The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-07-06
THE UNDOING
OF A SCHEMER
Plot to Gain a Fortune Fails
of Its Purpose.

people were assembling to listen to the
reading of the will Of the recently de-
ceased owner of the property and a
considerable fortune besides. The wild
ow and her son. twenty-five years old,
the issue of former marriage, en-
tered, followed by girl of nineteen,
the daughter of the testator. The ell
der 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. A few relatives Of the de-
ceased followed these principal mourn
ers, the family lawyer bringing up the
rear. When ali 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. l 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,
twas made two years ago, and 1t does
not appear that any other has been
made since. There are no codicils."
The more distant relatives looked
her stepdaughter, said:
"Anna, dear, protested against this
leaving your interest in the estate in
my hands, but your father would have
It so, being more willing to trust it to
my more experienced management
than to girl with no head for busi-
ness. Be assured, my dear daughter,
that will take the best of care Of it."
1t seemed to those present that II
there was any case wherein step
mother should be thus honored with
confidence it was this. The girl made
no reply. She allowed herself to be
kissed by her stepbrother and his
mother. Then the three were about to
rise to go out when they heard u voice
from behind, at which the widow start
ed In it she recognized her husbands
bosom friend.
al have to offer later will"
The brief announcement had with
ering effect upon the widow. She
caught at the arm Of the chair, from
which she had partly risen.
"There is no later WILL" she said.
'If you have one it Is forgery"
The man advanced and handed u pa
per he carried in his hand to the law
yer, who took it, scrutinized it and,
c,,l - nc,frr
| nature, said:
This instrument is properly drawn.
bearing date only few days before
the testator's death. I am well ac-
QuainteG with his signature and con-
slider it 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 preliminaries the
document continued:
! "At the death of my late beloved
first wife l married, for companion
ship and for a mother for my little
daughter, woman who from the day
of the ceremony bent her indOmitable
will to the work of getting my proper
| ty for herself and her son. She pos
sessed the ability to control both my
self and my daughter. To the world
we were singularly united family.
In our home my child and lived as IL
under the spell of witchcraft My
wife brought me to the verge of nerv-
Gus prostration, then demanded that
should make a will at her dictatiOn. I
refused, whereupon she brought me to
the verge of lunacy, and l yielded.
made the will she wished that might
escape her prosecutions and having in
view this revenge. l am aware that
my action stamps me for weak man,
but am convinced that no man can
stand against the cruelty of a woman
whom he cannot get rid Of"
Then followed bequest Of the bulk
Of his property to his daughter, few
small legacies being left to other rela-
tives. In this connection the widow
and her son were not mentioned. The
document concluded as follows: II d.
rect that my daughter shall from the
opening Of this will be under the care
Of my lifelong friend, Robert Rivard,
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 a
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 upou him was effective Az
the conclusion of the reading she arose
and walked out of the room without
word. her son following.
While Anna Clifford never thorough
ly recovered from the loss Of her ia
ther, with whom she had suffered DO
many years Of torture, she did recover
from the persecution Of some seven