Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-10-26
TIE LOST WILL.

cuuity. New York.
The Colsesscns hsd lived in the old fam
ily mansion aud enjoyed t..e revenues OF
the family estate for many years, without
The si. shtsst doab. tis. they had fight TO
il, when suddenly there started up from
goodness knows where, an indiv dual who
laid claim to the property. and seemed like
Iy 70 prove Ills claim to a.! but The Culver
tons toe nsclves.
/. was certain, Jabes Hardy was tn
nearest relative. and certain that Mrs. Gull
verson, was only grand-niecs Of Hiram
Hardy, deceased; but the CuIvertons bad
lived with the old man for years, and he
had promised time and time ssain, to leave
thsa everything. Ne had even declasedi
that hi, will was made in their favor and
shat such document was actually in exist
snce. M. Culveston could not doubt; bu,
diIgent search had been made in vain, and
Jabes Hardy. whom the old mao never saw,
vas 20 take the place Of people he loved 50
fond.y, and whom had been HE comfort in
HE last hours.
at was . shame r. said every one.
IA cruel, wicked thisgv sotbed Mrs.
Culverton.
And Mr.. Culverton, who had oeve. expe-
rienccd q reverse, gas quite crushed IS the
pending lawsuit progressed.
A thousand times day he said
"!Iow provideDtisl il would be If uncle
llira,n's Will would turn up at this mo
mont"
IL wonder how he can rest, poor man,
with such injustice going on
BIT no matter whae they said, or how
they managed, no will was found, and ia
bez rubbed his handle in triumph.
1t was strange that while matters we're in
thus condition. one 40 deeply interested in
the subject asNrs. Calverton necessarily
vas. should dream Of anything else but
dream she did, night after night, Of an en-
tirely different subject.
Inevitably, for . week at least, she had
no sooner closed her eyes than she found
herself in an intelligence Office. full Of en-.
pioyes Of oil ages and nations, and face
to face with girl Of small stature. with
white Scotch features, and singular blue
eyes, wide apart and staring, who desired
the situation Of cook.
At first she did not like the girl, ~
in every dream che found o. a.. ..v.,.;or
vanish. ~, ~'
saf. lew momenis conversation, ant
ne I. sariab,y. Il had began to melt, whei
The girl looked At her aed said :
"Fd like 10 hire with you, madam"
II vas always the same ofiiee--alway'
the same grl-always the same word
10 think there must be something in tn
dream. ,.s
Though il can't come true," said shs
"fos while johanna romans here ] shsl
never hire another cook"
And just - she said this there was
scream in sho kitchen, and the little er
rand girl ran in, frightened ost OF he
ssnsss, y tell how Johanna, lifting III
wash boiler. had fallen with It and scsld
ID herself.
Mrs. Culvsrton followed the young cir
into the kitchen, and found Johanna in
wre.ched condition and the doctor beinI
sent for, she was put TO bed snc declares
useless for her domestic capacity for q
east month to come. A temporary sub
aututo must b. had, are Mrs. Cnlverton
thai very Afternoon, wen, TO New iori
20 ind one at the intcli renee chloe.
Strange TO say, IN the hustle she ha
quite fasotten her dream, until she sud
G1aiy stood face u face with the very CIR
.Nc nai seen IN IT, \ small young VIC
man with very singular blue eyes in
white face, aud whose failures bctraye
scottish o,irin. she had risen-,his cir
itom a seat 10 he oil e, aud stood be'or
r. twisting her apron strings aud conrte
sting.
I'D like to hire with you, ma'am,' sh
said.
The very words Of tie dseain, also. Mrs.
Ouverton started, and in her confusion
could only say:
"WLyy'
The girl blushed.
al done know she said, "only IL seem
to me I'd like TO live with you."
II seemed fatal thing to Mrs.. Culvertou
but she put the usual questions and receives
the msss satisfactory answers, except ~ I
references.
"But can't employ you without refer
ence.' said Mrs. O., knowing that fate hs,
decrccd that this girl should take . plac
IN her kitchen.
"lf you can't must out with it," sal
the grl. There my lady & name, ma'am
hut she turned me of for frightening tn
family"
"l!ow - asked Mrs. Culverton.
Seeing ghosts " replied she GIRL
livery DAY saw little child in whit
playing abou, the house; aud all said Their
was 10 such child there, though there ia,
been one once, bot he was dead. Mistres,
said pretended to see it for the sake o
impertnence, aud she discharged me; bu
knew by her trembling that she thought
hal seen n ghost. | went ~ doctor 40,
he called il optical delusion, and it woulC
soon pass Awa.; and sure enough, hav
not seen it since left the house
1t was queer story bu: Mrs Culverto'
believed it, and before she left the office
had hired Jessie TO ill JohannA's PLACE, 70
the space Of one month from that day -
That evening she came, aud went to worl
with . will
Dinner time passed comfortably and te
time came. The Culvertons never ate any
thing but . biscuit or cake ct this meal
aud cups were handed about in the sittinj
voom. Jessie came in st the sppointe,
hour with her tray, served every one, az,
then stood smiling before Mrs. Culvsrtol
- she ssid
"Pleass ma'asn, let me pass you. tic Of,
gentleman has not been helped. Yes, cir
in . minute"
"Ths-old-gentlsman y cried Mrs. Cul
verton.
"Yes msan-behind you 10 the. eorne
there, please.
There's no geotlsman. young Or old
there" said the lady. IL can't imagine VIA
you took for one"
The girl made no answer but turne
quite white end left the room. Mss. G. FOL
lowed:
Al 6sst che could extoet no explanatiou
but BY and BY the girl declared she saw o
old gentleman sitting iu an arm-cf cir In III
cssnss. whe bcekoaed 70 her, md she fau
cied in hurry Tor his tea.
"What did he look like?" asked Mr.
Culvesten. ass@he
"Hs was thin and TALL" said the girl
"his hair Was White end very. hong, an6 M
ticcd that one Of his knees looked stiff
and thick gold hsadsd usne beside him.
Uncle Hiram!" cried Mrs. Culvcston
Z upon my word you've described my grea
Rrand.uncle. who has been dead for twsut
ysars,h
jesse BEGAN to cry. .s
IL shall never keep place." she said
lyon wiil turn me away now"
"Soe as many ghosts as you plesse." sh
said, .'as long rs you don't bring them b,
fore INV eyes," aud went back 10 her te