Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1908-09-10
Post Morfem
Rec enfe
(Original.l

Tue tcuuiu8 u inc Will or the recently
deceased owner Of the property and a
considerable fortune besides. The
widow and her son. twenty-five years
old, the issue Of former marriage. en-.
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 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 up the
rear. When all were seated he I'M
folded the will and read:
~. Henry Arthur Clifford. being of
sound mind and body. declare this to
be my last will and testament. I be-
queath all my property. real and Der.
sonal. 70 my beloved wife. Elizabeth
Clifford. In perfect confidence that she
will make suitable provision for nv
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 co,licils."
IL seemed to those present that II
there was any case wherein n step
mother should be thus honored with
confidence IL was this. The girl sat
cr,
so overcome with grief that she had
no thought for the management of her
interests. She allowed herself to be
kissed by her stepbrother and his
mother. Then the three We're about
to rise to 60 out when they heard n
voice from behind. ut which the widow
started. In IL she recognized her hus.
bands bosom friend.
Il have 10 offer a later will"
HE brief announcement had a with
ering effect upon the widow. She
caught ut 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. IT is forgery"
The man advanced and handed n IA.
per he carried In his hand 10 the law
yer, who took IL. scrutinized II and.
after 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 nc.
quainted with his signature and con
slider 1t genuine"
"ltead it, gasped the widow.
II will read It," said the man who
had offered IL. and he proceeded to do
so. After the usual preliminaries the
document continued:
"A.y-;Le death u my late beloved
first wife I married. for companion.
ship and for a mother for my little
daughter. woman who from the day
OF the ceremony bent her indomitab!c
will to the work Of getting my prop
crty for herself and her son. She pos.
sessed the ability to control both my.
self and my daughter To the world
We were a singularly united family
In our home my child and lived "a IL
under the spell OF witchcraft. Ny
wife brought me to the verge OF
nervous prostration, then demande
that I should make a will at her DE
tation. refused. whereupon she
brought Inc to the verge Of lunacy. an,
I yielded. I made the will sh. w.sir'
that I might escape her per ;ecution..
and having In view this revenge.
am aware that my action stamps me
for weak man. but I am convinced
that no man can stand against the
| cruelty OF woman whom he cannot
| get rid Of"
Then followed a bequest Of the bulk
OF his property to- his daughter. few
small legacieS being left to other rela.
lives. In this connection the widow
and her son were not mentioned The
document concluded as follows: II Ill
rect that my daughter shall from the
| opening OF this will bc under the care
Of my lifelong friend. Robert RivarI.
who Is hereby appointed her guardian
and who has promised to make her O
member Of his family"
During the reading the expression on
the face Of Mrs. Clifford was that OF n
disappointed 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 n ne
culiar cry-a cry In which there was o
relief from the torture Of years-ste
arose and threw herself into the arms
Of her guardian. After resting there
few moments she turned to other
who were present and received n show.
CT Of heartfelt congratulations.
While Anna Clifford never thorough
iy recovered from the loss OF her IN.
Their. with whom she had suffered 80
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 hav.
II To- tel -