Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-07-08
Deathbed
triumph
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

An old man lay on the bed of death.
A doctor sat by him intent upon some
method of saving his life. An entirely
the sufferer.
Doctor he said presently, "can't
die for a short time, then come to life
again for certain purpose?'
"What purpose?" asked the doctor.
The invalid cast his eyes about the
room to see that no one was present,
then, stretching forth his hand, drew
the doctor to him and whispered what
lie had to say. When he came to
pause the doctor said:
81 have suspected as much"
"Can 1t be done?" asked the invalid.
cit can be tried.'
Some more conversation followed. in
which the doctor gave the sick man
instructions, and the sick man did the
same by the doctor. Then the latter
ended the matter by saying:
care YOU ready?'
EYES,"
The doctor took from his medicine
tents mouth.
The sick man, who was lying on his
back stared ut the ceiling, immovable.
The doctor went hurriedly to the door
and opened 1t. There stood the wife of
the invalid.
"NIadam," said the doctor, 81 fear
that your husband is dead"
INT a
stood over the sickbed for few mo-
ments looking down into the pale face.
The doctor, who was beside her, closed
the eyes Of her husband then led her
away, saying:
'This has been long trial to you
Your watch Is now over. Go and rest
yourself"
She suffered herself to be led away
and within an hour was in bed and
asleep.
Paul Markham passed away at dawn
the next morning. Preparations were
made for the funeral, which was held
three days later, and on the fourth
day his widow, who was his second
wife, and her two children by for
mourning, entered the drawing room Of
the house in which Mr.. Markham had
died and took Seats A number of
other persons, including a lawyer, ell
/, tered, and when all were seated the
attorney unfolded document and was
about to begin its reading when DR..
Blanchard, who had attended the de-
i,, vr,tt rriv1
of fifteen. There was about her mel
ancholy that savored Of despair.
II have here" said the lawyer, "the
last will and testament Of Paul Mark
ham, deceased, executed one year ago. /"
He then read the will, which left all
his property to his beloved wife, Jane
Markham, trusting that she would suf-
fciently provide for his daughter, Ethel
Markham. Having stated that the will
had been duly signed and witnessed
he added that it would be Immediate
ly filed for probate. He was refolding
the document when DIR. Blanchard
arose and, drawing paper from his
pocket, said:
II have a will executed few hours
before Paul Markham's death"
The widows countenanoe changed
Immediately.
"If you have any such will,' she
said, ut Is a forgery. At any rate 1t
was not witnessed. That l know, be-
cause l was In attendance upon my
husband every day and hour during
his last illness, and l know no one
tered the house"
what time did you go to bed the
night your husband died?" asked the
doctor.
), "At 10 o'clock"
"Your husband did not die till 2
O'Clock the next morning"
"He died at 8 o'clock in the evening
You called me into the room where he
lay and told me he was dead"
II told you | feared he was dead
He was very low. He revived, and at
midnight drew this simple will fol
him, bequeathing all his property tC
his daughter, Ethel Markham. Two
persons came ut my call and witnessed
the will while you We're asleep"
The woman stared at the doctor, al
though she could hardly believe hel
senses For years she had dominated
her husband and for year, since she
had forced him to make will in hel
favor, had watched him carefully t.
make sure shat he did not make an
other. At the very end of his life he
had outwitted her.
LET me see it," she said to the doc
tor.
He held the paper before her. Sht
read 1t and recognized her husbands
, signature though it had been writer
In the agony Of death. Realizing thai
she had been foiled, she arose from
her seat and, followed by her two chill
dreI. stalked out of the ROOM
DR.. Blanchard by the terms Of tn,
, denthbed will was made Ethel's guard
ian, and she thereafter made her resi-
dence with him. Her life had beer
nearly crushed out of her by her step
mother, and it required some time t.
restore her to healthy state Of mint
and body. But by the time she CAM
of age she was completely recovered
for her surroundings as member o
the doctors family We're all that conl,
be desired, and he knew how to trea
her to her advantage professionally
I In his old age his savings Of year
, were swept away In Il commercial pan
ic, and Ethel Markham provided &c
:, him and those of his family who wer
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