The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-10-22
THE LOST WILL.

1he scenes 1 am about to describe
occurred in the year 1860, to re-
spectacle family by the name of Cul-
yerton, Orange county, New York.
The Culvertons had lived in the
old family mansion and enjoyed the
revenues of the family estate for
many years, without the slightest
doubt but that they had a right to it.
when suddenly there started up, from
goodness knows where, an individu-
a! who laid claim to the property and
seemed like to prove it to all but the
Culvcrtons themselves.
1t was certain JabeZ Hardy was
the nearest relative, and certain that
Mrs. Culvcrton was only grand
Li,ce of Hiram Hardy, deceased but
the Culvertons had lived with the
old man for years, and had promised
time and again to leave them every
thing. He had even declared that
this will was made in their favor,
and that such document was actu-
ally in existance, Mr. Culvcrton
could not doubt, but diligent search
was made in vain, and Jabcz Hardy,
whom the old man never saw, was
to take the place of the people he
loved 50 fondly, and who had been
his comfort in his last hours.
1T was shame ~ said every one
"a cruel, wicked thing" sobbed
Mrs. Culverton.
And Mr.. Culverton who had never
expected a reverse, was quite crushed
as the pending lawsuit progressed
A thousand times a day he said {:
How proyidedtial it would be if
Uncle Hiram's will should turn up at
this moment"
Il wonder how he can rest, poor
man, with such an injustice going
ON
But no matter what they said or
how they managed. no will was
found, and Jabcz rubbed his hands
in triumph.
1t was strange that while matters
were in this condition, one so deeply
interested in this subject as Mrs. Cul-
yertOn necessarily was, she should
dream of anything else. But dream
she did, night after night, of an en-
tircly different subject
Inevitably, for week at least, she
had no sooner closed her eyes than
she found herself in an intelligence
office, full Of employees of all 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 de-
sired the situation Of cook.
At first she did not like the girl,
but in every dream she found her
aversion vanish.
After moments conversation, and
invariably it had begun to melt when
the girl looked at her and said:
I'D like to hire with you ma'am. I"
1t was always the same Office
always the same girl-always the
same words were uttered-until
Mrs. Culverton began to think there
was something in the dream.
Though it can't be true" said she,
"for while Johanna remains with me,
| shall never hire a cook"
And just as she said this, there
was scream in the Kitchen, and the
little errand girl ran in frightened
out of her senses, to tell how Johan-
na, lifting the wash boiler, had fall
en- with it and scalded herself
Mrs. Culverton followed the
youg girl into the kitchen, and
found Johanna in a wretched condi-
ton and the doctor being sent for,
she was put TO bed and declared use
less for her domestic capacity for at
least a month to come. A Temporal
ry substitute must be had, and Mrs
Culverton that very afternoon, went
to New York to find out at the intel
ligence Office.
Strange to say, in the hustle she
had quite forgotten her dream, until
she stood face to face with the very
girl she had seen in it. A young
woman with very singular blue eyes
in a small white face, and whose fea-
lures betrayed Scottish origin. She
had risen-tbis girl-from a seat
in the Office, and stood before her
twisting her apron strings and court
seying.
'1'd like to hire to you, ma am
she said.
The very words of the dream, al,