The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-09-16
THE HIDING PLACE.


made me cry my eyes nearly out, for though
he was eighty, he was not too old to love.
And now it had happened, and was all
over, and | sat in kind of miserable
dream, listening to lawyer Curdle asking
! me
Where grandfather kept his will i?
Had | not been told?
Did l know?
A will in my favor, leaving everything to
meo
OF course l knew of it?
"Grandpapa wanted to tell me-" said l,
"but would not let him. l could not
bear to think of his being dead. l hoped
he would not die before did,"
In legal matters, ladies are little short
of idiots" said MIR. Curdle.
81 grieve to distress you, but l suppose
stairs, who claims this place and every
thing in it-who is really your grandfather S
sister-and who if there is no will found,
can turn you out of house and home.
"You know your grandfather was only
stepfather to your mother. You we're not
actually related at ALL
"Come now; plain speaking is neces-
sary-if we find the will, you are All heir
ess; if not beggar."
Nothing could make me that" said 1;
"nothng while have ten fingers"
But he had reused me at last.
Where had grandfather told me the will
was?
tried to think.
No, he had not told me.
had put my hand over his mouth, and
said
"Grandpa, don't; l shall cry myself to
death if you die, SO l shan't want any
thing"
And he had said
Well, we'll, know you are not waiting
for dead mems shoes; l know that, my
child-and some other day, some other
day."
And the next morning he was found dead
in his bed-the very next morning.
i,
"else grandpa would not have mentioned
it."
You don't think he had destroyed it,
and was about to make new one, or any
thing of that sort?" asked the lawyer.
"No," said l. 81 think not. I'll try to
remember what he said exactly. Oh this
was it, think
"' Beulah, it will be very important
know about my will. l have made one
and hid it in the most ingenious place.
"Then stopped him. That's ALL"
Utter insanity" said Mr.. Curdle; "ut-
ter insanity"'
He was usually very polite, but did not
wonder that his equanimity was disturbed
when l went down stairs and saw the per-
son whom he had described as "rampant
old fury"
She was very old woman, with hair
that was still bright red, and long, sharp
nose.
She was talking at the top of her voice,
Lawyers, lawyers she was saying;
call alike the world over. Didn't send
me word of my poor brothers death; not
word, not line; so that shouldn't come
to claim my own.
LEFT it to that girl, eh? Humbug!-
She's no relation to him; she's no relation
at all. Margaret Boxer had a little girl
already by first husband when she mar
red him. This is that girls child.
mo blood relation-none. No, no.
My brother and l haven't been friends, l
know, but all the same if he hasn't left
willard | know he didn't-al his pro-
perty is mine!"
She took snuff and scowled at me furi.
ously.
shrank away, and began to feel how
important it was that the will should be
found.
| searched eagerly enough now.
l turned back carpets and shook out cur
tains.
l rummaged every desk and drawer,
trunk and box in the house.
All in vain.
At last even Mr.. Curdle acknowledged
that further search was hopeless.
"a man should confide his will to his
lawyer" said he; ga lawyers box is the
only safe place for it.
"N No doubt this old woman has employed
some one to steal your grandfather's will
from its very ingenious hiding place, and
the result is that you are a beggar.'
"You are ridiculng poor dead grand
papa, and calling me names," said, burst
ing into tears.
I" My poor, foolish child"' said Mr.. Cur
die, "why didn't you hear what he had to
say, at least ? Together, you have made a
nice mess of it,
We had certainly, as l acknowledged
when old Miss HUMPHREYS took possession
of the homestead, and l found that l was
no longer mistress of the dear old place
that had not even right there, but was
an interloper.
When, to crown all, she came to me as
roy weeping VII NY oCu3 ohu odiu III ucI
harsh nasal tones
"Beulah, sit up and stop crying. I've
got something to say to YOU"
sat up and wiped my eyes.
l considered her an enemy, and one
never wishes to weep before ones enemies.
"Providence is Providence, Beulah
More" said she; "you oughtn't to rebel
ag'in it-no, you oughtn't You ought to
be contented in the condition you've been
called to. But Pm not hard hearted
woman; I'm willing to have you stay with
me. You can help me in the work, you
know.
"I don't keep servants-a lazy, idle set,
eating you out of house and home.
ga young gal like you can be useful if
she's grateful and willing, so I'll keep you,
Beulah More
was only fourteen years old, but knew
as we'll as | know now that | should have