Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-04-02
The Hiding Place;
OR WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A
WAY,


Grandfather was dead! Over and
over again, the thought he must die had
made me cry my eyes nearly out, for
though he was eighty, he was not too
old to love. And now it happened, and
was all over, and I sat in kind of O
miserable dream. listening to Lawyer
Curdle asking me
Where grandfather had kept his will :?
Had not been told?
Did I know?
A will in my favor, leaving everything
to me?
Of course knew of it!
"GrSnpapa wanted to tell me-" said I,
"but would not let him. I could not
bear to think of his being dead. I hoped
he would not die before I did,"
"In legal matters, ladies are little
short of idiots" said Mr.. CurdIe.
II grieve to distress you, but I sup
pose you know there's rampant old fury
down stairs, who claims this place and
everything 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
were not actually related at ALL"
Come now, plain speaking is neces-
sary-if we find the will, you are an heir
ess if not, a beggar."
Nothing could make me that" said
I !; nothing while I have ten fingers -
But he had aroused me at last.
Where had grandfather told me the
will was?
I tried to think.
No, he had not told me.
had put my hand over his mouth
and said:
"Grandpa, don't; I shall cry myself
to death If you, die, so shan't want
anything"
And he said
swell, well, I know you are not wait
ing for dead mems shoes-I 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 morn
ing; gvo,, coo ;. : .o,,, ;, ..,s
"else grandpa would not have mention
ed IT, ;.
and was about to make a new one, OF
anything Of that sort ?" asked the law
yer.
''No,n said I, II think not. I'll try
to remember what he said exactly. Oh,
this was it, I think
''Beulah, it will be very important
when / come to leave you that you shall
know about my will. I have made one
and bid it in the most ingenious place" 7"
''Phen stopped hita. That's all."
"Utter insanity" said Mr.. Curdle
"utter insanity"
He was usually very polite, but did
not wonder that his equanimity was
disturbed when went down stairs and
saw the person whom he had described
as rampant old fury"
She was very old woman, with hair
that was still bright red, and 2 long,
sharp nose.
She was talking at the top of her voice,
apparently to no one in particular.
Lawyers, lawyers" she was saying,
"all alike the world over. Didn' t send me
word of my poor brothers death not a
word, not line, so that / should not
come to claim my own"
"Left it to that girl, eh? Humbug
She's no relation at all. Margaret Boxer
had little girl already by her first hus
band when she married him. This is that
girls child.
mo blood relation-none. go, no
My brother and haven't been friends
I know, but it's all the same if he hasn't
all his property is mine!
She took snuff and scowled at me fu
riously.
shrank away, and began to feel how
important it was that the will.should bt
found.
I'searched eagerly enough noW.
/ turned back carpets and shook out
curtains.
rummaged every desk and drawer
trunk and box in the house.
All in vain.
All last even Mr.. Curdle acknowledge
that further search was hopeless.
IA man should confide his will to hi.
lawyer" said he; "a lawyers box is th'
only safe place for it."
"No doubt this old woman hiss em
ployed some one to steal your grand