The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-06-05
.ooDsFIELD, OHIO, SATURDAY, JUNE $, ls47.

"Sir James, said the son, 81 will 60
rather than to stay to hear these things.
And may God forgive me and you for
all that is wrong between u.s."
"Dale you, sir, talk ofGod forgiving
you, you villain" shouted the sick man,
almost foaming with passion, while the
alarmed attendants, not daring to in
terfere, stood trembling, looking from
father to on. 81 tell you he'll let you
~starvc, and you can't help ii. Tll make
it sure. Yes! and I'll live to see it,"
he exclaimed with a horrible oath. 81
won't die-it's all a lie of the doctors.
You and your paramour shall beg be-
fore my face, you shall"
"Say what you will Of me, but for
bear my wife, exclaimed the young
man, with flashing eyes, "here l stay
no longer" and he moved towards the
door. But three or four servants in.
!.srposed.
"Keep him in" fiercely exclaimed
the invalid, snake him stay till the will
is readand signed. He shall see it ALL"
and again there was a terrible oath.
~ pray you sir" said the conveyan-
Ger, now advancing, for the young man
had not seen him before, "conslder the
place. he added, imploringly, as he
saw the son about to knock down the
servants who opposed his path: "it
shall be hostened as much as possible
ifyou will only hear it," he whispered.
The young heir, bitterly as he had
been reviled, would not make his faith.
er's dying room the scene Of brawl,
so he bowed at this e%xpostulation, and
folding his arms haughtily on his bosom,
prepared to hear the will. A look of
bitter triumph passed over the sick
mans face: it seemed as if his passions
had transformed him into a fend.
"Proceed, sir," he said, nodding to
the conveyancer.
The man unrolled his parchment and
began repeating the formal language
of the deed, and as clause after clause
was read depriving the young man of
his just rights, the eyes of the invalid
gloated over the agony he knew he
was inhicting on his victim. The son,
in spite Of every exertion, felt that his
feelings were betraying themselves in
tho convulsive witches Of his face
How could he look unconcerned when
his last hopes were being crushed, and
he saw inevitable beggary before his
wife and babe, with the horrors of a
jail in prospect, for himself2 But he
closed his mouth firmly, choked back
emotions, and gazed sternly on the
man of the law, ashamed that the look
should perceive his emotion.
When the conveyancer had finished
the deed, he advanced to the bedside
with 1t, two servants carrying a small
on which were writing materi-
ais.
"Give me 9 pen, quick, quick" said
invalid, rising unsupported in bed.
The conveyancer fastened to obey
the parchment was spread out, and the
pen was IN the invalid's hand.
"Do you see this, STRIP he said, cas-.
ing a look Of triumphant malice at his
ION, and he placed the pen to the skin.
The storm, all this while, had been
Increasing in fury, and vivid flashes Of
electricity had begun of late even to
penetrate through the closed shutters
md heavy drapery Of the windows
|ust at this instant a peal was heard,
stunning every one in the room, which
'eemed filled with a binding light. Sew
'ral fell to the floor in fright, and the
whole house seemed to rock. For a
econd there was a breathless silence,
nd then the conveyancer spoke:
"Father in Heaven!" he exclaimed, in
tone Of horror, and advancing to the
'ed, he added, solemnly, "Sir James is
They rushed to his side and found it
vas indeed SO. The lightning had run
own the wall at the head of the bed,
nd, in a second, the soul Of the baro-
!et was in eternity. The parchment
vas shrivelled and black; while the pen,
nocked three feet from the hand, lay
upon the rich counterpart.
A silence of horror chained every
ongue. The death Of the invalid at
hat instant, seemed like a stroke Of
Providence.
At length the conveyancer turned to
he son, and, grasping his hand, said
GAS there is no will, Sir James, you
re the sole heir. And from the bot
om Of my heart, l congratulate YOU"
There is no happier woman now than
he young Lady Hengist, for she is blest s
nth a husband who adores her and sur.
with a family Of lovely chill. I
rem, who inherit the beauty and vir- I