Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-06-08

! STbCeu tue Wdlls. Ah very IOnu OF PFC
lures, SO, raising the lamp, l walked
round the room slowly Inspecting them.
On the right of the fireplace came upon a
picture with its face turned toward the
wall. turned the picture. 1t was the
portrait in oil OF a young and very beau
tiful girl in dark riding habit. Hear
ing footsteps outside the door, l restored
the picture to the position in which |
had found it, and as | DID so. saw writ
ton at the bottom of the frame "Magda
len Bramleigh."
The footsteps heard were those of the
housemaid, who had come to announce
that Mr. Bramleigh was ready to see me.
| followed her up stairs, and was usheIed
into n comfortable looking bedroom. 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 a
small table in front of her, on which was
placed an inkstand and some paper. She
pulled back the curtain, 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. Churtcn, | told her
that she need not wait would ring if
wanted anything.
"Yes, go--go, Hannah 1" cried the
sick man, and | ihncied that | could de
tect an eagerness in bis voice, as if he do
sired her absence rather than her pres
enee. AS Mrs. Churnton left the room
caught sight of the reflection of her face
in the glass over the chimney piece, and
do not think that she would have scowled
quite as much had she known | 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 de-
sired to leave everything to Hannah
Churton, his housekeeper. as n reward for
her long and faithful services.
though without much hope of success, but
at last got him to confess that he had
had no intention of making his house
keeper his sole heiress until she had her
self broached the subject to him. She
certainly must have had great power
over the old man to induce him to agree
to such n scheme. proposed to Mr..
Bramleigh that he should leave his prop
erty to some one on whom he could rely,
in trust for his daughter / also volun.
tcered, although have an aversion TO the
trouble and responsibility ofa trusteeship,
my services ms trustee for this purpose
My arguments prevailed. He assented,
and | prepared will accordingly, the
old man requesting that his medical man,
DR.. Ramsey, should be nominated as my
co trustee, an1 that an annuity of ESQ
should be paid TO Hannah Churton for
LIFE.
, read the will to him very carefully,
explaining, as | did so, its full effect
5 When | had finished he muttered
t "Qute rIght--quite bat | am afraid
, Hannah will not be pleased" ! counsel
him not to mention it to her and my ad
, vice seemed to satisfy him.
3 Ringing the bell, | requested Mrs.
Churton TO summons James Burn and
, Margaret Sims, the two servants who had
witnessed the first will. As soon as they
were in the room, gave Mr.. Bran leigh
n pen, and placing the document before
him, | said distinctly so all could hear :
"This which | have just read TO you is
your lna viii, and you request James
Burn and Margaret Sims to witness your
execution Of it," 1T isl do" he sol
emnly said. as with with feeble fingers he
wrote his name. The two awe stricken
domestics then added theirs, and | think
their hands shook moro than the tostator's.
Hannah Churton was silent spectator OF
the whole OF this ; but could not see her
face, as she stood in tho background, out
OF tho light of the lamp.
{ Before allowing anyone to leave the
room, placed the will in a large enve-
lope. Fastening it with wax, impressed
it with Mr.. Bramleigh's monogram 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 mo of Il great
embarrassment, for | did not feel like
leaving il in the power OF Hannah Chur-
) ton, lest she should tamper with it.
On our way down stairs Or. Ramsey
told me that his patient was rapidly
sinking, and that he doubted whether he
would live another twentv-four hours.
Taking him into the dining-room and
shutting the door, told him of my sus-
picions of the housekeeper, and that |
felt afraid Of leaving Mr. Brameigh
alone with her all night. lie agreed with
me, and promised to send his assistant 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 house
keeper opened the door to let us out.
at is all right, Mrs. Churton," |
malciously said, as the Doctor wished her
good night. 81 am quite satisfied now.
The will will be in my keeping. Blythe
by" / added looking her sharply in the
face, chad you not better let your masters
friends know Of the danger he is in ? DR..
Ramsey says he does not think he will
last much longer"
She mumbed something in reply, but |
could not catch what II was. | staid
talking upon Indifferent subjects to while
away the time until the arrival Of DR..