Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-10-27


nounce that Mr.. Bramleigh was ready
to see me. I followed her up stairs and
was ushered into a large, comfortably
furnished bedroom. A cheerful fire
burned in the crate. Facing it was a
large four-post bedstead hung with
white curtains, and at the head CT the
bed Mrs. Churton was standing with a
small table in front of her, on which
were placed an inkstand and some pa
per. She pulled back the curtain, and
| saw an old man prOpped up by pill
lows, his face drawn and the eyes very
much sunken. [ almost feared that he
was too far gone to make a will; but
after speaking with him for little time
[ felt satisfied that his intellect was
quite clear.
Turning to Mrs Churton, | told her
that she need not wait; [ would ring if
l wanted anything.
eyes, go-go, Hannah" cried the
sick man; and l 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 l caught sight of the reflection of
her face in the glass over the chimney
piece, but I do not think she would
have scowled quite so much had she
known that / was looking. | began by
asking Mr.. Bramleigh what were his
wishes with regard 10 his VIII, In low
tones he told me that he desired to
leave everything to Hannah Churton,
his hCusekeeper, as a reward for her
long and faithful services.
spoke gravely to the old man, al
though without much hope of success,
but at last [ got him to confess that he
had no Intention Of making his house
keeper his sole heiress until she had
herself preached the subject to him.
She certainly must have had great pow
er over the old man to induce him to
agree to such scheme [ proposed
to Mr.. Bramleigh that he should leave
his property 10 some one on whom he
could rely, in trust for his daughter. /
also volunteered, although [ have an
aversion to the trouble and responsible
ity of a trusteeship, my services as a
trustee for this purpose. My argu-
ments prevailed He assented, and I
prepared will accordingly, the old
man requesting that his medical man,
DR.. Ramsey, should be nominated as
my cO-trustee, and that an annuity OF
ESQ should be paid to Hannah Chur-
ton for life.
[ read the will to him very carefully,
explaining, as | did so, its full effect.
When / had finished, he muttered :
"Quite right-quite right; but I am
afraid Hannah will not be pleased"
counselled him not to mention it to her,
and my advice seemed to satisfy him.
Ringing the bell, | requested Mrs
ChurtOn to summon James Burns and
Margaret Sims, the two servants who
had witnessed the first will. AS soon
as they were in the room | gave Mr..
Bramleigh pen, and placing the doc
ument before him, said distinctly. so
that all might hear; ''This which |
have just read to you is your final will,
and you request James Burns and Mar
garet Sims to witness your execution
of it?" 1t 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 testator's.
Hannah CurtOn was silent spectator
of the whole of this but I could not
see her face, as she stood in the back
ground out of the light Of the lamp.
Before allowing any one to leave the
room, placed the will in a large envel-
ope. Fastening it with wax, impressed
it with Mr.. Bramleigh's Monogram and
crest by means of 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 a 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 oul
hours.
Taking him into the dining-room and
shutting the door, | told him my sus-
picions of the housekeeper, and that ]
felt afraid of leaving Mr.. Bramleigh
alone with her all 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 put
a trustworthy nurse in charge
at is all right, Mrs. Churton," ]
maliciously said, as the doctor wished
her good night. II am quite satisfied
now. The will will be safe in my keep
ing. By-the-by," | added, looking her
sharply in the face, chad you not bet
ter let your masters friends know OF
the danger he is in? DR.. Ramsey
says he does not think he will last
mach longer"
She mumbled in reply, but | could
not catch what it was. [ stayed talk
ing on Indifferent subjects to while
away the time until the arrival of Dr.
Ramsey's assistant. Mrs. Churton,
however, unlike her sex, was remark
bly, reticent. I could only get the short
est remarks from her. She seemed
very much astonished and rather dis
pleased when Dr. Ramsey returned
with his assistant. He explained to
her that though there was no chance of
saving his patients life, yet his last
moments might be alleviated by skilled
attendance; and. therefore, as he could
not himself stay all night, he had
brought his assistant for the purpose.
In ones experience in mankind we
find that it is impossible to be some
times too clever Mrs. Hannah ChuI-
ton was very clever but she committed
two great mistakes. The first was in
consulting a lawyer. The will drawn
by her-for so it really had been
might have been upset on the ground
i