Miss Hannah had lived at Lorne Cottage since the 19th. century turned into the 20th. century. Only a few of her relatives ever came to see her.
The little house was a sweetie-shop and a Post Office and the old lady augmented her income by taking in other ladies who were not perhaps as well as they might be.
It came to pass that, as she grew very old, the sweetie-shop and Post Office were closed and the ladies passed on, and her only companions were several cats.
Now it was a well known fact that she had money concealed about the house. Was it not true that a considerable sum, in the form of banknotes, had been found down the side of an armchair? Yes, there was, no doubt, a fortune hidden there. (I wonder where on earth it came from?)
She was 90 years of age, when negotiating the stairs, she fell and died.
Within a short time, all the relatives who had found it so inconvenient to visit her, had gathered to pay their last respects. They began by searching through the house for the elusive fortune.
Tossing aside the old lady's baby shoes which had hung by the fireplace for 50 years,
Throwing onto the bonfire the contents of the old trunks, clothes, dresses, feather boas, belts, hats - masterpieces of the milliners art, etc..
Ripping the furniture to pieces in the hunt for the fortune and tossing the remnants on the fire.
They never did find the fortune, of course, what there was had gone up in smoke.
They were offered Lorne Cottage by the Estate for £200, but nobody wanted it!
What is it worth today, I wonder.
All stories published on this Web Site are the property of the editor and publisher Len Knott, and are subject to the strict application of the law of copyright. No permission is granted given or implied hereby for republishing any of this material in its original or altered form in any media whatsoever for private or charitable or commercial purposes.
Most recent revision 18th July 2001. Copyright © 1998 Len Knott.