Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-05-30

Il
ttlk in he sleep and say he see ghost; and
den he call me inahe room. and make me
sit up all night wild CANDLE"
Tim here informed the negro of the cir.
cumstancos relating TO the wil-that he was
anxious TO obtain possession Of il for the
purpose OF having it proved and recorded,
and then it would be out of old Pell's DOW
er to Djure his young mistress. Tim, I
have said before, was rentriloqaisf. 1fTIe
explained this to Peter--and they together
formed the project of Frightening old PelI
out of the possession of the will. Il was
arranged that Tim should come to the ne
gro's room at about twelve o'clock that
highland their preconcerted Management.
when there, is now about to appear.
Ii was five minutes Of twelve O'Clock
the night was dark, and the wind howled
over the tops of the trees, and creaked the
shutters of the mansion. Old Poll had re.
tired to his room, had undressed himself
put on his night.cap, and was busy in his
mind respecting the thirty thousand dollars
he was to obtain if Eliza married Benson.
he went to the iron safe. and took out the
will, read it over, and thus soliloquized--
"The jade must be compelled to submit
Or she gets no property. Here is blank
IN the will, sufficiently large to insert what
is necessary--and as drew it originally,
it will be the same hand writing, and never
detected. So III just insert here, where il
states that Eliza is to become possessed of
her property on her marriage day propi.
ded she marries wih the consent of Samuel
PEI, whom have constituted her guar
dian, and sole executor Of this my last will
and testament" Peters room was ad.
joining that of Pell--there was q glass win
dow in the door between them--and there
was one who had been an attentive Observer
and listener TO the conduct and solioquy
ofPell The old scamp had dipped hspenin
his inkstand, smoohed out the folded parch.
ment, and crooked his elbow to write
when
" FORGERY" cried deep-toned, hollow
and supernatural voice at his elbow. For.
gey!" reiterated the same voice in anoth.
or part of the room and again the horrl.
bic word " Forgeryl" was slowly pro.
nounced, and its tones gradually sunk in
the earth beneath the floor.
Old Pell suddenly dropped the pen, and
shrunk back pale and trembling, with hor.
ror and fright depicted in his countenance.
Having a little recovered from his aston.
ishment, he looked round his apartment
and under the bed. Nothing was to be
seen. He listened. Nothing was heard
but the snoring Of Peter in the adjoining
room. He began to think it an Illusion
was fast recovering his courage, and was
about to take up the will again, when, as
soon as he placed his hand upon it,
Forgery" again cried the voice in a
tono of thunder.
Pell drew away his hand as il he had re-
ccived an electric shock, and leaving the
will on the centre table, ran into Peter 8
room and awakened him.
What's de trouble, Massa Pell % asked
the negro.
"Get up" said Pell, shaking with fright,
and come into my ROOM" Peter went
in accordingly. Pcll continued
"Did you hear nothing, Peter ~
No massa--what you hear dat scare
you so 2"
No matter, want you to stay with me,
and keep candle. burning. I'll 90 TO bed. y
Pel prepared to turn in, but he bethough,
himself that it would be best to put tho will
again into the safe before he retired. He
advanced TO tho table for that purpose, and
was in the act of taking up the parchment
when the same unearthly voice exclaimed
Let the will alone, old pell! I"
He started back with so much force ms tc
/, upset Peter, who, falling against the table
upset that also--the candle on the table be
came upset and extinguished, and all wa
total darkness.
"What de debbil all you massa ~ asked
> Peter" What scare you dis time %
Didn't you hear voice, Peter %
No, massa, hear noting"
During the darkness and confusion, Tin
slipped into Pell's room, and with phos
phorc preparation, wrote on the wall, thu
: omlnous word =" Forgery :" in large CLEAN
i, ing characters, picked up The ,ciH, and made
= his exit back into Peters room. If any
: thing could have added TO the consterna
= ton of the already horror-struck Pel,
: was beholding that terrible word, blazin,
! and twinklink on the opposite wall. HI
: swooued away with fright. Peter raises
. his master on a chair, threw some water il
his face, and re.lghied the candle. Pc
soon revived, and was about fastening 4
= bed, after enquirng of Peter if he say
{ nothing on the wall, to which the negro re
:, piled that he saw "nottng but Massa'
: cloak hanging dare !" and charging Pete
: TO stay with lighted candle in the room a
night, he partea his curtains preparatory t
!, leap into bed.
: don't come 10 here, you old sinner !!
shriekcd the same voice issuing from tn
bed cothes---but Pell had already throw
: himself upon the bed, where he swoonet
= again.
I" Peter threw some water in his face, an
= Pel again revived but he was so exhaust
= : ed with his numerous rights, that he wa
J J fast sinking into sleep, when the sam
: voice, in a singing strain, exclaimed,
4 GOOD night, good night, old Sammy Pell
!, Aud rscoll,ct twill be as well
y That nouglt of this nights sccnc you tell,
y Or else you'd better be in hill"
: CONCLUSION nert 'ccek.
"a ------------------------ d.