The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-06-08

due influence. l say "miyht have
been," for there is nothing SO hard to
prove as undue influence. The great
point against her was the ousting of
child in favor of a stranger.
Mistake number two was as follows:
The doctor had gone upstairs to install
his assistant, leaving me standing in
the hall with the housekeeper. Fun
bling in her pocket she pulled out
roll OF bank notes; thrusting these into
my hands, she told me that it was her
masters wish that | should take them
for my trouble. l unrolled them, and
found two for ten and one for five
pounds. Twenty-Five pounds!
A long legal experience has taught
me that in all dealings with doubtful
people ones safety lies in having u
good witness. l WAITED till the doctor
came downstairs, occupying myself by
entering the numbers of the notes in
my pocket-Dook.
"Look, DOCTOR" cried, as he APP
peared, showing him the notes. "Mr.
Bramleigh is a liberal paymaster."
Turning to Mrs. Churton, said: This
Will amply repay me-"
Retaining the note for five pounds, |
returned her the other two. She took
them from me without saying a word,
but black look come over her face. |
think she began to suspect me. | got
home very late that night. The capon
was more than done, and so was the
oyster sauce!
Mr.. Bramleigh died the next morn
ing at ten o'clock. Soon after | had
left he became unconscious, in which
state he remained till shortly before his
death, when there was rally Open
ing his eyes with an eager look, as if
he missed something, he threw one arm
outside the coverlet, and crying: Mag
dalen, Magdalen" he obeyed the sum-
mons which babe him thole his assize
yea, in that dread court where " Not
proven" is unknown Guilty or not
guiltyP Who shall say?
The funeral took place on the Satur-
day, but an engagement prevented me
from following. Mrs. Churton had
written, requesting that would attend
with the will, which still remained in my
possession, with the one drawn by her.
| arrived at the house a little after
one o'clock and was at once taken into
the dining-room, where | found DR..
Ramsey, Mr.. Robson Ga brother practi-
tioner) and handsome young fellow,
who was introduced to me as Lieut.
Maitland, the late Mr.. Bramleigh' SON
in-law.
The door opened, and young lady
entered. 1t did not require any intro
duction to tell me that she was the
original of the portrait, still with its
front turned toward the wall. Her face
was very beautiful, Notwithstanding it's
extreme paleness and the iear-swollen
eyelids. She seated herself by the fire,
her husband standing behind her, lean
ing his arms on the back of the chair
Mrs. Churton had closely followed
Magdalen Maitland into the room. She
was dressed in deep mourning and wore
a black Grape cap, thus offering a
marked contrast to Mrs Maitland, who
was wearing gray dress rather travel
soiled. Apparently she had had no
time to prepare her mourning.
DR.. Ramsey politely pulled forward
a chair for the housekeeper. Taking
it from him with a cold Thank YOU"
she placed it at the end of the table,
directly facing me. Very stern and
forbidding she looked in her black gar
ments-her features immovable, her
hands resting on her knees.
| was about to unseal the envelope
containing the will, when Lieut. Matt
land interrupted me.
Zone moment, if you please" he
said, placing his hand on my arm.
d" Before this will is read, | wish to say
few words. Mrs. Churton tells me
that Mr.. Bramleigh has lett her every
thing Internationally. | simply wish
to express my firm belief that Mr..
Bramleigh could only have been in
duced to make such will by unfair and
foul means. Although | have been the
cause of an enlargement between
father and daughter, | cannot think
that he could so far forget his love for
her as to strip her of everything. 1t is
my intention, for her sake, to contest
this will; and it is with this view that |
have requested my old friend, Mr.. Rob-
son, to be present to-day as my legal
adviser
His frank, manly face was flushed
with honest excitement as, leaning over
the back of his wife's chair, he took her
face between his hands and kissed it.
For your sake-not mine, dearest"
heard him whisper.
| read the will slowly and distinctly.
1t was very short. Save the annuity of
fifty pounds to Hannah Churton for life,
everything was left to DR.. Ramsey and
myself, in trust for Magdalen Maitland,
to be settled on her as we in our discre-
ton should think fit.
Astonishment is a mild word to ex-
press the feelings of those present, nor
will | attempt to do so. My tale lies
with Hannah Churton. Starting to her
feet, she pushed the chair from her,
and, stretching out her arm, gave ut
terance to fierce torrent of invectve.
The veil was lifted, and the native
coarseness of the woman's nature stood
revealed. 1t was as had feared. I'm
mindful of the bounty of but too gener-
GUS master, she heaped obloquy on
his memory, and fearlessly asserted that
she had wasted the best years of her
life in his service!
Magdalen Maitland covered her ears
with her hands, to shut out the hard
words. Her husband led her toward
the door; but Hannah Churton inter-
ooptoH than, Tonr;oo. b,,, -. r.,