Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-20
as n itA as snow. When 1 mentioned his Gold
masf4f,y his whole countenance lit up: and at

masferU bis whole cOuntenaDce lit up; and at
the name of Wescot this expression as sud-
denly gave way to a sort of sullen contempt.
I no longer hesitatcd. / told the old man the
purpose of my visit, and impressed upon him
the importance OF recalling all which he had
witnessed at the hall.
When he understood that the interests of
his young mistress were involved old Isaac's
countenance was filled with earnest attention
He declared that he knew something which
had long weighed on him, but he had been
afraid of Wescot, aud concealed it. With a
cautious survey of the premises. and after
carefully closing the door, listened to his
communication.
1t was briefly to this effect: His master
had never liked Wescot: and the visit of that
parsonage during his last illness had been
regarded by him in the light of an intrusion.
though sentiment of courtesy prevented him
from displaying it. Wescot had remained.
however; and Isaac had heard him. more than
once, impOrtune the dying man to alter his
will, and leave BIN portion of the large
property. Mr.. Peterborough had invariably
treated these proposals with GOODNESS, and at
last requested that the subject should not be
again mentioned. Wcscot, however, still
fingered. He was often seen pacing to and
fro in the great hall of the house, surveying
the rich furniture with covetoGs ewes: and at
times he would gaze for hours. from the por-
tico, upon the fnely-cultivated fields and
great woods. When he was accosted at such
times by servant or visitor, he would sud-
denly start, and look hurriedly over his
shoulder. He was then 'scheming out" old
Isaac believed his final villainy.
At last Mr.. Ellenborough's final moments
approached; and he called Miss Louisa and
little Fanny to him, and talked with them
great deal. They cried very much; but the
old gentleman babe them dry their tears: he
L. a., -, n,t
nothing after his death. He, Isaac, was then
sent for, and remained in the chamber until
his master died. As he came cut he saw
WescOt issue hurriedly from the ibrary-Mr.
Ellenborough's favorite apartment, while in
healfh-with paper in his hand, which he
hastily thrust into his bosom when he saw the
servants eyes fixed on him. On the next day
search was made for will. The keys to Mr..
ElenbOroughs private drawers, strange to
say, could nowhere be found. They were
forced open; and the will, leaving his entire
property to Wescot, was found.
This was lsaac's story. He was perfectly
convinced, he said, that the real will had been
stolen by WescOt. who had gotten possession
of his masters keys, and forged one sub
stituted. But the men, Holtz and Bright,
who witnessed the latter" ! asked, ''were
they never at the hall?" Isaac replied that
they had been there to pay the rent of their
small tracts about twelve months before Mr..
Eillenborough's DEATH but not afterward. L
took from my pocket copy of the will; 1t
was dated just at the time mentioned by Isaac.
Wescot had neglected nothing.
l babe the old servant keep perfectly quiet,
and mention my visit to no one. | then took
my way slowly back to the village. Reach
ing the tavern, | lamented the scarcity of
game in the neighborhoOd to the landlord,
yawned, and re tired to my chamber. The
door once closed | sat down, and reflected
long and profoundly, with knit brows, upon
the events of the morning.
There was no longer any doubt in my mind
if there had ever been any. A base and in
credibly audaciOus piece of villany had been
perfected, depriving two children, as they
might be called, of their legal rights. Forge
ry and perjury, theft and bribery, had been
the proceedings and means made use of. Old
lsaac's plain and simple tale. which bore truth
on the face of it, had made this perfectly evil
dent Wescot had stolen Mr.. Ellenboroughs
private keys had stolen bis real will, and had
placed in the drawer forged paper, attested
10y two men, who had, doubtless, under the
influence of a high bride, placed their name'
as witnesses signing lin presence of the tesla
tor, and in presence of each other" No other
will could be found-no proof of the perjury
on the part Of the witnesses could be produc
ed; they were known to have been at the
hall al the time; what was to be be done
| stopped at the words, no other ooaH could be
found | was not certain that the real paper
could not be found-that Wescot had destroy
cd it. / based this doubt upon two grounds.
First that at this period the destruction of a
will was felony; and secondly, which was my
chief ground, that Wescot might preserve the
paper, to be used subsequently in any secret
negotiation which an attempt to recover the
property from him might render desirable.
These were slender grounds indeed. however,
and the result of my meditations was not in
spiriting. | reflected, with extreme anguish
aud a sort of sullen Indignation. upon the re-
suit of this crime-the poverty visited upon
Miss Peterborough and her little sister. and |
think if Wcscot had been near at the moment
/ should have forgotten the attorney search
ing for evidence, and obeyed only the dictates
Isaac's testimony could not be received. l
could not possibly convict the witnesses of
perjury. | was in despair.
A last, with more sullen and indignant
emotion than before, | rose from my seat, and
going to The window, looked in the direction
of the Hockey House. Its broad roof was
visible some miles away on a lofty HILL half
hidden by heavy foliage, ''And this now
would be the home Louisa Peterborough -
muttrred These green fields and line old
forests. and this noble hall, would all be hers
but for the knavery of a villain, a cheat,
common torger? I'll go there | said, If it
is only to tell him my opinion of him ~
In transport of indignation | ordered my
vehicle, put pair of travelling pistols in my
pocket and set out for the residence of Wescot
CONCLUDED TOMORROW.