Select Literature.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 454, 18 February 1867, Page 4

Select Literature.

T II E WILL. A TALE OF THE LAST CENTURY, old lady who related tha outline UMja of the following story lieard it told in her youth, by no means as a fiction, but as a real occurrence. She even once knew the name of the old northern family concerned in it, but that, with the exact dates, she I,as now forgotten, if she ever knew the latter; and haying jever written down tiie story she has no possibility of recovering them. However, from her express mention of a tight wig, worn by the benevolent old hero of the tale, we have fixed (ho strange occurrence not earlier than the last century. Towards the end of a gusty October day, about the year 1730, a barrister of the Temple was sitting reading, when the opening of the door, and his tor ant’s announcement of “ a gentleman;’ interrupted him. 110 rose to receive his visitor, who proved to a person of re ygeutlemanly but extremely old-fashioned, appearance. He was dressed in a grave-colored suit, ol antique cut; a, neat tight grey wig surrounded his serious and even solemn physiognomy ; silk stockings, rolled at the Jtnee ; enormous shoe-buckles of gold ; a cane, headed with the same metal’ and a broad-brimmed and uncocked bat, completed his equipment, which wr.a in the fashion of the last years of William 111, or the first of his successor. Havixig stiffly bowed, in (he exact style prescribed bv the etiquette of the era to which In seemed to belong, he took possession of the chair ohired to him by bis host ; and, after a preparatory hem, thus began in a glow and serious manner—- “ I think, sir, you are the lawyer employed by the S family, whose property in Yorkshire you are therefore gware is about to he sold.” “I have, sir,” answered the barrister. 15 full instructions and powers to complete the disposal of it, which, though a painful duty to me, must bo performed.” “ It is a duty you may dispense with,” said the visitor, waving fins hand, “the property need not bo sold.” “May I presume to ask, sir, whether you arc any relation to the family P If so you mast be acquainted with the absolute necessity of selling it, m consequence oi the claim of another branch of the family, i’ust returned from beyond sea, who, as leir-at-law, is naturally possessor of the estate, in default oi a will to the contrary ; and who desires its value in money, in ptead of the land. The present possessor fs unable to buy it, aud must therefore depart.” “You are mistaken,” replied the old gentleman; “you seem not to know ol the win oi aV' l S *s gvoav-^raim-father, by which he not only left tha 1 , fab to h*s favorite fr ?siid cr * ,r '* <rpri tieman’s father, bu; even entailed it on his great-gre»t-grandson.” “fciuch a will, sir,” said the barrister, “was, indeed, supposed for many years to exist; and, in virtue of it, Mr S ha*, until now. peaceably enjoyed the property ; but, on the claimant s application either the belief proves wholly unfounded, *>r it- has boon lost or destroyed. Cabinets, ekeeis, every room, inhabited grid iinin-1 habited, have been ransacked in vain. Mr § l_ has now given up all hope of it } the §%le is to be completed in

the course of next west; and the fine old place must pass into the hands of stan- “ lou are mistaken again, young man,” said the stranger, striking his cane on the iioorj “I say, sir, the will exists. Go immediately,"' continued he, in an authoritative tone f ll travel uight and day. Tou may save an old family from disgrace and ruin. In the end room of tire west wing, now uninhabited, is a closet in the wall.” “We have looted there,” interrupted the barrister. * “ Silence, sir: there is a closet, I saw In that closet is a large chest; that chest has a false bottom, and underneath that is the deed. lam certain of what I say. I say it deposited there ; no matter when, or by whom. Go ; you will find it worth your trouble. My name, sir, is Hugh S . I am not now personally known to the proprietor of S - Hall ; but I am his relation, and have his welfare at heart. Neglect not to follow my advice.” So saying, the old gentleman arose, again bowed, and at the door put on his hat, in a fashon which would have enchanted an elegant of Queen Anne’s day ; and sliding the silken string of his cane on the little linger of his right hand, on which the lawyer had remarked a very fine brilliant ring, he descended the stairs, and departed, leaving the barrister in the utmost astonishment. At first he felt half inclined to consider the whole as a hoax ; then again, when he thought of the old gentleman’s grave manner, and the intimate knowledge he must have possesed of the house, to be able to describe the room so exactly in which the chest was, be could not but believe him to be sincere. At length after much deliberation, he desided upon immediate departure; aud arrived, on the evening of the fourth day, at S Hall. Tho sale had been the only theme of conversation at every place he had passed through, within twenty miles of his destination ; and much and loudly was it lamented, that the squire should be leaving his house for ever, ■ and that poor Mr John would never enjoy his rights ; as they persisted in calling the possession of the estate. On his entrance into the mansion, signs of approaching removal everywhere met his eye. Packages filled the hall; servants with sorrowful countenances were hurrying about ; and the family were lingering sadly over the last dinner they were ever to partake ol in their regretted home. Mr. S greeted his friend with a s irprise, which changed to incredulity, when the barrister, requesting His private ear, declared the reason of his appearance ■‘lt cannot bo,” said he, “ Is it likely that no one should ever have heard of the hiding of tiio deed but the old gentleman you mention ? Depend upon it, you have been deceived, my dear riend ; I am onn sorry you should- have taken so much trouble to so little purpose.”, The barrister mentioned the name of his visitor. “ Hugh S ! ’ exclaimed the gentleman, laughing. “ I have not a relation in the world of that name,” “ It is worth the trying, however,” said the lawyer; “and since I have come so far, 1 will flnisli the adventure.” Mr. —— seeing his friend so determined, at length determined to satisfy him, and accompanied him towards the apartment he specified. As they crossed one of tho rooms on their way, he suddenly stopped before a large fall length portrait, 1 For heaven’s sake,” cried he, “ who is this P” “My granduncle,” returned Mr. S . “ a good old fellow as ever lived. I wish wild all my heart he was alive now ; bat he has been dead these thirty years.” “What was his name ?” “ Hugh S . The only one of the family ol that name.” “ That is tho man who called upon me. His dress, his hat, his very ring are there.” They proceeded to the closet, lifted the false bottom of the chest, and—found the deed. The kind old uncle was never seen again.