The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-06-08
ROBERT BRAMLEIGH'S WILL.


was putting up my papers with sigh
of relief. Another forty minutes and |
should be at home. l could almost
smell the boiled capon and oyster sauce
which knew were being prepared for
me. "There's many Il slip 'twixt the
cup and the lip" says the proverb; and
in my case it proved only too true; for,
just as l was tying up the last bundle
of papers, the office boy put his head
in at the door and dispelled the tempt
ing vision.
A woman to see you, if you please,
sir. She won't give no name. Says she S
4 stranger"
A Stranger | repeated. "What
is she like? Is she common persona
Not exactly, SIR replied the lad.
- A ladyP" | asked.
80 no, sir"
What is she, them"
Arthur was a droll lad. | had brought
him TO London from the country, to
'oblige an old college friend | am
afraid that he was not of much use in
the office, but he used to keep the other
clerks in good temper by his amusing
ways and dry remarks.
Arthur paused, as if considering, and
then, with a look of intelligence, as
much as to say he had hit the nail on
the head this time, he answered: "Well,
sir, she's a sort of betwixt and between. -
Not bad definition, Arthur. Ask
the betwixt and between upstairs"
A tall, middle-aged woman entered
and took the seat placed for her
My visitor removed her gloves and,
carefully smoothing them, placed them
on the table beside her. She then pro-
duced from her pocket a large foolscap
envelope, from which she drew a piece
of paper folded longways. This she
handed to me, explaining, in a hard,
monotonous voice, that she had been
sent to me by her master, Mr. Robert
Bramleigh, of Coleman street, who was
dangerously ill-in fact, was not expect
ed to live many hours. The paper, she
said, had been written by his direction
and signed by him for his will that
afternoon. Fearing lest it should not
be in proper form, he had desired her
to take it to the nearest lawyer and
have one prepared according to the law
unfoided the paper and read as fol-
lows:
In the name of God, amen. leave my body
70 the ground and my soul to Almighty God
who gave it. Now this is the will of me, Rob-
'ert Bramleigh, of $50 Coleman street: | give
and leave all my houses, lands, money and
everything that / have to Hannah Churton
my housekeeper, as reward for her long and
faithful services Signed by me on Tuesday,
Dec II, 1865. ROBERT BRAMLEIGH,
Witnesses-James Burn, Margaret Sims.
examined the writing carefully.
The signature, Robert Bramleigh,"
was weak and shaky. The will itself
was written in masculine looking
hand of singular decision and boldness.
The characters were large and well
formed.
The will had evidently been prepared
ny some one who had had but an imper-
feet knowledge of the form to be used
for such a purpose. The solemn appeal
to the Deity and the bequest of the
testator's body and soul was an old
form, much in vogue with our grand
fathers, who generally headed will
with one or two pious phrases.
The document shown to me was,
however, sufficient to give Hannah
Churton all Mr.. Bramlei9hs property.
There were the requisite number of
witnesses, and the Principal Registry
of Her Majesty Court of Probate would
have granted letters of administration
with the will annexed (the appointment
of an executor having been omitted, the
ordinary probate could not have been
obtained on one of the attested wit
nesses making an affidavit that the will
had been executed by the testator in
the presence of himself and the attest
ing witness, and that they had at the
same time and in the presence of each
other subscribed their names thereto as
witnesses.
Now, | am always very particular
about wills; think they are too serious
TO be settled in hurry. | never will
allow client to execute one until am
convinced that its purport is perfectly
understood.
"YOu are Mrs. Churton, presumed"
/ asked.
81 am," she replied, looking me I'M
flinchingly in the face. Somehow
felt suspicious that things were not so
fair as they should be. | questioned
her rather closely; but the only admis-
sion | obtained from her was that she
had written the will, but that it was at
her masters dictation. | offered to
prepare a more formal document; but
before doing so declared it was nee
essary ! should see Mr.. Bramleigh. |
named the omission of the appointment
of an executor. This seemed rather to
nonpIus her. She asked whether she
could not be named as executrix The
more aversion she showed to my see
ing her master the more convinced |
felt that something was wrong; and,
seeing that was not to be moved from
my purpose, she at last gave in; pro-
posing, however, that | should accom-
pany her back, as she greatly feared it
would be too late if left till the morn
ing.
A cab soon took us to No. $50 Cole
man street. 1t was large, gloomy,
old-fashioned house, with spacious
entrance hall. | was taken into the
dining-room and asked to wait while
Mr.. Bramleigh was being prepared for