Evening journal., 1905-06-26
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PoSf Morfem
Re y e nS e
Iorirlnnl


deceased owner OF the property and a
considerable fortune besides. The
widow and her son, twenty-five years
old. the Issue OF a former marriagesen-
tered. followed by a girl OF nineteen.
the daughter Of the testator. The
elder woman was dressed In deepest
mourning Her son wore as somber
garments as his mother. his studs and
sleeve buttons even being black. SO
deep was the grief OF the stepdaughter
that she seemed unconscious OF what
she wore. Her stepmother and step
brother however. left a seat for her
between them and regarded her from
time TO time with tender. sympathetic
glances. A few relatives OF the de-
ceased followed these principal mourn
ers, the family lawyer bringing mp the
rear. When all were seated he un-
folded the viii and read:
"T, Henry Arthur Clifford, being Of
sound mind and body, declare this TO
be my last viii and testament. I be-
queath 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 Il does
not appear that any other has been
made since. There are no cOdicils."
II seemed 20 those present that if
there was any case wherein step
mother should be thus honored with
confidence II 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 10 be
kissed by her stepbrother and his
mother, Then the three were about
20 rise 20 go ont when they heard a
voice from behind. at which the widow
started. In il she recognized her hus-
bands bosom friend.
81 have to offer a later will"
The brief announcement had a with
ering effect upon the widow. She
caught at the arm Of the chair from
which she had partly risen. and stared
at the speaker
There is no later will" she said.
"If you have one. it is a forgery"
The man advanced and handed n pa.
per he carried In his hand TO the law.
yer, who took IL. scruunized It and,
after a careful examination OF the sig
nature, said:
This instrument is properly drawn
bearing date only a few days before
the testator's death. I am well ac.
quainted with his signature and con.
slider it genuine"
"Read itr' gasped the widow.
Il will read It." said the man who
had offered il, and be proceeded 70 dc
So After the usual preliminaries tn,
document continued:
"At the death Of my late beloved
first wife I married. for companion
ship and for a mother for my littl'
daughter, a woman who from the da,
Of the ceremony bent her indomitabl'
will TO the work Of getting my prop
erty for herself and her son. She pos
seSsed the ability 10 control both my
self and my daughter To the worl,
we were n singularly united fami
In our home my child and lived as /
under the spell OF witchcraft. NJ
l wife brought me TO the verge o
nervous prOstration, then demande,
, that l should make a viii az her die
tation. l refused, whereupon sh'
brought me TO the verge Of lunacy, an'
yielded / made the will she wishe'
that might escape her persecution
and having in view this revenge.
am aware that my action stamps m
for a weak man, but I am convince'
that no man can stand against th
cruelty Of a woman whom he canno
get rid Of"
Then followed a bequest Of the bull
Of his property to his daughter, fev
small legacies being left 70 other rela
( tives. In this connection the widow
and her son were not mentioned. Tn
document concluded as follows: Il di
rect that my daughter s. III from tn
. opening Of this win be N Ter the car
Of my lifelong friend, r. jert Rivard
who is hereby appointed ner guardian
and who has promised to make her
member OF his family"
During the reading the expression o.
the face Of Mrs. Clifford was that of
disappointed fury She had lived sine
. the first will was made IN the fea
that her husband might make another
but had been confident that the watc
she had set upon him was effectiv'
At the conclusion Of the reading sh
arose and walked out OF the roof
. without a word. her son following
The heiress moved not till the door ha
: closed behind them. Then with a p'
culiar cry-a CRY In which there was
relief from the torture Of years-sh
arose and threw herself into the arm
OF her guardian. After resting ther
a few moments she turned to other
who were present and received a show
2 er Of heartfelt congratulations
I While Anna clifford never thorough
! iy recovered from the loss Of her IL
J ther, with whom she had suffered S
= many years Of torture. she did recove
from the persecution OF some sever
teen years. No one ever dared blam
ber father I'm her presence for not hay
ing protected her from her stepmoti
er. This she always stoutly mair
tanned was impossible, since he cOul
, not even protect himself. nor did sh
condemn him for taking his revengl
screened behind the grave. she Ia
lived under the same spell as he.
Anna Clifford married and becam