The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-11-20
OIL D PEI L,
THE VENTRILOQUIST.
(Concluded.)

II wa. five minutes OF twelve o'clock.
The night was dark and the wind howled
over the top OF the trees. and creaked the
shutters of the old mansion. Old Pell had
retired to his room, had undressed himself,
put on his nightcap, and was busy in mind
respecting the thirty thousand dollars he
was TO obtain if Eliza married Benson
lie went to the iron safe, and took out the
will, read it over, and thus soliloguised -
The Jade must he compelled 10 submit-or
she gets no property. Here is blank in the
will sufficiently large to insert what is neces-
sary-and as drew it originally. 1t will be the
same hand writing-and never detected. So
I'll Just insert here, where it says Eliza is TO
become possessed of her property on her mar
riagc day-prorided she marries ,cih the con-
sent of Samuel PeH-whOm have cOnstitu-
ted a guardian and sole executor of this my
last will and testament Peters room was
adjoining that ofPell-there was glass win
dow in the door between them, and there
was one who had been an attentive observer
and listener TO the conduct and solilOquy of
Pcll. The old scamp had dipped his pen in
the inkstand, smOothed out the folded parch-
ment, and crooked his elbow to write
when
Forgery! cried a deep-toned. hollow, and
supernatural voice al his elbow.-'FOrgeryr
reiterated the same voice in another part OF
the room, and again the horrible word For
gerry was slowly pronounced, and lis tones
gradually sunk in the earth beneath the
floor.
Old Pell suddenly dropped the pen, and
shrunk back pale and trembling, with horror
and fright depicted on his countenance
Having little recovered from his astonish-
menf, he looked around the apartment and
under the bed. Nothing was to be seen. He
listened. Nothing was to be heard but the
snoring ofPeter in the adjoining room. He
began to think it an illusion. was fast recov-
erlng 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 tone
Of thunder.
Pcll drew away his hand as ii he had re-
ceived all electric shock, and leaving the will
on the centre table, ran into Peters room
and awakened him.
WHATS the trouble, Massa Pelll" asked the
negro. "Get up" said Pell, shaking with
fright, land come into my ROOM" Peter
went in accordingly. Pell then contin-
ued-
Did you hear nothing, Peter"
NO, Massa. What you hear that scare
you sol"
mo matter l want you to stay with me,
and keep candle burning. I'll retire to
bed"
Pell accordingly prepared himself to turn
in, but he bethought himself that il would be
best to put the will again into the safe before
he retired. He advanced to the table for that
purpose, and was in the act of taking up the
parchment, when the same unearhly voice
exclaimed
'Let the ,ciH alone old PeHr'
He started back with SO much force as to
upset Peter, who, falling against the table,
upset that also-the candle on the table oe-
came upset and extingushed, and all was to-
tai darkness.
''What in time all you, Nasal" asked
Peter; "what scare you dis timel-
Didn't you hear voice, Peter!"
mo Nasal hear noting"
During the darkness and confusion. Tim
slipped into Pell's room, and with phos-
phoric preparation. wrote on the wall the
ominous word Forgery" in large cleaning
characters, picked up the TiH, and made his
exit back into Peters room. If any thing
could add to the CONSERVATION Of the already
horror-struck Pell, it was beholding that ter
rible word blazing and twinkling on the OPP
posite wall. He swooued away with fright
Peter raised his master on chair. threw
some water in his face, and relighted the eau
die. Pell soon revived, and was about has
tening to bed, after inquiring Of Peter if he
saw anything on the wall, to which the ne
gro replied he saw noting but massa's
cloak hanging there;'' and charging Peter
10 stay with alighted candle in the room all
night he parted the curtains preparatory to
leap into the bed.
Don't come in here. you old sinner p"
snleked the same voice, issuing from the bed
clothes; but Pell had already thrown him.
Sef upon tie bed, where he swooned away
again
fe'"r threw some wafer in his face. and