The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-05-10

| llon or making his hOusckccper hls sole
heiress until she had herself broachcd the
subject TO him. proposed to Mr.. Bran
leigh that lie should leave his property to
some one OH whom he could rely. In trust
for his daughter. My argument prevailed.
TIC assented, and prepared Will accord
lngly. The old man requested That his
medical man, Dr. Ramsey, should be nom
mated as my co trustee and that all annu-
lty OF fifty pounds should be paid to Hau-
nah Churton for life.
| Ringing the bell, requested Mrs. Chur-
ton to summon James Burns AMI Margaret
Sims, the two servants who had witnessed
| the first will. AS soon as they were In the
room -gave MIR. Bramleigh IL pen, and
placing the document before him, | said
distinctly, 80 all might hear:
''This which have read to you Is your
final will, and you request James Buns
and Margaret Sims to witness your cxccu-
| ton of it,"
! ut isl do" he solcnlnly said, as with
feeble fingers he wrote his name.
The Two awe-slrlcKen dOmcstics then
added theirs, and | think their hands shook
more than the testator's Hannah Chur-
ton was a 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 large envelope.
Fastening it with wax, l impressed it with
MIR. Bramlclgh's monogram and crest with
seal that was en the tray of the inkstand
The old man watched me closely, and when
l finished he sald "Kccp it" till it is
wanted"
On our way down stairs DR.. Ramsey told
me that his patient was rapidly sinking,
aud that he doubted whether he would live
another twenty-four hours.
Taking HIM into the dinlng-room and
shutting the door, told him of my suspi
| clons OF the housekeeper and that l felt
afraid of leaving MIR. BramleIgh alone with
her oil night. He agreed with me- and
promised to send his assistant to watch with
me till molnlng when. if MIR. Bramlegh
was living, he would, on his own respcnsi-
| Dllty, place a trustworthy nurse in his
charge. The housekeeper opened the door
| TO let us out.
"lt's all right, Mrs. Churton," I mali.
clously said, as the doctor wished her good
| night. 81 am quite satisfied now. The
will will be in my keeping. By-thc-by,"
L added, looking her sharply in the face,
had you not better let your masters friends
know of thc danger he Is in2'
She mumbled something in reply but
could not catch what it was. | stayed,
talking upon different subjects. to whilo
away the time until the arrival of DR..
Ramseys servant. She seemed very much
astonlshcd and rather dlsplcased when DR..
Ramsey returned with the assistant.
In ones experience or mankind we find
1t is impossible to be too clever. Mrs.
Hannah Churton was very clever, but she
committed great mistakes. The first was
in consulting a lawyer. The will drawn
/ by hcr-for so it really had bccn-might
have been upset on the ground of undue
influence. | say might have been" for
| there Is nothing 80 hard to prove as undue
influence. The other great point against
her was the ousting of child in favor of a
| stranger
Dir. Bramleigh died the next morning at
ten o'clock. Soon after had left he be-
came unconscious, in which state he re-
NAMED TIL shortly before his death, when
there was rally. Opening his eyes with
an eager look, as if he missed something,
he threw one arm outside OF the covcrlct,
and cried, "Magdalen, Mag,ial nj" :
The funeral took place on Saturday, but
an engagement prevented mc from fol ow-
ing. Mrs. Chur,on had written me- re-
qucsting that would attend with the will,
which still remained III my possession, with
the one drawn by her.
| arrived ut the house a little after one
O'Clock, and was at once taken into the
dining-room, where l found DR.. Ramsey,
Nlr. kobcs0n Ga brother praclitioncr), and
a handsome young fellow, who was intro.
duced TO me as l. cutcnant Maitland, the
late Mr. Bramleigh's son-in-law.
| The door opened, and young lady en-
tered. 1t did not require any introduction
to tell me that she was the iiyinal of the
portrait, still with its face turned to the
wall. Her face was very bcauti ul, not
withstanding lts extreme palcncss and tear
swollen eyelids.
Mrs: Churlon had closely followed Mag.
dalcn Maitland into the room.
DIR. Ramsey politely pulled forward
chair for the hous keeper. Taking it from
hlm with cold "thank you," she placed
it at tho end of the table, directly facing
me.
was about to unseal tho envelope con-
tainlng tic will, when Lieutenant Maitland
interrupted me.
"Onc moment, if you please" he said,
placing his hand on my arm. "Beforc this
will is read, | wish to say few words.
Mrs. Churton tells me MIR. Bramlclgh has
left her everything Internationally.
simply wish to express my firm belief that
Mr.. Bramlcigh could only have been in
duced to make such will by unfair and
foul means. Although have been tho
cause Of al enlargement between father
and daughter, cannot think that he coult
} 80 forget his love for her as to strip her o.
everything. 1t Is my intention, for her sake
to contest this will; and it Is with this il
} view that have requested my old frcne
Dir. Robson to be present to-day as M
} legal ADVISER"
read the will very slowly and distinct
~, 1t was very short. Save ono annuity
Of fifty pounds to- Hannah Churton for life
everything was left to DR.. Ramsey ant
mvsaIf in tr,,at for Maodalnn Maitland 1,