The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-02
TIE EVENING STORY
Post 1Iortem Revenge.

@~I~-ANo0A4AC city residence a IGM
pLopIe were assembling to listen to
gne reading Of the Will of the recently
deceased owner OF the property and a
co.nsloerable fortune besides. The
"ldoW ana her son, 25 years old. the is
sue OF a former marriage entered. fol-
lowed by a girl Of Is. the daughter of
the testator. The older woman was
dressed in deepest mourning Her son
wore as sonber garments as his moth
er, 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 stepbrother, however,
ieft seat for her between them and
regarded her from time to time with
tender, sympathetic glanees. A few
relatives Of the deceased followed these
principal mourners, the family lawyer
bringing up the rear. When all were
seated he unfolded the will and read:
T. Henry Arthur Clifford being of
sound mind and body, declare this to
be my last win and testament. I be-
Queath all my property real and per-
sonal, to my beloved wife, Elizabeth
Glmord, 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 it does
not appear that any other has been
made since. There are no cndicils."
It seemed to those present that If
there was any case wherein a. step
confidence 1t was this. The girl sat
mute. Indeed she seemed to be so ov-
ercome with grief that she had no
thought for the management Of her in
terests. She allowed herself to be kiss
ed by her stepbrother and his mother.
Then the three were about to rise to
go out when they heard a voice from
behind, at which the widow started In
it she recognized her husbands bosom
~ have tn offer a later will"
The brief announcement had q 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, il is q forgery"
The man advanced and handed a pa
per he carried in his hand to the law
yer, who took 1t, scrutinized it and, at
ter a careful examination of the sigma
ture. 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 consid-
er it genuine -
Read tip gasped the widow.
II will read it, said the man who
had offered it, and he proceeded to do
so. After the usual preliminaries the
document continued:
"At the death Of my late beloved first
wife married, for comp partnership and for
a mother for my little daughter, q Wo-
man who from the day of the ceremony
bent her indonitable will to the work
of getting my property for herself and
her son. She possessed the ability 70
control both myself and my daughter.
To the world we were a singularIy uni
ted family. In our home my child ana
I lived as If under the spell OF WITCH
craft My wife brought me to the verge
of nervous prostration, then demanded
that I should make a will at her dicta-
ton refused, whereupon she brought
me to the verge of 1unacy, and yield
ed. made the VIII she wished that
I might escape her prosecutions ana
having in view this revenge. I am
aware that my action stamps me Tor
weak man, but am convinced Inat no
man can stand against the cruelty OF
a woman whom he cannot get rid or.
Then followed a bequest Of the bulk
of his property to his daughter, Few
small legacies being left TO otner rela-
tives. In this connection the WIDOW
and her son were not mentioned. me
document concluded as follows: i OIL
rect that my daughter shall from the
opening OF this will be under the care
of my lifelong friend, Robert RiVaro,
who is hereby appointed her guardian
and who has promised TO make ner q
member Of his family"
During the reading the expression on
the face of Mrs. Clifford was thaL OF
disappointed fury. She had lived since
the ITSL VIII Was AAlcsAC a. rAA- -----
her husband might make another, put
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 a word,
her son following. The heiress moved
not till the door had closed behind them
Then with a peculiar cry-a cry In
which there was a relief from the tor
ture of years-she arose and threw her
self into the arms of her guardian. At
ter resting there a few moments she
turned to others who were present ana
received g. shower of heartfelt congrat-
while Anna Clifford never thoroughly
recovered from the loss of her father,
with whom she had suffered so many
wears Of torture, she did recover from
the persecution of some seventeen years.
No one ever dared blame her father IN
her presence for not having protected
her from her stepmother. This she al
ways stoutly maintained was impossi-
BILE. since he could not even protect
himself, nor did she condemn him for
taking his revenge, screened behind the
grave She had lived under the same
spell as he.
Anna. clifford married and became the
mother of children. She did not exact
a Drouise from her husband that IL she
died before him he would not marry,
but she made a will leaving her prop
ertv as she wished it to be distributed
ALICE CHEEVER.