The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-06-11
Hearing footsteps

tc the position in which had found it,
and az did 10, saw written at the bot
tom Of the frame Magdaltn Bran
leigh"
The footsteps / heard were those OF the
housemaid, who came to announce that
Mr.. Bramleigh was ready to zee me. /
followed her up stairs, and was ushered
into large, comfortable looking bed
room. A cheerful FIRE burned in the
crate. Facing it was large four-post
bedstead, hung with white curtains, and
at the head of the bed Mrs. Churton was
sitting, with small table in front of her,
on which were placed an inkstand and
some paper. She pulled back the cur
tain, and saw an old man propped up
by pillows, his face drawn, and his eyes
very much sunk. / almost feared that
he was too far gone to make will; but,
after speaking with him for little time,
/ felt satisfied that the intellect was
quite clear.
Turning to Mrs Chnrten, told her
that she need not wait; ! would ring if
/ wanted anything.
$ Yes, go-go, Hannair." cried cried :: the sick
man, and fancied that ] could detect
an eagerness in his voice, as if he desired
her absence rather than her presence.
As Mrs. Churton left the room / caught
sight OF the reflection of her face in the
glass over the chimney piece, and / do
not think she would have scowled quite
as much had she known that / was look
ing. / began by asking Mr.. Bramleigh
what were his wishes with regard to his
will. In low tones he told me that he
desired to leave everything to Hannah
Chnrton, his housekeeper, as a reward
for her long and faithful services.
! spoke gravely to the old man,
although without much hopes of success,
n,,. at last ! got him to confess that
he had no intention Of making HE
housekeeper his sole heiress until she had
herself preached the subject to him. She
certainly must have had great power
over the old man to induce him to agree
to such scheme. / proposed to Mr..
Bramieigh that ne should leave his prop.
erty to some one on whom he could rely,
iii trust for bis daughter. ! also yoluns
teered, although | have an aversion to
the trouble and responsibility Of g
trusteeship, my services as trustee for
this purpose. My arguments prevailed.
He assenied. and l prepared will
accordingly, the old man requesting tina.
his medical man, DR.. Ramsey, should be
nominated as my co-trustee, and that an
annuity Of ESQ should be paid to Hannah
Churton for life.
| read the will very carefully to him,
explaining, as / did so, its full effect.
When | had finished, he muttered:
"Quite right-quite; but / am afraid
Hannah will not be pleased" ! coun-
seled him not to mention it to her; and
my advice seemed to satisfy him.
Ringing the bell, / requested Mrs.
Churton to summon James Burn and
Margaret Sims, the two servaats who had
Witnessed the first will. As soon as they
were in the room, 1 gave Mr.. Bramleigh
2 pen, and placing the document before
him, said distinctly, SO all might hear:
!" This which l have just read to you is
your final will, and you request James
Burn and Margaret Sims to witness your
execution Of it," "It isl do" he
solemnly said, as with feeble fingers he
wrote his name. The two awe-stricken
domestics then added theirs, and think
their hands shook more than the testa-
tors. Hannah Churton was silent
spectator Of the whole Of this. but
could not see her face, as she stood in
the background, out of the light OF the
lamp.
Before allowing any one to leave the
room | placed the will in a large en-
velope. Fastening it with wax, / i'm
pressed it with Mr.. Bramleigh's mono.
gram and crest by means of a seal that
was on the tray of the inkstand. The
old man watched me closely, and when
had finished, he said: Keep it'll it
is wanted" thus relieving me of great
embarrassment, for ! did not like leav-
ing it in the power of Hannah Churton,
lest she should tamper with it.
On our way down stairs DIR. Ramsey
told me that his patient was rapidly
sinking, and that he doubted whether
he would live another twenty-four-hours.
rs king him into the dining-ToOm and
shutting the door, ! told him Of my sus-
picions of the housekeeper, and that
felt afraid of leaving Mr.. Bramleigh
alone with her ali night. He agreed
with me, and promised to send his as
sistant to watch till the morning, when,
If Mr.. Bramleigh should still be living.
he would on his own responsibility place
a trustworthy nurse in charge. The
housekeeper opened the door and let us
out.
9 1t is all right, Mrs. Churton,. Ina
liciously said, as the Doctor wished her
goodnight. II am quite satisfied now.
The will will be in my keeping By
the-by," added, looking her sharply in
the face, had you not better let your
masters friends know Of the danger he
is in DR.. Ramsey says says he does not
think he will last much longer"
She niumbled something in reply, but
! could not catch what it was. l STAYED
converting upon Indifferent subjects, to
while away the time until the arrival Of
Or. Kamsey's assistant Mrs. Chnrten,
however, was, unlike her sex, remarka-
bly, reticent; could only get the short
est replies from her. She seemed yery
much astonished and rather displeased
when DR.. Ramsey returned with his
assistant. He explained to her that, al
shcass! there s~a vas no chance Of saving
her patients life, yet his last moments
might be aiieviated by skilled attend
ance; and therefore, as he himself could
not stay all night, he had brought his as
sistant for thag purpose.
In ones experience of mankind we
find that it is possible to be sometimes
too clever. Mrs. Hannah Churton was
very clever, but she committed two great
mistakes. The first was in consulting a
lawyer The vii! drawn by her--ior 50
it really had been-might have been up
set on the ground Of undue influence.
say might have been," for there is