a few days before
the testator's death. ! am well ac-
qualntcd with his signature and CON
slider 1t genuine"
Read it," gasped the widow.
II will read It," said the man who
had offered it, and he proceeded to do
so. after the usual prelmnarles the
document continued
AT the death of my late beloved
first wife | married, for companion
ship and for mother for my little
daughter, n woman who from the day
Of the ceremony bent her indomitable
Will TO the work Of getting my prop
crty for herself and her son. She pos
scssed the ability to control both my
self and my daughter. TO the world
we were slngularly united family.
In our home my child and lived as IL
under the spell of witchcraft My
wife brought me TO the verge OF
nervous prostratlon, then demanded
that | should make n will at her die
tation. l refused, whereupon she
brought me to the verge OF lunacy and
yielded. I made the will she wished
that ! might escape her prosecutions
and having in view this revenge.
am aware that my action stamps me
for n weak man, but l am convinced
that no man can stand against the
cruelty Of n woman whom he cannot
get rid Of"
Then followed bequest OF the bulk
of his property 10 his daughter, a few
small lcgacles being left to other rela-
tives. In this connection the widow
and her son were not mentioned. The
document concluded as follows: 81 di.
rect that my daughter shall from the
opening Of this will be under the care
OF my lifelong friend, Robert Rlvard,
who Is hereby appointed her guardian
and who has promised to make her a
member Of his family"
During the reading the expression on
the face of Mrs. Clifford was that OF
fury. She had lived since
the first will was made in the fear
that her husband might make another,
but had been confident that the watch
she had set upon him was effective.
At the conclusion OF the reading she
arose and walked out of the room
without word. her son following.
The heiress moved not till the door had
closed behind them. Then with a pc.
culiar cry-a cry in which there was
relief from the torture OF years-she
arose and threw herself into the arms
Of her guardian. After resting there
a few moments she turned to others
who were present and received show
er Of heartfelt congratulations
While Anna Clifford never thorough
ly recovered from the loss Of her IA
Their, with whom she had suffered so
many years of torture, she did recover
from the persecution Of some seven
teen years. No one ever dared blame
her father in her presence for not hay
Ing protected her from her stepmoth
er. This she always stoutly main
talned was impossible, since he could
not even protect himself, nor did she
condemn him for taking his revenge,
behind the grave. She had
lived under the same spell as he.
Anna Giffnrd mnrriad md hppDma