The Argosy — page 379: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

358 Aunt Paradox. she did not intend to offend Mr. Ryde, and smiled away her wrath. After awhile they began tea, thinking it useless to wait longer for Richard, and wondering much what had become of him. Tea was nearly over when he came. He had been detained by letters, he said, bringing momentous news. ‘The one letter, a short one, was from Mr. Stephon; the other one, which was long, came from the butler, Gatty. ~The missing will was found. And as Gatty’s letter gave the account of how it was done, which the lawyer’s did not give, it is Gatty’s letter that we must read: | Hartley Manor, 29th May. DEAR AND HoNnouRED MastEer,—This comes hoping you are well, sir, which it leaves me at present. The strangest thing has come to light, which it is no less than the lost will, and I am here sat down in my pantry to write you the particulars, sir, such being my duty. You must remember my late master’s old purple cashmere dressing-gown, which he put on the night he died, and was promised to old Robertson when he should have done with it? We gave the gown to Robertson soon after you left us last, Mr. Richard, which you told me and Mrs. Peat we was to do, Mrs. Peat turning out the pockets first by my orders, but there was nothing in 7em. Robertson was fine and thankful for it, he was, saying ’twas too smart for him, and how good the old master was, but he have not had occasion to wear it yet on account of the warm weather. Last night, being chilly, he put it on, and down he sits upon something that felt hard. Putting his hand into the pocket, which is an inner one (and which Mrs. Peat must have missed), though the others is easy to find, he pulls out a big packet 1n a big strong envellop of parchment, on which was writ outside ‘ Will of Charles Damer, Esquire.’ It was too late to come up, he’d have found us all shut up, but he says he couldn’t sleep all night for trembling, and at breakfast time this morning he brought up the will. I locked it up, sir, in master’s old safe, and wrote to Mr. Stephon by the early post, and now I’m writing to you, Mr. Richard. And I’m glad it’s found, sir, and so is Mrs. Peat, for it’s awkward to lose grave things out of a house, specially when them they belong to is dead, and I humbly beg to send my duty to you, Mr. Richard, and am your faithful servant to command, sir, THomas GATTY.” Richard Damer read this letter aloud to the party at the tea-table. A dead silence ensued as his voice ceased. Aunt Paradox was passing her handkerchief over her suddenly heated face. “The other will?” she gasped. ‘ Does the other will stand good P” “Certainly not,” said Richard. ‘Fortunately it has not been proved. Stephon had to go again to Ireland and was not here to attend to it.” CORMIECMOOKS (EO)