The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-08-26
THE WILL.

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nouncement of ga gentleman" interrupted
him. He rose to receive his visitor, who
proved to be perfect stranger, person of
very gentlemanly but extremely old-fash-
ioned appearance. He was dressed in
grave colored suit of antique cut neat,
tight gray wig surrounded his serious and
even solemn physiognomy; silk stockings
rolled at the knee, enormous shoe buckles
of gold, a cane headed with the same met
al, and broad -brimmed and uncocked hat
completed his equipment, which was in
the fashion of the last years of William
the Third, or the first of his successor.
Having stiffly bowed in the exact way pre-
scribed by the etiquette of the era to which
he seemed to belong, he took, possession of
the chair offered him by his host, and,
after preparatory hem, thus began in
slow and serious manner;
"I think, sir, you are the lawyer en-
ployed by the S--family, whose prop
erty in Yorkshire you are therefore aware
is about to be sold"
"I have, sir" answered the barrister,
"full instructions and powers to complete
the disposal of it, which, though painful
duty to me, must be performed"
"It is duty you may dispense WITH"
said the visitor, waving his hand "the
property need not be sold"
"May presume to ask whether you are
any relation to the family? If SO, you
must be acquainted with the absolute
necessity of selling it, in consequence of
the claim of another branch of the family,
just returned from beyond the sea, who, as
heir-at-law, is naturally possessor of the
estate in default of will to the contrary,
and who desires its value in money instead
of the land. The present possessor is una
BILE to buy it, and must therefore depart"
"You are mistaken" replied the old
gentleman, rather testify. "You seem not
to know of the will of Mr.. SIS great
grandfather, by which he not only left that,
his real estate, to his favorite grandson,
this gentleman's father, but even entailed
it on his great-great-great-grandson."
"Such will, sir" said the barrister,
"was, indeed, supposed for many years to
exist and in the virtue of it Mr.. S.
has, until now, peaceably enjoyed the
property; but, on the claimants applica-
tion, renewed search having been made
for it, either the belief proves wholly un-
founded, or it has been lost or destroyed
Cabinets, chests, every room, inhabited
and uninhabited, have been ransacked in
vain. Mr.. S---has given up all hope Of
finding it. The sale is to be completed
next week, and the fine old place must
pass into the hands of strangers"
I" You are mistaken again, young man."
said the stranger, striking his cane on the
floor. 81 say, sir, the will exists Go
Immediately" continued he, in an authori-
tative 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 closet in the wall.''
"We have looked there" interrupted
the barrister.
"Silence, sir There is closet, say
in that closet is large iron chest that
chest has false bottom, and underneath
that is the deed. I am certain of what l
say. I saw the paper deposited there, no
matter when or by whom. Co. you will
find it worth your trouble. My name, sir,
is Hugh S.. am not now personally
known to the proprietor of S--Hall, but
am his near relation, and have his welfare
at heart. Neglect not to follow my ad-
vice."
So saying, the old gentleman arose, again
bowed, and at the door put on his hat in a
fashion that would have enchanted an
elegante Of Queen Anne's day, and, sliding
the silken string of his cane on the fingers
Of his right hand, ON one of which the
lawyer remarked very brilliant ring, he
descended the stairs and departed, leaving
the barrister in the utmost astonishment.
At first he felt half inclined to consider the
whole thing hoax; then, again, when he
thought of the old gentleman's grave man
ner 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 deliberation, 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 conversation 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