The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-06-28
And row her manner changed from the
fierce and bold to the anxious and hur.


fierce and bold to the anxious and hur.
ried.
"Come, then, quick! quick! young man.
and you shall pocket one thousand dollars
for your nights work!'' she exclaimed.
And. amazed and bewildered as was,
soon found myself at neighboring cor
ner, stepping into hack. before the start
ling but comfortable words. "a thousand
dollars for you nights work" had ceas-
ed ringing in my ears. My conductress
followed me in, and without orders we
were ratified furiously along the street to
lthe- House, then the largest hotel in
the city. My vision Of one thousand dol
lars kept my tongue bridled, and was
led in silence up two flights of stairs into
suit of rooms comprising parlor and
two bed rooms. The parlor, however.
was occupied by bed, in which lay ali
old, and evidently dying man. A servant
was with him, but he left. upon a motion
of my companion, who approached the
bed and said:
81 have an attorney here. sir, shall he
|proceed2"
The old mans eyes frightened up. and
after staring at me for a moment. he spoke:
| "If you can draw my will, do it; quick!
now, for must save my BREATH
| turned to the table where iound pens,
paper. ink, and everything necessary; and
by the light of two sperm candles in heavy
silver candlesticks. was busily engaged
at the will.
will not trouble you with the details.
nor, in fact, do remember them; but it is
enough to say that large amount Of prop.
erty. real and personal. bonds. mortgages.
etc., ere LEI, in the words OF the will, ITO
my good and faithful housekeePer. An
geline - as token Of gratitude" But
the concluding words OF the will shall
pever forget: they were written from his
mouth and made me shudder when wrote
Them There is something fearful. dread
ful-yes, deyelish-in thus deliberately re-
cording what purpor,s to be your last
written wish, curse upon your own OIL
] spring And felt as Iwrote it, an invol-
un,sry desire to tear the paper INTO frag.
|men,s. and too rush from the room; bu,
the thousand dollars were like so many
anchors. and stayed and wrote:
Il leave to my daughter Dora, all the
satisfaction she can obtain from my hearty
curse. When rags whip about her in her
only home-the s,reet-and dogs share
/ with her the refuge OF the gutter. she may
regret that she disobeyed him who once
flowed her. but who dying cursed her.
/ There was something like chuckle in
i the direction oi old Angeline, as the dying
4 wretch dictated these fearful words; but as
1 looked and saw the stern face as rigid
as marble, | concluded must have been
mistaken. l could not however. divesl
. myself OF certain feeling that all was
wrong. rich old man, accompanied by
anold housekeeper, and dying in strange
city; her anxiety to have the will so strong
the curse on his daughter and the large
fee, all conspired to make me feel that
was being Instrumental in the accomplish
ment of some villainous object. Again
meditated the destruction of the papers
and again the fee and my wants conquer
ed. The will was finished and | read i
. over aloud; the old man .groaning. ant
the old woman looking occasional assent
but when read the terrible curse, new
q actor appeared in the scene.
..Oh! tear ii! Oh. God! you know no
what you do!''
The plaintive tones Of her voice touch
ed my heart, even before my eyes behel'
its owner; but when saw her. heaven
!, !, and earth. what an angel she was! III
! language is yet undiscovered, Harry. tha
is competenito give you description c
that face; the eyes dancing with excite
J! ment, yet liquid with tears; the mout
proud as Juno s, yet compressed with an
!, guish But why do attempt description
= The most majestic. yet sweetest counte
II nance ever beheld. appealed TO me an
y not in vain; for while the old man, wea
J as he was. jumped from his bed scream
ing ..killher! kllllern' | tore the will int
= fragments, and we both. fell to the foo
II he dead, and stunned by a blow from
s heavy candle stick welded by the old hat
. Angeline.
II When my consciousness returned,
) found myself in my own bed. at my ow
= boarding house. my host and hostess N
a sole attendants. My mind was clear tn
70 moment looked about me, and knew
y had been brought home, and confined frol
10 the effects OF the blow. resolved to kee
'e my own counsel, and ascertain what
'e could of the subsequent proceedings Of ii
q; night Upon inquiry, found that ha
=. been brought home by young gentlema
IT in carriage, who had left funds for ii
m employment Of a physician. and had lie
a letter for me. | opened the letter I
v soon as was alone, and found a fifty dc
lar note. with these words
= "You did, last night deed worthy
more gratitude than our present NEAR
$ enable usto express The,property whit
SO nearly belonged to the infamous hs
who struck you, will soon be ours, al
you shall then hear from Us. May Il
!, same kindness which prompted you TO te
I I the paper seal your lips hereafter. 10 Il
ba painful scene Of last evening.
hs ~ Gratefully yours.
-. - DoRA and her HUSBAND.
ghf My first act was TO conceal the letter b
meath my pillow; my second. to call n
so host and tender him the amount of my. bi
,e- To my astonishrnent. he told me that n
nd companion paid ii when he left the lett
for II seems raved a little about my inabil
10 paw my host while | was unconScio,