The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-10-20
MY INHERITANCE.
How, Upon Search, 1t Proved
Worth Possessing.

'IfMr. Frank Heathcote will call on Messrs
Pouuce, Parchment g. Co., Old Square
Lincoln's Inn, he will hear of something to
his advantage" This brief note in a legal
hand astonished me, the above named Frank
Heathcote, one morning on sitting down to
a modest breakfast To hear of any thing to
my advantage was surprising and delightful,
as ! was unfortunately one of the unem-
pleyed, with little expectation of something
turning up.
An hour or two later saw me searching
in Lincoln's Inn for the offices of Pounce &
Co. On finding the house, | duly presented
myself. Mr.. Pounce had not arrived; but
would | stepin and see Mr.. Parchment? The
lawyer did not belle his NAME for | have
seldom seen so dry and yellow-looking a
man. On presenting my note, Mr. Parch-
mout surveyed me in silence for few min
utes.
$50 you are the nephew of the late Mr..
Horace Oldcastle, young gentleman, l pre-
sumeF"
replied had that honor.
''Allow me to cOngra tulate you on your
good fortune p said the lawyer, with Turk
ing smile
OIthlnS Il utSh, ne IlEOuuttNl inc copy Oh
a WILL by which my lamented uncle left me
Hcrnmere Place, an old Hall in Sussex, on
condition that should occupy it,
pray, sir" said l, ''can you give me any
information respecting this property" for,
truth to tell, my uncle had never invited me
to see him, and | had only an indistiuct
recollection of the old gentleman.
1.-THE Hail." replied the lawyer ''is an in
teresting place from an artists point of
view; but the situation is just trife Sc
cluded; and the building is, l am afraid, a
little out of repair; but a small outlay would
render it habitable, and doubtless you will
soon get over the loneliness"
Being furnished with the necessary Gre
dentals and agreeable to the terms of the
will, set out for Sussex. Upon inquiry,
found that Hernmere Place was some five
or six miles from the nearest railway
station; so, having my effects packed in a
knapsack, thought | might as well walk
that distance The way lay along beauti-
full bend of the South Downs The
season was spring, and the cool
breeze that came sweeping over the
hills was most exhilarating and laden with
perfume After climbing a long gradual
ascent that wound round a spur of the
that opened out was wild and splendid. Long
slopes of flower-spangled turf alternated
with dense patches of furze; while on every
side the ground rose aud fell in wave-like
swells. Near at hand, a shepherd was
watching large flock of sheep, the tink-
ling of whose bells sounded quite musical
In the far distance the sea sparkled under
the keen bright sky. Overhead, light,
leccy clouds floated peacefully, while two
larks made melody.
On asking the shepherd the way to Hern-
mere Place, he directed me in the quaint
dialect of the district. Keeping his direc-
tions in view, I 500 came to the rusty gate
of Hernmere Place. The house was of
brick, in the Tudor style, and from the
signs of decay, evidently of great age. A
moss covered buttressed wall extended on
both sides of the gate and shut in the front
of the house completely.
Entering came to what had once been
the lawn, but was now a wilderness of
weeds. The path leading to the Hall door
was damp and grass-gr own; and the aspect
of the whole place was picturesque, but
melancholy. There was no sign Of life or
welcome in the old house, many of the
window shutters being closed. The walls
some places long struggling branches of ivy
hung in neglected fe stoons. Going round
the house, | came to tangled and over
grown garden, at the farther side of which,
through an open wicket, could make out
an old man busy with a small patch of
vegetables. On presenting myself to this
venerable person, who was the custodian,
Griggs by name l was welcomed in a
somewhat peculiar manner. My new
acquaintance first rummaged in the pocket
of his coat, which lay on wheelbarrow,
and produced an antique pair of spectacles,
which he presently adjusted. Looking me
very attentively in the face for some time
he at length said: "You be main loike old
Muster Oldcastle l moined him well when
he was as young as you.-But walk in, sir
and my missus will get you bit of summat
to eat" Putting on his coat, the old fellow
hobbled up the steps leading to the garden
door of the house.
Inside, the signs of age were if any thing
more apparent. The old wainscoted passage
was hung with cobwebs, and our footsteps
echoed loudly along the stone floor. Pass
ing up a twisted staircase, we entered a
small room on the first floor.
'This was the room in which your uncle
spent most of his time, and it was here he
died" said Griggs
gazed around, and felt sense Of dreat
creep over me. The walls were paneleC
with dark oak; along one side was an OLE
cabinet, black with age, and on shelf abov
it was arranged asmall collection Of ancient
looking books. Close to the window wa
"a writing-table on which stood an old desk
A few highbacked chairs were placed by tn
walls, and some ancestral portraits looked
down with eyes that seemed TO follow m
every movement BY the fire place stood