The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-23
ROBERT BRAMLEIGH,S WILL.

dence in railway accident case, and
was putting up my papers with a sigh
OF relief Another forty minutes and
should be at home. could almost
smell the boiled capon and oyster sauce
which knew were being prepared for
me. There's many slip 'twixt the
cup and the lip" says the proverb: and
in my case it proved only too true; for
just as 1 was tying up the last bundle
OF papers. the office boy put his head in
at the door and dispelled the tempting
vision.
"A woman to see you, if you please,
sir. She won't give no name. Says
she's stranger
A stranger!' l repeated. What
is she like? Is she common person?"
Not exactly, SIR replied the lad.
"A lady?' asked.
80 no, sir.''
"What is she, then?'
Arthur was drOll lad. I had
brought him to London from the
country. to oblige an old college friend.
L am afraid that he was not of much
use in the office, but he used to keep the
other clerks i'll good temper by his
amusing ways and dry remarks.
Arthur paused, as if considering, and
then, with look of intelligence, as
much rs to say that he had hit the nail
on the head this time, he answered
-'Wcll, sir, she's a sort of betwixt and
between"
Not bad definition, Arthur. Ask
the bctwixt 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
envelop, from which she drew a piece
of paper folded longways. This she
handed to me, explaining, in 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 ex-
pected to live many hours. The paper,
she said. had been written by his direc-
ton, and signed by him for his will
that afternoon. Fearing lest it should
not be in a proper form, he had desired
her to take it to the nearest lawyer and
have one prepared according to the
law.
unfolded the paper and read as fol-
lows:
In the name Of God. Amen. leave my body
gave it. Now this is the viii Of me, Robert
Bramleigh. of $50 Coleman street. give and
leave all my houses. lands. money and every thing
that l have, to Hannah ChurtoD, my house.
keeper. As a reward for her long and faithful
RoBERT BsAMLEIaH.
examined the writing carefully.
The signature Robert Bramleigh,'
was weak and shaky. The will itself
was written in a notwithstanding
hand of singular decision and bold.
ness. The characters were large and
well formed.
The will had evidently been prepared
BY some one who had had but an i'm.
perfect knowledge of the form to be
used for such 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.. Bramleigh's property.
There were the requisite number Of
witnesses, and the Principal Registry
of Her Majesty's Court of Probate
would have granted letters of admins
tration with the will annexed (the ap
pointment of an executor having beer
omitted the srdinarv probate could moi
Lave been obtained), on one of the at
testing witnesses making IN affidavit
that the will had been executed by thu
testator in the presence of himself and
the other attesting witness, and tina
they had at the same time and in tn,
presence Of each other subscribed theil
names thereto IS witnesses.
Now, I am always very particula
about wills; I think they are too seriou
to be settled in hurry. I never viii
allow . client to execute one until 1 an
convinced that its purport is perfect
understood.
"You are Mrs. Churton. l pr
sumeT asked.
Il am" she replied, looking me IN
fiinchingly in the face. Somehow
felt suspicious that things were not .
fair as they should be. questione
her rather closely; but the only admit
sion IObtained from her was that sh
had written the viii, but that it was !
her masters dictation. I offered {
prepare . more formal document: bu
before doing %, l declared that Il wa
necessary I should SEQ Mr.. Bramleiei
manned the omission Of the appoin,
ment of an executor. This SCENE
rather to nonplus her. She aske
whether she could not be named a. 9,
ecutrix. The more aversion she shove
to my seeing her master the more col
WINGED felt that something was wrong
and, seeing that / was not to be move
from my purpose, she q last gave Il
proposing, however, that should ..
company her back. as she great
feared It would be too late Il left q
the morning. --@--.,.-T.-,
A cab soon took Us to No. $50 Col,
man street. It was . large, gloomy
old-fashioned house, with . spaci0U
entrance-hall. 1 was taken into th