The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-03

lief proves wholly unfounded. or it has
been lost or destroyed. Cabinets,
chests, every room, inhabited and un-
| inhabited, have BEEN ransscked in
| vain. Mr.. s. has now given up
all hope of finding it; the sale is to be
completed III the course of next week;
and the fine old place must pass into
the hands of strangers.
"You are mistaken once again,
young man." said the stranger, strik-
ing his cane on the floor; 'sI say,
sir, the will exists. Go Immediately"
continued he, in an authoritative tone;
''travel night and day. You may save
an old family from disgrace and ruin.
In the end room of the left wing, now
uninhabited, is a closet in the wall"
eve have looked there" interrupt
ed the barrister.
S'Silence, sir; there is closet, I
say. In that closet is % large chest;
that chest has a false bottom, and
underneath that is tie deed. I am
certain OF what say; I saw the paper
deposited there, no matter when or by
whom. Go, yo'l will find it worth
your trouble. My name, sir, is Hugh
S.. l am not now personally
known to the proprietor of S
Hall; but ! am his relation, and llavc
his welfare ut heart Neglect not to
follow my advice
So saying. the old gentleman arose
again, bowed, and ut the door put on
his hat, III II fashion that would have
enchanted an elcy,tate of Queen Anne's
day; and sliding the siaken string of
his cane on the little finger OF his
right hand. on which the lawyer had
remarked a very fine brilliant ring, he
descended the stairs and departed,
leaving the barrister in the utmost
astonishmcnt At first, he felt half
inclined to consider the. whole as /,
hoax; then, again, when he thought
OF the old gentlcman's grave manner,
and the Intimate knowledge he must
have possessed of the house, to be able
to describe the closet so exactly in
which the chest was, he could not but
believe him to be sincere.
AT length, after much dcliberation,
he decided upon Immediate departure,
and arrived on the evening of the
fourth day at s. Hall. The sale
had been the only theme of conversa-
ton at every place he had passed
through within twenty miles Of his
destination; and much and loudly was
it lamented that the squire should be
leaving his house forever, and that
poor Mr.. John would never enjoy his
rights, rs they persisted in calling the
possession of the estate. On his en-
trance into the mansion, signs of ap-
proaching removal met his eye. Pack
ages filed the hall, servants, with sor-
rowful countenances, were hurrying
about, and the family were lingering
sadly over the last dinner they were to
partlke of in their old regretted home.
Mr.. s. greeted his friend with
surprise which changed to incredulity,
when the barrister, requesting his pri-
vate ear, declared the reason of his
appearance.
cit cannot be, said he. cit is like
ly that no one should ever have heard
of the hiding of the deed but the old
gentleman you mention. Depend upon
it. You have been deceived, my dear
friend. am sorry you should have
taken SO much trouble to so little pur-
pose"
Ihc barr1ster mentioned the name
of his visitor.
''Hugh ST. exclaimed the old
gentleman, laughing, Il have not IL
relation in the world of that name"
1T is worth trying, however" said
the lawyer, "and since I have come so
far, will finish the adventure.
MIR. S., seeing my friend so de-
termined, at length consented to sal
tlsfy him, and accompanied him to-
wards the apartment he specified AS
they crossed one of the rooms in their
way, he suddenly stopped before :.
large, full-length picture. "For hca-
ven's sake" cried he, ''who is this?"
My grand uncle" returned Mr..
S. "a good old fellow as ever
lived. ! wish, with all my heart, he
was alive now; but he has been dead