cw.imarriedadeadman-第42章

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　〃They're　willing　to　let　it　go　at　that　So　let　us　let　it　go　at　that　too；　Patrice。〃　He　sighed　heavily。　〃I'm　all…in。　Feel　like　I've　been　on　my　feet　for　a　week　straight。　I'd　like　to　sleep　forever。〃
　〃Not　forever；　Bill；　not　forever。　Because　I'll　be　waiting　around；　and　that　would　be　so　long…〃
　His　lips　sought　the　side　of　her　face；　and　he　kissed　her　with　a　sort　of　blind　stupefaction。
　〃Walk　me　up　as　far　as　the　door　of　my　room；　Patrice。　Like　to　take　a　look　at　the　youngster；　before　I　turn　in。〃
　His　arm　slipped　wearily　around　her　waist。
　〃Our　youngster　from　now　on；〃　he　added　softly。
　
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　〃Mr。　William　Hazzard　was　married　yesterday　to　Mrs。　Patrice　Hazzard；　widow　of　the　late　Hugh　Hazzard；　at　a　quiet　ceremony　at　St。　Bartholomew's　Episcopal　Church；　in　this　city；　performed　by　the　Reverend　Francis　Allgood。　There　were　no　attendants。　Following　their　marriage　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Hazzard　left　immediately　for　a　honeymoon　trip　through　the　Canadian　Rockies。〃…All　Caulfield　morning　and　evening　newspapers。
　
　
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　When　the　reading　of　the　will　had　been　concluded…that　was　on　a　Monday　following　their　return；　about　a　month　later…Winthrop　asked　the　two　of　them　to　remain　behind　a　moment　after　the　room　had　been　cleared。　He　went　over　and　closed　the　door　after　the　others　present　had　left。　Then　he　went　to　the　wall；　opened　a　built…in　safe；　and　took　out　an　envelope。　He　sat　down　at　his　desk。
　〃Bill　and　Patrice；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　meant　for　you　alone。〃
　They　exchanged　a　look。
　〃It　is　not　part　of　the　estate；　so　it　concerns　no　one　else　but　the　two　of　you。
　〃It　is　from　her；　of　course。　It　was　transcribed　on　her　death…bed；　less　than　an　hour　before　she　died。〃
　〃But　we　already…〃　Bill　tried　to　say。
　Winthrop　silenced　him　with　upturned　hand。　〃There　were　two　of　them。　This　is　the　second。　Both　dictated　to　me　during　the　hours　of　that　same　night；　or　I　should　say；　early　morning。　This　follows　the　other。　The　first　she　gave　you　herself　that　same　night；　as　you　know。　The　other　she　turned　over　to　me。　I　was　to　hold　it　until　today；　as　I　have　done。　Her　instructions　to　me　were：　it　is　for　the　two　of　you　alike。　It　is　not　to　be　delivered　to　the　one　without　the　other。　When　delivered；　it　is　not　to　be　opened　by　the　one　without　the　other。　And　finally；　it　is　only　to　be　delivered　in　the　case　of　your　marriage。　If　you　were　not　married　at　this　time；　as　she　wanted　you　to　be…and　you　know　she　did；　very　much…then　it　was　to　be　destroyed　by　me；　unopened。　Singly；　it　is　not　for　either　one　of　you。　United　in　marriage；　it　is　a　last　gift　to　the　two　of　you；　from　her。
　〃However。　You　need　not　read　it　if　you　do　not　want　to。　You　can　destroy　it　unopened。　I　am　under　pledge　not　to　reveal　what　is　in　it；　even　though　I　naturally　know；　for　I　took　her　words　down　at　the　bedside；　and　witnessed　and　notarized　her　signature　in　my　capacity　as　her　attorney。　You　must；　therefore；　either　read　it　or　not　read　it　for　yourselves。　And　if　you　do　read　it；　then　when　you　have　read　it；　you　are　to　destroy　it　just　the　same。〃
　He　waited　a　moment。
　〃Now；　do　you　want　me　to　deliver　it　to　you；　or　do　you　prefer　that　I　destroy　it？〃
　〃We　want　it；　of　course；〃　Patrice　whispered。
　〃We　want　it；〃　Bill　echoed。
　He　extended　it　to　them　lengthwise。　〃You　kindly　place　your　fingers　on　this　corner。　You　on　this。〃　He　withdrew　his　own　fingers；　and　they　were　left　holding　it。
　〃I　hope　it　brings　you　the　extra　added　happiness　she　wanted　you　both　to　have。　I　know　that　that　is　why　she　did　it。　She　asked　me　to　bless　you　both；　for　her；　as　I　gave　it　to　you。　Which　I　do　now。　That　concludes　my　stewardship　in　the　matter。〃
　They　waited　several　hours；　until　they　were　alone　together　in　their　room　that　night。　Then　when　he'd　finished　putting　on　his　robe；　and　saw　that　she　had　doned　a　silken　bridal　something　over　her　nightdress；　he　took　it　out　of　his　coat…pocket　and　said：
　〃Now。　Shall　we？　You　do　want　to；　don't　you？〃
　〃Of　course。　It's　from　her。　We　want　to　read　it。　I've　been　counting　the　minutes　all　evening　long。〃
　〃I　knew　you'd　want　to。　e　on　over　here。　We'll　read　it　together。〃
