Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-04-08
Vol. XIV. Whole No. 40 No IA

to ooter certain evidence which would
go far to prove that CASTOR Spence
laugh was not the rightfuf heir to the
entail and title OF his father.
The reading of the will was fixed
to take place in the great drawing
room of Belair at ten o'clock en- the
morning after the funeral. Mr..
Greenhough, instructed by Lady
Spencelaugh and Mrs. Winch rs to
the nature OF the evidence which was
likely to be put in by Mr.. Penning
in opposition to the natural and law
ful claim of Sir Castor, pooh-poohed
the whole aft lir cheerfully; and hint
ed delicately how sorry he was to find
that lady for whom he entertained
so profound respect as he did for
Miss Spencelaugh, should have lent
herself 50 credulously to the schemes
of an imposter. Under the influence
of this mild tonic, an. the exordium,
OF her staunch friend Mrs Winch, icr
Ladyship's dropping courage revived
IN some measure and 1t was with
to.erable composurc both of mind and
body that she took her seat. on the
cvcnttul morning. in the great chIir
ot carved GA x, which had been bro't
from the library on purpose, and SO
sat. with CASTOR on her right hand,
to here the reading OF her husbands
ill. Her mourning became her ad-
mirably. T..c style of her corsagc.
antl,the cut OF her sleeves, had been a
source of some anxiety to her but lit.
tie Miss Penny, assisted by a hint
now and then from Clotilde, had over
come all difficulties admirably; and
nothing could have been more bccoin-
ing and at the same time more pen
sively stylish, than her Ladvship's
toilet on this her first appearance IN
public in her new role OF widow.
At the opposite end of the long ia
bic sat Frederica, looking very pale,
but very lovely The executors nam
ed under the will were Sir Michael
Casey, a middle-aged Irish baronet.
who resided a few miles from Belair;
and DIR Allen. the vicar of Norman
ford, and one OF Sir Philips oldest
friends. Both these gentlemen fol-
lowed Lady Spencelaugh into the
room. and sat down opposite Mr.
Grecnhough the lawyer. There. too
were assembled Mrs Jones the house
keeper, and Mr. Bcllamy the steward.
and a few of the older donestics,
whose griet for the loss of their mas
ter was probably tempered by some
natural antIcIpations Of legacy.
Discreetly in the background sat DR.
Roach, the great medical luminarv OF
the district. blandIy unconcious, 10
all outward appearance, that his name
was mentioned in the will OF his late
esteemed patient, although his friend
Mr Greenhough had whispered that
pleasing fact in his ear a. they drove
home from the funeral together on
the preceding night.
A very brief abstract OF the con
tents OF Sir Philip Spcncelaugh's will
As read slowly and distinctly bv Mr..
Greenhough. is all tha, need be given
here. The Belair and lIilgroye es-
tates were both entailed, and beyond
these, the amount OF property lett Tor
DIVISION was not very considerable.
The savings OF the baronct's later
years, consisting chiefly of 7ecurities
in variou. public undertakings.
in the aggregate to about
4l5 900, together with small bank
ers balance, were all left to CASTOR.
burdcncd only with IA few legacies to
certain old servants, and the cost Of
te" mcmcntoes to the executors and
other friends. To Lady Spence
laugh was left, for her own absolute
the small Norfolk estate of
Denc Towers, OF the value Of i've
pounds per annum; with
he further addition OF lite-charrc
IN the general estate, of four hun
lrcd year more. FrederiCa. name
vas mentioned last OF all. We give
he extract relating to her in its en-
irctv:
10 my well-beloved kinswoman,
Frederick Mary Sponcclangh' $50 ran
he will, Il give and bequcl,h the
lecklace nd cornet of diamonds for
nerlv the property OF my mother to-
,ether with the miniatures, painted
IN ivory, Of her father. nv dear
,Du,in and companion in arms,
md myself, which will be found in
lie top lett hand drawer OF my private
bureau. These knowing her to be
n no need of worldly goods), togeth-
er with an old mans love and bless
ng are all that have to bequeath to
the aforesaid Frcderca Mary Spence
laugh; but they will be enough for
her to remember me by
Mr. Greenhough took off his specta-
cles, and proceeded slowly to fold up
the will. Mrs Jones took the hint,
and rising, dropped stately courtesy
to my Lady. and sailed out of the
room, followed by the other domestic.,
An uneasy brooding sense, as of
moral thunder cloud about to burst
close over their heads, rested upon
the majority of those now left in the
room-for it had been wispered about
that something strange would follow
upon the reading of the will NJ