Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-08-29
The Stnrp Teller.
THE MISSING DEED.

I am Grant. know there are other
Grants. A clumsy Englishman once told
me that Grant was very common name.
There are the Grants of Grant and the
Grants of Dalvey; there are Grants in
Edinburgh and Grant in London. Alas
the Grants are disinherited race, for their
grandfathers, it seems, always squandered
the fortunes which they ought to have left
for their sons. At least, know that 1t
was the case of my own grandfather. Had
he not played ducks and brakes with my
Inheritance should now have been-but
there am content to be what am, Grant
of Tullybardane, and never dearer or
loyelier home had Scottish man to dwell
in. Ny wife often laughs at me for being
so fond of the place. But then the strang-
est event of my life is bound up with it's
nossession. And surely may we'll re-
member and be thankful for that event,
for without it yonder lady with the silver
hair would scarcely now have been sitting
near me, and laughing at the follies OF an
old man as she does.
Five-and-thirty years ago was living
here in the grange at Tullybardane. The
place had come to my father by bequest
not MANY wears before, and he had scarce
ly learned to play the laird before he died
and left it to me. was only boy then,
and nv mother and were quite content
with our lives in the new home. So there
I lived and grew up to manhood, ana
there in the course of years fell IN love.
Accordingly, one winter morning rode
across to Glen Levannoch, and asked Mr..
Fraser to give me his daughter to be my
r ho1 hQf0rl
hand that Miss Fraser was not unwilling
to be given.
Well, we had a long interview, and the
results in brief were these. had left
home tolerably confident, as one is wont
to be at four-and-twenty, and l returned
about as detected and indignant as any
reasonable man ever was. Mr.. Fraser was
an old friend. He had been one Of my
guardians. He was my fathers executor.
I expected my declaration to be heartily
welcomed. Tullybardane is better prop
erty than Glen Levannoch. What was
there to stand in our way? But when l
came back felt like man who has been
stunned by treacherous blow. AL! OF
sudden, for the first time in my lie,
learned that my title to Tullybardane was
not beyond dispute heard that a GER
tain document had long been missing from
the title deeds, and that till that document
was found could never be entirely secure
in nv own home. But what was far worse,
under the circumstances, Mr.. Fraser IN
formed me he could not encourage my suit
for his daughters hand: .-.,
What followed T don't quite remember.
have haunting fear that I lost my tenn.
per, and that on oneside or the other good
deal of strong language was used. know
swore I would never give Nellie up, not
even if were turned out of Tullybardane
neck and crop next day. OF course 1t was
very foolish, but then the circumstances
were exceptional. When I got home l
days did nothing, 1 think, except consult
lawyers and look over papers and rum
mage every hole and corner Of the grange
forthe missing deed. But what Mr.. Fraser
told me proved to be only too true.
In the week that followed remember
three things distinctly, not that they were
themselves important, but that they bore
upon that strange event which made a
turning point in my life. The first is that
I rode over to Glen Levannoch and was
told that Mr.. and Miss Fraser had lett
home, to stay with friends in Edinburgh.
The second is that my man George, VINO
acted as footman and valet to me, got
drunk one night and left the house door
to thank, Providence ever since. NOW,
AZ q ruie.sI am lenient to these failings.
Whisky, I regret to say, has an attraction
for men in these northern climates which
few can resist. But whether it was that
was out of sorts, or whether it was that
NV mother was alarmed, [ don't know,
but resolved to make an example, ana !
turned the man out of the house the next
day. The third incident was more lmpor-
tant, and shall be told at length.
T am a good sleeper. don't dream much,
I don't believe in dream warnings and
such things. I have no faith in ghosts
though I know for fact that my cousins
the Mac Mocks have a banshee IN their
family-as fact, I say: But about that
time used to try and dream of a certain
lady. and so one night fell asleep and
r did dream. And this is what I
dreamed.
thought was in Edinburgh, standing
in Princess street (and let me find any street
in England. or anywhere else which can
compare with that) and waiting by the
Waverly monument. Opposite me was
hotel, which I suppose l was watching,
for out of it. presently came, as clear and
vivid as in life, Nelly Fraser, with a veil
over her head; she came slowly toward
me and lifted her veil, revealing face so
white and miserable that I scarcely knew
it, and then, as I stepped forward, she
raised one hand, and, pointing up across
the gorge toward the High street hill,
vanished into moving mist. Then the
shadows began to shift and shuttle them
selves, and presently out came another
vision from my dream. was there still,
standing, but all the surroundings had
changed. I seemed to be in a sort Of shop
or office. A counter was before me, and all
around me were thin phantom figures,
with no features that / could see. Only
one among these misty shapes had visi-
BILE human face. And that one advanced
toward me with smile which l shall new
er forget. 1t was the face of young man,
slightly dropped, as if its owner were shy
or deferential, with blue, bright eyes and
gentle, handsome features, and fair hair,
and lips that seemed to be made for laugh.
ter, and smile that shone like gleam OF
sunshine there.
And in a moment the face and forms
had vanished. The darkness seemed to
grow darker. I heard soft steps walking
in the air. I felt as if a cold wind were
blowing in my face. Suddenly | saw the
chill sea shining afar off under the white
stars. A voice that was harsh broke out
in harsh laughter beside me, and then
/ woke.
Two days after I set out for Edinburgh,
with three objects. I wanted to consult
an eminent advocate. / wanted to get a
new servant. And I wanted, at least, to
find out where the Frasers were.
1 saw the great advocate and he confirm
ed my fears. "Unless the missing deed
is found, my dear sir" he said in his
blandest accents, 'your title is so defect
i've as to be legally worthless should ri
val claimant arise"