　He　sat　down　in　an　easy　chair；　adjusted　the　hood　of　the　lamp　over　one　shoulder。　She　perched　beside　him　on　the　arm　of　the　chair；　slipped　an　arm　about　his　shoulders。
　The　sealing…wax　wafers　crumbled　and　the　flap　shot　upright；　under　his　fingers。
　In　silent　intensity；　heads　close　together；　they　read：
　
　〃My　beloved　children：
　You　are　married　by　now；　by　the　time　this　reaches　you。　（For　if　you　are　not；　it　will　not　reach　you；　Mr。　Winthrop　will　tell　you　all　about　that。）　You　are　happy。　I　hope　I　have　given　you　that　happiness。　I　want　to　give　you　even　a　little　more。　And　trust　and　pray　that　out　of　your　plenty；　you　will　spare　a　little　of　it　for　me；　even　though　I　am　gone　and　no　longer　there　with　you。　I　do　not　want　a　shadow　to　cross　your　minds　every　time　you　recall　me。　I　cannot　bear　to　have　you　think　ill　of　me。
　I　did　not　do　that　thing；　of　course。　I　did　not　take　that　young　man's　life。　Perhaps　you　have　already　guessed　it。　Perhaps　you　both　know　me　well　enough　to　know　I　could　not　have　done　such　a　thing。
　I　knew　that　he　was　doing　something　to　threaten　Patrice's　happiness；　that　was　all。　That　was　why　we　were　havng　Mr。　Carter　investigate　him。　But　I　never　actually　set　eyes　on　him；　I　never　saw　him。
　I　was　alone　in　the　house　last　night　（for　as　Mr。　Winthrop　writes　this　for　me；　it　is　still　last　night；　though　you　will　not　read　it　for　a　long　time　to　e）。　Even　Father；　who　never　goes　out　without　me；　had　to　attend　an　important　emergency　meeting　at　the　plant。　It　meant　settling　the　strike　that　much　sooner；　and　I　pleaded　with　him　to　go；　though　he　did　not　want　to。　I　was　alone；　just　Aunt　Josie　and　the　child　and　I。
　Mr。　Carter　phoned　around　ten…thirty　o'clock　and　told　me　he　had　bad　news；　that　a　marriage…service　had　just　been　performed　joining　the　two　of　them　at　Hastings。　I　had　taken　the　call　on　the　downstairs　phone。　The　shock　brought　on　an　attack。　Not　wishing　to　alarm　Aunt　Josie；　I　tried　to　get　up　the　stairs　to　my　room　unaided。　By　the　time　I　had　reached　the　top；　I　became　exhausted　and　could　only　lie　there；　unable　to　move　any　further　or　to　call　out。
　While　I　was　lying　there　helpless　like　that；　I　heard　the　outside　door　open　and　recognized　Bill's　step　below。　I　tried　to　attract　his　attention；　but　my　voice　was　too　weak；　I　couldn't　reach　him　with　it。　I　heard　him　go　into　the　library；　stay　there　several　moments；　then　e　out　again。　Afterward　I　remembered　hearing　something　click　between　his　hands　right　then；　as　he　stood　there　by　the　door。　And　I　knew　he　never　uses　a　cigarettelighter。　Then　he　left　the　house。
　When　Aunt　Josie　had　e　out　some　time　later；　found　me　there；　and　carried　me　to　my　bed；　and　while　we　were　waiting　for　the　doctor；　I　sent　her　to　the　library　to　see　if　that　gun　that　belonged　there　was　still　there。　She　did　not　understand　why　I　wanted　her　to　do　this；　and　I　did　not　tell　her。　But　when　she　came　back　and　told　me　that　the　gun　was　missing；　I　was　afraid　what　that　might　mean。
　I　knew　by　then　that　I　was　dying。　One　does。　I　had　time　to　think；　lying　there　during　those　next　long　hours。　I　could　think　so　clearly。　I　knew　that　there　was　a　way　in　which　either　my　Bill　or　my　Patrice　might　need　my　protection；　once　I　was　no　longer　there　to　give　it。　I　knew　I　had　to　give　it　none　the　less；　as　best　I　could。　I　wanted　them　to　have　their　happiness。　I　wanted　above　all　my　little　grandchild　to　have　his　security；　his　start　in　life　without　anything　to　mar　it。　I　knew　what　the　way　was　in　which　I　could　give　this　to　them。
　So　as　soon　as　Dr。　Parker　would　allow　it；　I　had　Ty　Winthrop　called　to　my　bedside。　To　him；　in　privacy；　I　dictated　the　sworn　statement　which　you　have　had　by　now。
　I　hope；　my　dear　ones；　you　have　not　had　to　use　it。　I　pray　you　have　not；　and　never　will　have　to。　…
　But　this　is　its　retraction。　This　is　the　truth；　just　meant　for　you　two　alone。　One　tells　the　truth　to　one's　loved　ones；　one　does　not　have　to　swear　to　and　notarize　it。　There　is　no　guilt　upon　me。　This　is　my　wedding　gift　to　you。　To　make　your　happiness　even　more　plete　than　it　is　already。
　Burn　it　after　you　have　read　it。　This　is　a　dying　woman's　last　wish。　Bless　you　both。
　
　Your　devoted　Mother。〃
　
　The　match　made　a　tiny　snap。　Stripes　of　black　crept　up　the　paper；　then　ran　together；　before　any　flame　could　be　seen。　Then　there　was　a　little　so