The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1847-02-25

1870
clarsd she had never conf6ed word OF
the matter to her sou: nor would Michael
ever ncknosledge how he had made the
discovery. lie had made il howeyer, and
turned 1t TO good account for himself. TIN,
VAS shother and powerful reason for Dou.
aldson's wishing him out OF the country.
\ few weeks after the destruction OF the
Smugslet's Fort Michael returned private
ly TO his house, pretending to have Just
come from abrosd-saw his employer, and
in hurried interview, gave ban 10 rndeE-
stand that all vas night
II was at this period, also, that Eckar
arrived from lreaud aud while staying al
the cottage OF Ruddock, observed his rap.
ID decentralization, and the unhappy change
in his circumstances Soon sller Eckar
len Cumberland, Michael Ruddock quilted
England to return no more.
Mr Erkar now believed that the words
uttered by Michael when dying, had rela.
ted TO the imprisonment Of his mother. aud
not as be then supposed Of his son. Il IL
most likely that Ruddock believed the child
had been destroyed. lie had only men.
toned 10 disJoin;ed sentences that DJLald-
son had only committed the child 70 him 10
carry il away DOT Of tile country, or 10 De.
s:Ioy, but could explain no further.
Ca the evening previous &c the day fix
ed upon lcr the n,efment OF Mrs. Eckar, |
sauntefed INTO the large and desolate look
ing library. The sun was declining aud
his rays falling on the range Of family por.
traits which hung opposite TO tho windows,
lighted into something like cheeriu.ness
those pale aul iaIn. shadows Of former
greatness.
folded my arms ana stood gam. al
then; nor could help moraLzlng OH The
circumstances which had IN SO unlocked for
a manner thrown lhuse appendages aud
proofs OF aristocratc pomp into the hands
oi the obscure and nameless, while the last
descendant OF line OF heroes sans peur
AMI beauties sans reproche wss driven
from his ancestral inheritance, houeless
aanderer, perhaps forever.
tnurmured these las, words loud enou.h
for my flenJ 10 hear them.
That, SAID be, IS point which ye, re
lu44N- ~ w pluFGAs " udsCf mum Aiil+
pie ground 10 suppose that viii msy be
concealed somewhere, which may restore
your irlend Eckar 10 his rights The ST.
fence OF The widow vas omnous aad the
DJnadsons knew il 10 be 50. Had there
been no testament Of later date than the
one made 10 favor Of AIRS bel, Mrs. Eckar
would have declared The fact il only to co
cape further ll-usage.'
hope Il may prove so, said /. But
how that poor devil, Donaldson, INSISTED on
the validity Of the val, made IN his wife 5
favor with what enacly he held On, even
10 The last
Never saw, replied my friend a s,ron.
! ger proof and illustration al tue same time
. Of what pope calls the ruling passion stron.
: IN death. His conscience constantly urg
, eJ h,m 10 a disclosure, which his Iu,e,eratt
avarice and seIt.love as stteuuously forbade.
I And yet you ptied that man and Ia
J. mented that his last hours should be disturb
, cd BY litigation
True, my good sir, bat that was before
, certain things had come to light which
have gwen me reason to alter ny opiuloE
+ | cauno. give my couu enanee 10 Villain,
ol his stamp.
could no; ioIboar smiling al the grave
assertion Of my friend. Oue would sup
j pose, sad l. he thought Inc goodness 0
, lilo viii was sItficint proof Of ia justice
and our seeing the instrument, and hea ~.
! i read, quite enough 10 satisfy Us 10 tina
plrucu.ar.'
And # he Did, rtjoiued my friend, b
/ ls not tie only man Who has INDUCED II
, similar visionary speculatons.
Tie had been rInlgln- among heap o
!, rubbish which lay 10 cue corner, aud lron
beneath pile Of maps, charts, iarulshei
picture frames, heavy tJiIos, AID a uunbe
] Of o.her Heterogeneous articles had succeed
, edInbruglug 0tght ancient chest, Whci
. We had both sped To-" days before, one
agreed TO investigate with some attention
|. vas singullrly carved and adorned viii
the family crest a mtsshappu monster
whose lJkeEcss was not 10 be found n hea
ven, earth or sea.
We tried 10 raise the Id but found il
p secured and after many Intellectual attempt,
! TO open u, thought INC Of the key ahct
had fallen from the robe o! The ldow Eek
, ar on The day Of her death, and which The
reader may remainder secured at the no.
neut. Oa apply ing i, tie lock, which vas
cguousIy Constructed, yielded al ONCE
We found the chest filled with family
archives 40 immense roll Of faded parch.
met! was discovered and il proved 10 be
the ancient TUE deeds Oh Tue family estate
baI at the bottom Of the chest and beneath
heap Of musly parchment, books, &c, We
drew forth a usH Of the late lady which
on examination was found 10 be dated full
SIX months later than tho oao exhibited by
DgnIIdsoni and in which feyoklny oil viii.
heretofore made by herself, she bequeathed
the Whole Of her possessions 10 her son
. Richard Eck4r, aad to hts heirs forever
. Here vas triumph Griffith Who had
entered the room a few minutes before,
d gave a cry Of Joy, my legal friend disap.
peafed and returned Leading 10 tie l,neal
5 her accompanied By hts son, Nothing
could exceed or compare with his surprise