Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-02-25
CHAPTER XIX.


The early train on Thursday morning
saw Grenville Rose, accompanied by Mr..
Nightjar, solicitor, junior partner of the
firm of Hawk, Sparrowbill and Co, on
his way to Slantover, the nearest railway
station to Mannersley, from which it was
distant about four miles. Having arriv-
ed at the latter place, and ascertained
that Pearman was at home, GrenVille sent
in his card, and a request to see that gen
tleman for a few minutes, on business of
Importance. Now, it so happened, that
though Rose had a thorough knowledge
of Sam Pearman, the other knew nothing
whatever of him. He had never enCoun-
tered him personally, except to exchange
that sentence or two after the minister
ball / don't know whether even then
he had identified him; but of a surety
that scene had pretty well faded from
his memory, especially as regarded the
personality of the other actor therein. 1t
was as an entire stranger that he receiv-
ed the young barrister.
~ must apologize for troubling you, Mr.
Pearman but l am here as the represen-
tative of Mr. Harold Denison.'
you could not have come with better
credentials, Mr.. Rose. Charmed to see
both you and your friend :" he glanced at
the cards in his hands. 'Mr. Nightjar,
think? Will you take some lunch now,
or after we have had our little palaver?"
Nothing, thanks; our time is pre-
cious, and we will detain you as briefly
as maybe. You are, of course, aware
that there is death fine on Mannersley :;
or, to speak more intelligibly, that the
owner of Glinn has right of heriot over
your manor on the death of any holder
thereof?'
"A right of heriot!' muttered Pear
man. NO l never heard of such claim
and l think my father died in complete
ignorance of any such right"
Though far from suspecting what was
about to take place, Sam Pearman knew
enough of law to understand this express
sion.
''You had better read that deed. Night
jar. Such right exists, and has been al
ways exercised; generally compromised as
a fne-a course we propose to adopt in
the present instance"
The solicitor laughed, and opened, first
q somewhat musty parchment, and then
n doc1ment consisting of some two or
three sheets of foolscap. Il will be rs
short as l can, Mr.. Pearman. but the
story is a little intricate to follow. |
must premise that Mannersley was by no
means originally part of the Glinn proper
". 1t seems to have been granted by the
Abbot of minister to one Hugh Wilson
woman, for service rendered, conditional
upon his bearing arms for the abbey, and
iy 70 do
banner of Sir James Denison of GIinn,
the then lay lord and champion of the
abbey, He further lay under the right
of heriot: in the first place, to the monks
of minister, who were entitled to claim
three beasts upon the death of Hugh VIII
son, or any one of his descendants hold.
ing Mannersley, as an acknowledgment OF
the fealty they owed to the abbey; in
the second place, of one beast to the lords
of Glinn, as a similar acknowledgment
TO the secular representative of the alb
hey. But the monks of minister were
swept away in the Reformation under
Henry Will, and of course that right OF
heriot disappeared. Still the masters OF
Glinn continued to exercise their claim
upon every occasion tor rpther over tive
hundred years, at the expiration of which
time, in consequence of the decay of the
Wilson family, Mannersley fell, by pur
chase, into their hands, where it remain
ed till sold to Mr.. Pearman twelve years
ago The curious thing is, this right o.
heriot still exists; the owner of Glinn /:
still entitled 70 demand whatever beast h,
may choose upon the Mannersley estate
upon the death of an owner thereof, ant
the successor can but submit to the claim
Do you follow me. Mr.. PearmanT
Pretty well. l thenk May l ask whe1
was this right of heriot last enforced
and in what shape"
I'm 1874 Stephen Denison, Esq, O
Glinn, received the sum of EOS in lieu o
the right of heriot on the death of Mat
thew Wilson. That was the last case.
was his heir and successor that sold j
TO the Denisons-that being Stephen, be
fore mentioned"
''Well, gentlemen" rejoined Pearman
"of course l am not quite prepared a
yet TO acknowledge this right mus
consult my solicitors first on the subject
Still, 1t looks plausible enough. 1 an
afraid said he, laughing, money dom
go quite so far as in Matthew Wilson,
day. What, may l ask, do you assess M
att"
Ten thousand pounds replied Gren
vile Rose, quietly taking up the parable
as had been agreed between himself ant
his coadjutor beforehand.
Ten thousand! Why, you're mad =
But there was no laugh now in his re
ioinder. His quick intelligence gathere,
at a glance what a desperate position h
was in; and, moreover, that the OPPOSITE
side were pretty well aware Of it.
Were certainly not mad. don't thinl