Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-05-02

We're made t. serve for ten,
And this it is that puzzles me
And many wiser men.
HILLERTON, OF KILLER TON.
There is, perhaps, no more pictur-
esoue spot in all Virginia than the old
H;iIlerton estate. For nearly two hun
drd wears it has been known as one of
the most hospitable homes in the South.
i has passed, for generations, from
father TO son, and has experienced
many of the chances and changes ma
turaily visiting SO venerable q land
mark.
indeed, it was only preserved to the
family, at the close of the rebellion, by
an occurrence so singular-by many
considered supernatural-that it should
be d.emed worthy of record.
am by no means-I beg pardon, I
should say l was by no means-a. be-
lever in the supernatural to that extent
which permitted of individuals, who
hsd hidden this worldfarewell, walking
abroad in all the peaked and rutlled
dignity of I'VE olden timI," or any
other time, and disturbing honest mems
repose. l had never fancied that a
badly or gentleman, arrayed as they
we're in the old Colonial times. would
appear to advantage in our modern
drawing rooms; or roaming aimlessly
through modern Railways; or infesting,
at unseemly hours, those roosting
places of the Notwithstanding dwell
ins-house misnamed bed chambers.
There had always been a want of har-
mcay between the thought of such visi-
nn1s and my daily surroundings; so
ts phase of the supernatural had
never received much encouragement
tom me.
In The year A. D. 1865, toward the
close of a bright autumn day, 1 found
myslf slowly approaching the
ancient home of the Hiflertons.
IWen the massive and irregular,
hmgh picturesque, architecture of the
MANSION burst upon me, as 1 turned a
Fharp curve in the road, the thought
Famc with it, like a flash: "Here, at
Past, the spirits of the past can dis
port themselves in their shadowy fin
Ey with pelfectpropriety and in keep
ng."
This started me upon a train of idle
hlnklngg-raking up whatever l had
beard of the Hlllertons; and putting
Ibis and that together, 1 discovered |
Fas able to recall several odd stor-
IS, about an ancestor or two, especi-
lily concerning old Sir Guy Hillerton,
he founder Of the family in Virginia.
1t vas reported he brought great
reasure with him from England when
he made his last voyage thence, albeit
IS descendants had enjoyed little of
plat particular treasure, as it was never
fhown to have been seen by any one,
luch less found. Its reputation was
fanded down. however, il the form OF an
attn, used by the descendants of the
oughty old knight in lieu Of many a
orse expression: "By Str Guy's
1easure." standing sponsor for numer-
us eXpletives more forcible than ele-
ant.
mere also was a singular doggerel
's'eo somewhere in the house, relat-
= TO this mysterious treasure, which
~ me reader as muah In the dark as
'1t' fnot a little more SO.
IT. was, l remembered, rendered into
AH7A1S 0o 4Ol1oWSs
He who grips my hand in love.
ANA with fr.tarnal pressure;
he who clasps with clasp of three,
", 10 nm will go my treasure"
nus was an extremely liberal offer
wv olr Guy, a mere handshake and
wealth is yours; but his stout right
.uu was probably as inaccessible as
4, TINS stage of my bordering came
uai tradition that one of the family,
ing the Revolution, being hard
e,ssd for cash, and thinking a great
700 much about this provoking
aisa, actually made an inroad upon
mmlly vault in the hope of having
living handshake with Sir Guy. The
reward for his trouble was q bad
,, VI b'ood-poisoning, whereby he
nI the privilege of clasp,ng the
ao! % s wo thy II ~. tor ), me 5 .0re
no ,"is before he OF, rwi e wa Ill have
w. AS this 7ata.i.y had been the
r ~ hnown result of attempting to
9us the spirit of Sir Guys poetry,
o vlu gentleman, for the future, was
"eu 10 rest In peace, secure from
n lays OF familiary on the part of
N,n
Vas now within a few moments of
D, 1ourney's end, and my heart was
mossed by the sad errand which
No o AZ me as a guest to Hillerton. I
ire not ene attorney for parties who
bs, D bs az all friendly to the Hitler
hnst paI who held mortgage-bonds
me- &c the estate for a large amount.
NV 'a's mortgage money was due,
ymoHS lhst, uctions were to demand
MATS as we as to adjust several le-
h nsl'eIs Of importance.
IA, ant uIIles would have been I'M
ey wena under any circumstances.
ii Cba ,S uIubly 20 in this case. Col
ISM atas ,es fullerton and I had been
b well a. d Inc ! University of Virginia.
he hon, AneW his love and devotion
~" VI his tatheis. Twas aware