The Last Will and Testament of Beatrice Hallowell

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LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF BEATRICE HALLOWELL I, Beatrice Hallowell, being of sound mind and body, residing at the Hallowell Estate, Blackwood County, do hereby declare this document to be my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all previous wills and codicils made by me. ARTICLE I: EXECUTOR I appoint Arthur Vance, Esq., as the sole executor of this estate. He shall be responsible for the distribution of assets and the verification of the conditions set forth in Article III. ARTICLE II: BEQUESTS 1. To my nephew, Julian Hallowell, I bequeath the primary residence and all accompanying acreage, including the carriage house and the cellar vaults. 2. To my niece, Clara Hallowell, I bequeath the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), provided she adheres to the restrictions outlined in Article III during any visit to the estate. ARTICLE III: COVENANTS AND CONDITIONS OF INHERITANCE The transfer of the Hallowell Estate to Julian Hallowell is contingent upon the strict adherence to the following behavioral constraints. Any breach of these covenants shall result in the immediate forfeiture of the property and the reversion of the estate to the Blackwood Historical Trust. Section 3.1: The Attic Vigil. The Beneficiary shall ensure that one (1) beeswax candle remains illuminated in the third-floor attic storage room at all times. This light must be maintained without interruption. Should the flame expire, it must be relit within ten minutes. The cost of wax and wicks shall be borne by the Beneficiary. Section 3.2: The Nocturnal Silence. Between the hours of 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM, the Beneficiary and any guests residing on the premises are strictly prohibited from uttering the given or family name of any living or deceased person. Communication during these hours shall be limited to general nouns, descriptors, or written correspondence. Section 3.3: Access Restrictions. The door to the sub-basement, identified by the iron bolt and the etched seal, shall remain locked. The key shall be kept in the possession of the executor. No individual shall enter this space without the written consent of the executor and the presence of a licensed witness. Section 3.4: Maintenance of the Perimeter. The salt line encircling the north garden wall must be replenished every full moon. This replenishment shall be performed using coarse sea salt, applied in a continuous, unbroken line of three inches in width. ARTICLE IV: DISPOSITION OF REMAINS My remains are to be interred in the Hallowell family plot. The casket must be sealed with lead and buried at a depth of no less than eight feet. No headstone shall be erected; the plot is to be marked only by a single slab of unpolished slate. Signed this 14th day of October, 1924. (Signed) Beatrice Hallowell Witnessed by: (Signed) Arthur Vance, Esq. (Signed) Margaret Thorne