Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-16

:
At the sound Of this new voice,
she suddenly seemed 70 revive. A
tremor ran over her features. and
she made an effort to sit, up. which,
with the swiftness Of cat the hospl.
tai nurse repressed.
.tOh, what Ii TT" said the old lady,
vaguely, as II aroused from dream.
"It's Charlie" said.
Il was horrible and charming:
she smiled, and the thin hand moved
about vaguely, until I sid mine into
It: .Oh, Charlie" she said, SIN %
glad you've come. ] didn't think
you'd come"
"vhy, OF course. came. Auntis.
You didn't. think I'd leave you alone
when you were seedy."
Charlie" she whispered. hurried.
". don't say Tn seedy. Don't b
silly" There was something quite
sharp in the whisper: 1t revealed the
imper!ous woman she had been. In.
deed, she was cross: why haven't
you been to see me for q year?"
This embarrassed me. 20 I was
vague: ''Oh, well. you know had to
be away"
"Yes, know, but I should have
thought you needn't have spent a
year in America. Still. dear. lis
your business" She pressed my
hand. and I hated myself. Then she
added: you've changed. Even your
voice is different"
poor boy" said the elderly man,
hes got an awful cold. But. look
here. Christine. you mustn't talk
any more; it's no, good for you"
But the old lady chung TO my hand
with sudden strength. as II she feared
that with 1t life would escape her:
"Oh. no." she said. feebly. Don't
/ haven't seen you for so long"
"All right" said her cousin. "He
shant leave you. But Christine.
dear. didn't you tell me you wanted
to sign q paper"
Eyes. when Charlie came"
"well. It's ready. it's written out.
Suppose you do 1t now? we've got
the witnesses here. Since they're
here, Christine. why not sign II now
to save troubling them to come up
stairs again"
There was a pause. Then the old
lady turned her face toward mo. rs
II trying to see me Though the ban
dages, and said. Charlie. you've
been a dear to me all your life. I'm
going to leave you everything. And
when I'm gone Doris isn't TO
have anything. Not penny. l hate
her."
Here's the paper" said my guide.
This was too much. I made a grab
at the will, but the old man was too
quick for me:
What the devil =" he began.
stand backr' / shouted. shes
not going to sign. / won't have IT,"
There was a moment OF confusion.
for the servants jumped up. and
was confronting the three We were
all speechless and rather pale. A
fury came over mo as turned upon
the old man: "She shant sign. Dc
you hear? Give me that paper, or
I'll take It from you" As l stepped
toward him q feeble cry came from
| the bed:
"Oh, what is Il? What Is it7'
! turned to the old lady. but al
that moment ! heard rapid steps on
the stairs. swift progress. The doc,
was flung open, and a rather hand
I some. middle-aged man rushed to the
bed and flung hiinself down on his
knees by its side: "Auntie. Auntie"
he cried. I've come in timer" HI,
! tone changed: Whats the matter.
It's Charlie. Don't you hear?" II,
jumped up. staring down at the fg
ure. and stepped back: "Too lnte.
he said. in a low voice.
For a moment we all stood fixed
where we were about the bed Of tn,
woman round whom had .certered 50
plottcrs by their defeat. that only
heard yet more footsteps upon tn,
stairs. It was only at the last mo
ment. as the door fell open. and be
hind the two policemen I could Sc,
the figure OF Doris. that Charlie. witt
an oath. thrust at his hip pocket
But before he could draw his weapon
the policemen were on him.
As II conscious that some peri
might threaten me. Doris had run tc
my side. In a hurried whisper sh,
said: II got out. l didn't think o.
telling you I got the police
men. Oh, you're safe, you're sa:er
| Another story Of mianIsht aaven.
| 40 T.. ENAR~a ssrVha