The Allen House Part 20

"And must go into the hands of those who are named as executors."

"And be by them entered in the office of probate," added Wallingford.

"I would have placed it in their hands immediately on its discovery, but have, acting under advice from my kind friend here, waited until your return from England. No interest has suffered, I presume, by this delay?"

"None."

Wallingford bent his eyes to the floor, and sat for some time as if half-confounded by the discovery.

"What step will the executors probably take?" I inquired.

"It will be their duty to a.s.sume possession of the estate, and hold it for the heirs of Mrs. Allen, if any are in existence," he replied.

"And it will be their duty to take all proper means for discovering these heirs?" said I.

"Yes. That follows, of course."

"And if none are found within a reasonable time?" I asked.

"The phrase, a reasonable time, is very indeterminate," said Wallingford. "It may include one, or ten years, according to the facts in the case, the views of the executors and the courts."

"But, finally?"

"Finally," he answered, "if no heirs come forward to claim the estate, it will revert to the old line of descent through the blood relations of Captain Allen."

"And come into the possession of Mrs. Montgomery?"

"Yes, if the courts are satisfied with the evidence which can be presented in her favor."

There followed a long silence, which Mrs. Montgomery was first to break.

"I believe," she said, firmly, "that I am prepared for the final issue of this matter, whatever it may be. I shall still require legal advice, Mr. Wallingford."

The young man bowed a.s.sent.

"And, as Judge Bigelow is one of the executors--"

"I do not think, madam," said Wallingford, interrupting her, "that the fact of his executors.h.i.+p will make him any the less a safe adviser for you. He is a man of the highest integrity of character, clear-seeing, and of impartial judgment."

"I believe in his judgment and integrity," she replied. "Still, I do not think it well to have these two interests represented by the same man.

You are his a.s.sociate, if I understand correctly the relation between you."

"I am, in a certain sense."

"Do you have a share in all of his business?"

"Not in all."

"So he can be independent of you in any special case if he deems it desirable."

"Yes."

"And this is also true as regards yourself?"

"Yes."

"Then, Mr. Wallingford, I shall consult you, individually, in future."

He bowed low in acquiescence.

"And let me say to you, once for all, that I want only my rights, if I have any, protected. I do not wish any impediments thrown in the way of a proper search for the heirs of Mrs. Allen; but desire to see the fullest notice given, and in channels by which it is most likely to reach them. At the same time, it is but just to me and mine that all right steps should be taken to protect my interests, in case no heirs should be found. And I have faith in you, Mr. Wallingford."

"You shall never have cause to regret your confidence, madam," he replied, in a tone so full of manly integrity, that I could not but gaze upon his fine countenance with a feeling of admiration.

"Will you place this will in the hands of Judge Bigelow?" asked Mrs.

Montgomery.

"It will be best for you to do that yourself, madam," replied Wallingford.

"I will be guided by your judgment in the case, sir. This very day I will send him a note asking an interview."

"After that, madam," said Wallingford, rising, "I will be at your service."

We retired together.

CHAPTER XV.

Both Judge Bigelow and Squire Floyd were discreet men, and did not, at the outset of their executors.h.i.+p, do more in the way of giving publicity to the fact, than probating the will, and entering into bonds for the faithful performance of the trust. For the present they decided to let Mrs. Montgomery remain in occupancy of the old mansion, and she accepted this concession in her favor.

The property left by Captain Allen was large. The grounds upon which the old house stood, embraced nearly twenty acres, and as the town had grown in that direction, its value might now be estimated by the foot, instead of the acre, as houses had grown up on all sides. Moreover, the stream of water upon which the mill of Squire Floyd stood, ran through these grounds, in a series of picturesque rapids, giving a fall of over twenty feet. The value of this property, including a mill site, was estimated at sixty thousand dollars. Then there were twenty thousand dollars in stock of the County Bank, the interest of which Mrs. Allen had drawn since the death of her husband, regularly, as administratrix of the estate. Besides this property, there were several pieces of unimproved land in and around the town, the value of which could not fall much below twenty thousand dollars. In addition to all this, was a coffee estate on the island of Porto Rico. But as to its extent, or value, no evidence appeared. It might now be richly productive, or a mere tropical wilderness. If productive, no evidence of any return since Captain Allen's death appeared.

The winter pa.s.sed without any apparent movement on the part of the executors looking to the discovery of Mrs. Allen's heirs. Young Dewey came up from New York every few weeks, to hold business interviews with his uncle and Squire Floyd, touching the mill-extension which was fully determined upon; Judge Bigelow agreeing to invest twenty thousand dollars, and the nephew ten thousand. All these matters were talked of in the beginning, freely, before Wallingford, who still had his office with his old preceptor, and shared in his business. After a while, he noticed a growing reserve on the part of Judge Bigelow and Squire Floyd, when he was by, touching their private affairs; and then they ceased entirely all reference thereto.

Dewey came up as frequently as usual, but avoided any remark in relation to business while in the presence of Wallingford. During his stay in S----, the Judge spent but little time at the office; being, for the most part, at the mill with his nephew and the Squire.

In the spring, a large force of men was set to work on the extension of Squire Floyd's mill; and as Judge Bigelow had become largely interested in the new enterprise, he gave a great deal more attention to what was going on in that direction, than to the business of his office, the heaviest part of which devolved upon Mr. Wallingford. Still, no steps were taken to discover the heirs of Mrs. Allen. Once or twice Mr.

Wallingford had approached the subject, but the Judge made no response.

At last, he put the question direct, as to what had been done. The Judge seemed a little annoyed; but said, in a hurried way that was unusual with him,

"I must, and will attend to this matter immediately. I have had so much on my mind that it has been neglected."

But the spring months pa.s.sed--summer glided by--and still there was no advertis.e.m.e.nt for heirs, nor any steps taken, so far as Wallingford could learn, to ascertain their existence.

Mrs. Montgomery still occupied the old mansion, waiting patiently the issue whatever it might be. Her health, I regretted to find, was not firm. She suffered a great deal from nervous debility; and I saw, plainly, that she had failed considerably during the past few months.