The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-09-17

| u
| had given her the bulk of his property, at
| ter providing handsomely for his wife du-
ring her lifetime. But now two brothers
of the deceased came boldly forward and
claimed the property, and the will could
not be found.
1.-THE will must be found,"I exclaimed,
in my excitement, you must look again."
She shook her head in sadness 81 have
looked over every scrap Of paper in papa's
writing desk and safe and library, and
mamma has helped me, but the will cannot
| be found"
"Have you any suspicion that either of
these uncles have privately obtained pos
session of the missing whip 1 asked.
None at all !" she frankly answered
"They have had no access to the papers :;
it is all a mystery
promised to do my best for this lady
my first client-and told her to renew her
search Tor the important paper, and l
| would call at her house the next day; we
would again talk the matter over and see
what could be done.
| wen, L could not sleep much that night;
looked up my authorities to see what
| could be done in case the will could not
be found, and had determined upon my
course, when l presented myself at the
| Ellery mansion the next morning. AS
Miss Minnie came into the parlor to greet
me, she seemed more lovely than on the
| previous evening, and was charmed es-
pecially with her thoughtful attentions to
her adopted mother. They had made
another search for the WILL but with no
better success. l inspired them with cour-
age by stating that under the circumstan-
ces the suit might be gained without it,
particularly as one of the witnesses could
readily be obtained, and believe the right
would prevail.
| became so much interested in my fair
client and her CASE that l forgot all about
my Kansas project, and prepared myself
for the trial. | thought of it by day and
dreamed of it by night.
The brothers of the deceased were sure
OF winning their suit, and employed the
most skilled attorney in the State to as
sist them to secure their claim. As the
time drew near for the trial was deeply
| anxious, as my future might depend upon
| my success in this suit. | retired to rest
one night burdened with the care in re-
gard to it. "If kind Providence would
only put that will in my hands," | ex-
claimed, mentally, :" would never doubt
Him in the tuture.n
When at last l fell asleep was still busy
with my law business. l dreamed that it
was the day before the trial, and full of
anxiety, had called at the Ellery man
sion and humbly asked leave to search the
house myself for the missing will. Leave
was readily obtained, and the fair Minnie
went with me to open closets, writing
desks, &c.
"Have you cleaned house since the death
of your father ~ | asked.
YES" she answered, laughing heartily
at the strange question; 1--WE had our year
ly cleaning in May"
wv here did you put your waste papers
that you regarded as of no account 2"
1--WE threw a great many of them into
the kindling basket, but few that we
fancied we wanted to look over again we
carried to the attic"
"Then will go to those upper regions,
you please, and will look over every
scrap of paper that has any writing upon
it."
We proceeded to the attic, and found
large wood box full of letters, and began
to look them over Before we had been
there an hour, | came to n bundle of paper
with green ribbon and opening the bun
die, the lost will was in my hands Jump
ed upon the floor in my joy, exclaiming,
Eureka ~ and put it in my pocket, en-
joining silence upon Minnie, who, of course
was as delighted as child, and fairly wept
for joy.
In transport ofecstacy, awoke to findit
only dream; but soop I slept again and
the whole scene was repeated.
When l awoke again, old Chanticleer
was announcing the dawn of day, and
arose, fully determined to search the Ellery
attic. Who knows but it may be true
| God revealed His will in ancient times in
dreams. May He not sometimes do it still?
| | thought of the cases given in mental
| philosophy, the sister of Major Andre
dreaming that her brother was before the
court-martial for being a spy and all the
particulars of the trial were wildly i'm
pressed upon her mind, just as they really
occurred. Washington and Knox were
particularly designated, though she had
never seen them, for the waves of the broad
Atlantic rolled between them.
| was so much i'll earnest that | did not
wait even for breakfast, but went to call
upon Minnie. put the same question as
in my dream, ard by strange coincidence,
received the same answers. We went to
the attic and the lost will was in my pos
session in less than an hour after I entered
the house. Then | went to breakfast and
ate with II relish, for was as happy as if
had million of dollars in my pocket.
knew that the tide of my affairs had turn
ed at last, and was in the way of a little
| good fortune.
The day of the trial came, and the Judge
and jury were all in their places, and the
court house was crowded with people, for
Minnie was a tavoritc in the village, and
the case was exciting the deepest interest
| We had kept the secret of the will being
found, and the lawyer of the uncles opened
his case with a flourish of trumpets of what
was natural and just, that the property
should go to legal, family heirs, instead Of
strangers child, who had already, for
fifteen years, enjoyed the charity of her
| kind benefactor. True, he had learned
that there was once rumor Of will, but
had such document ever existed it had
probably been destroyed by the same hand
that made it, as there was no trace of it as
he could learn.
| When it came my turn to speak, l simply
announced that the lost will was found,
and proceeded to read it word for word.-
When | had finished the crowd began to
cheer, anG this over the judge decided the
case on the spot without it going to the
jury. Minnie and her mother came and
stood beside me, and together we received
the congratulations ofthe villagers 1t was
the happiest day of my life, for that very
evening asked Minnie to marry me, and
she said yes, and believe she has never
yet regretted. had business enough af-
ter that, the people trusted me, and have
tried to do my duty. l am now in the