The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-02-10
THE LAST HILTON.
By CHARLES D. LEWIS.

There having been great deal of gossip
in the town of Wentworth and the country
about in regard to my strange find of ncn-
ey and the amount thereof, and the news-
papers having said much that was true
and untrue in the same connection, have
determined to write plain story and set
forth the facts in the case.
In the first place, ! must tell you that
my name is Hilton-George Hilton-and
that am the last of my race. There is
not in all this world another Hilton-man,
woman or child-who can claim to be de-
scended from Sir Hugh Hilton of the
Cedars You have many times found the
name of that gallant old knight on the
pages of England's history. and never has
n line been recorded to his shame. He was
q brave warrior and q good citizen, and
peace to his ashes. The Hiltons were not
a long lived race and after the year 1880
thee were so many bachelors and spinsters
r!..L:.s them that dust began to accumu-
late on the name. My grandfather was an
only child, my father the same, and when
1 was born into the world there We're but
three Hiltons left. Death soon removed
my parents and l was then the last of my
race should be proud to speak of my
father and grandfather as history has
spoken of these who camo before them,
but candor compels mo to say that the
quality of the blood had degencrated when
it reached them. 1 have been told that
this might have been expected as the Hill
tons were race of high liycrs and n roy
stering lot, but feel it n smirch ON the
family escutcheon just the same. To be
honest, then, my grandfather was n tyrant
over his tenants, disliked by the public and
so misery in his habits that it was said
he did not live out his allotted years for
the want of proper food. When / came to
the age of understanding, they told me
pretty much the same story about my ia
Their, much to my shame and sorrow. 1t
was necessary, however, to tell some sort
of story. At the age of 12 was an orphan
and almost penniless. There was the big
stone house and the 90 acres of land which
had been held by the Hiltons for 300 years,
but there was no money. People figured
up tho income and outgo of my father and
grandfather and said ought to be in pos
session of at least Gf0, OG0, but not 20 in
good and lawful money was found in the
house whom my father died.
The will of my father, by which was
left all, was brief and concise, but con
tanned curious sentence. 1t was to the
effect that on my twenty first birthday !
should take. possession of the house. and,
standing at the foot of the cellar stairs,
with my fa:s to the east, should count
one and thrco and take two" My solicitor
and guardian was an old man and not n
very keen Ole. He thought this clause
might have reference to money, and he
visited the cellar to see what he could
make out. If he had any hopes, he was
disappointed. The matter light have gone
further, but it was time of great public
excitement, tho old man had troubles on
hand, and so in one way and another the
will was laid away, and l was turned out
into the world to get ny living as might.
Nobody wanted to live in tho big house.
which was gloomy and i'll arranged, and
the little income was only big enough to
pay the taxes. If it could have been legally
arranged for ne to sell the grounds, il wa
not done, and after living with Il farmer
for few months 1 cut loose and started ;.
out to see the world. l had been fairl!
educated in tho lower branches and thi:
was help to me in knocking about. Fol
two years / managed to live one way anC
another and then went to sea from The
port of Liverpool. Returning after si1
months, BACKED boots and sold ncwspa
pers in tho streets of London, got tempo
t"ty eiipio' ineno "o i1is' t"l
iishi,ioneer an" iuhir' anu DIV INC "so vi
,he iasO Vi .ilo Iii'" Jus! "as d h"u iot.
cruise on o mar -ofwar did not help My
moral character any, and it is with shame
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