New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-02-13
MY INHERITANCE.

ol1 cd udIe, AIHcOlH Inn, ne Will
hear something to his advantage"
This brief note in a legal hand aston
:ishedTme, the above-named Frank
Heathcote, one morning on sitting
down to "a modest breakfast. To
hear Of anything to my advantage
was surprising and delightful, :as I
was unfortunately'one of the unem-
ployed, with little expectation of
something turning up.
An hour or two later saw me search
ing in Lincoln's Inn for. the Offices of
Pounce $50. On finding the house,
l duly presented myself. Mr.. Rounce
had notsarrived; but would I.step in
and see Mr.. Parchment? The lawyer
did not'belie his name, for have SCI
dom seen: so'dry and yellow-looEing
man. sOn:presenting my note, Mr..
Parchment surveyed me in silence for
a few minutes. $50 you are the
nepheweofitheliate Mr.. Horace old
castle, young gentleman, presumed
/ replied / had that honor.
"AlloWtme to- congratulate you on
your good fortune" said the lawyer
with a lurking smile. Opening a
desk he produced the copy Of a will,
by whichm my lamented uncle left me
Hernmere Place, an old hallin Sussex.
on condition thatI should occupyit.
Pray, SIR saidI, "can you giveme
any informationrespecting this prop
erty?" -.
"The hall, replied the lawyer, sis
an interesting place from an artists
point Of view; but the situation is
just a trife secluded; and the build
ing is, [ ann afraid, a little out of re-
pair; but arsmall outlay would render
it habitable, and doubtless you will
ssoon get overjthe loneliness.
Being furnished with the necessary
credentials, I set out for Sussex.
Hernmere Place was some five or six
miles from themearest railway sta
ton; SO, having my effects packed in
a knapsack, / Thought I might as
well walk that distance. The way
lay alongside;a beautiful bend of t2le
South Downs. After climbing a long
gradual ascent that wound round a
spur Of the Downs, reached the sum
NIT. The view that opened out was
wild and splendid. Long slopes Of
hoWer-spangleG turf alternated with
dense patches Of furze; while on every
:sideEthe ground Lose anu#,al in wave
like sWells.
dsoon came to- the rusty gates of
Hernmere Place The house was Of
brick, in the Tudor style, and, from
the signs of decay, evidently of great
age. "A moss-covere{i huttressed wall
extended on both sides of the gate
and shut in the front ,of the house
completely.
Entering, came ITO what had
once bean the lawn, baGt was n.yw a
wilderness of weeds. The path aead-
ing to the hall door was damp and
grass-Worsl; and the aspect of the
whole place was picturesque, sout
melancholy. There was no sign of
life and welcome in the old house,
many of the ndoW-shuiters being
closed. The walls were bGotohed and
lichen-coveree, and in some places
dong Struggling branches OF ivy hung
IN neglected festoons Going round
dhe house, [ came to a tangled and
soyergroWn CAMDEN, 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.
] was welcomed in a sosne
what peculiar manner. My new
acquaintance first rummaged IN
the pocket of his coat, which lay on
a wheeabarrow, and produced an
antique pair of spectaeaes, which he
presently adjusted. hooking me
very attentively in the face for some
time, he at length saids s'You be
main loike old Muster Oldcastle.
moind him well when he was as
young as you, Put walk in, sir, and
my missus will get you bit Of sum-
mat to eat" Putting on his coat,
the old fellow hobbled up the steps
leading 30 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. Pas
sing up twisted staircase, we enter
ed a. small room on #fha first floor