The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-11-13
VOL. TX.

I1C hds u Outt u accompany
her home, but Tim had been too quick foi
him there. Tim accompanied the lady home,
and Benson returned martifed to his room.
He however formed the determination of Wis
iting Miss Ayers, feeling the assurance that
Tim would come off second best, when it be-
came known that Tim was but the son Of a
farmer in moderate circumstances, while he
was the son Of Major Benson, with fortune
at his command. He accordingly often call
ed on Miss Ayers; and her uncle, for reasons
which will hereafter be explained, encour-
aged his visits, and exeited himself in his be-
half, as sutton to his nece. Benson was
fairly in love, and as many lovers do, he as
sumed virtue and amiability Of department,
which was but ill-feigned, and his real charac-
ter would often appear in spite of himself
Tim also had avalled himself of Eliza's invi-
tation and often visited her. A mutual at
tachment was the consequence, which soon
rpened into an affection between the two
an exchange of VOWS and a promise of her
hand were won from Eliza. Benson under
the encouragement of her uncle still contin-
ued his suit, proposed, and was rejected. He
grew amazingly melancholy. OF at least affec-
ted to be so; and would wander in his moods
to the banks of the river, and gaze upon the
stream, probably contemplating an acquaint-
ance with suicide-and giving his body TO the
fishes for dissection. But Benson was not
such fool as that, either. His disappoint-
ment became known at the college, and nu-
merous were the gibes and taunts the poor
fellow got from those whom he had so inso-
lently domineered. This, of course, did not
tend to add much to the amiabiity Of his tenn
per-and on one occasion he showed his ma
Lightly and courage by knocking down a
bright-eyed lad, some five or six years his
Junior, for saying-'that a fellow who had
been in the habit of taking airs on himself,
had found Ayers that could not be so easily
taken Tim, who stood by, saw this exhibit
ton of Benson's courage, and in return gave
him blow under the left ear, which sent him
Keeling to the floor. At this the whole school
shouted, and Tim was ever after hailed as a
protector against the tyrannies OF Benson.
But Tim himself was not entirely at ease
on the score Of Miss Ayres. The old uncle
| had frowned upon him as he entered the house,
and had given him sundry hints that Eliza
was not for him; while at the same time he
had attempted play his hands upon Eliza re-
specting her acceptance of Benson. This
uncle's name was Pell. He had been made
the sole executor Of the will of Eliza's father,
himself having the profits of large estate Of
the deceased gentleman, after supporting and
educating the daughter, during her minority,
or until she should marry. An item in the
will was TO this effect-that if Eliza married
person Of moderate fortune, the whole estate
amounting to sixty thousand dollars was TO
become hers, on her marriage day, or when
she became Of age-but if her husband was
himself heir to thirty thousand dollars, half
Of the estate became the property of the I'M
cle-whch sufficiently explains the anxiety
on the part of Mr.Pell that Eliza should mar
nv Benson, as he would thereby become pos
sessed OF snug little property.
Tim visited Eliza one evening and found
her in tears. On his enquiring the the cause,
she informed him that Benson had that day
repeated his suit, and had again beenrejected
that OH hearing it, her uncle had come in and
upbraided her, and threatened that if she did
not accept Benson, to dispossess her of her
property alleging that he possessed the means
of doing so, as no body had read the will of
her father except himself-that the subscrb-
ing witness did not know the contents-that
probate had never been taken of it-and that
it was in his power to insert therein clause
recurring that if she married, it must be with
the consent of him, as the guardian and the
executor of the willard then if she married
Tim, it would be without his consent, and
she would therefore become disinLerited for
ever.
Can't you get possession of the will 2 en-
quired Tim of Eliza.
'Ishould think it impossible, as my uncle
keeps it well secured in an iron SAFE
IN manage it my dear replied Tim, and
will get the will from the old tyrant, or I'm no
conjursr. You have told me, l think, that
your uncle was very superstitious?'
He is said Eliza. He imagines often
that he hears the voices Of Mr.. Jones, and 9TH
ers of his former tenants, who are now dead
and no wonder, for his expressions were the
ruin of these poor men,.
In what part of the house does your uncle
lodge1' enquired Tim.
'On the first floor of the wing at the ex-
tremity of the building, shereplied.
Tim babe her good evening, and then went
to consult Mr.. Fletcher his attorney. After
some time spent in the consultation, Tim de-
parted, and was vending his way in brown
study towards his boarding house, when he
was accosted by Peter, the black servant of
PeIl, with.
Fine evenin,' Massa Jocelyn, l want to
peak to you
| linn stopped, ana turned round 10 tue ne
gro. He was stout, humorous looking fell
low, somewhat aged. and approached Tim
very respectfully. He had been brought up
by Eliza's father, and was favorite domestic
of that gentlemaninh his lifetime. Peter COM
menced-
Look here, Massa Jocelyn; you notknow
what been goin' on at Massa Pelfs since
let you out de gate dis eveuin'. Dat Teller
Benson he come agin to see Missus, and she
scamper of to her room, and shet her selfup,
and den Benson went away. Pretty soon
Massa Pell, (he wicked ole chap Massa Joce-
lynn come and call young Missus out, and
tell her she muss marry dat Benson in month
or he turn her out door. Poor young Mis-
sus cry, and take on so, dat couldn't 'tand
it, and so fell a numbering too-'caze, you
see, she my old Massa's darter, and / carry
herin my arms when she little piccaninny.-I
Dat ole Massa Pell very cruel, Massa Jocelyn,
and he say she had no property if she not
marry Benson. Now, Massa Jocelyn, what
to be donel Can'tyou lick that Benson! Be-
| sure YOU can