The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-05-26

nwycr who drew up the will and witnessed
The signature was thrown from the horse and
Killed aud now suspicious became rife, for
William had bucn seen in his company not
long before.
still justice, always tarly when the sus-
picious person is rich and powerful, took no
notice OF these things, though private indi-
viduas were much excited about them.
In this state was the public when Father
Pedro and Philip arrived the latter feeble
and shattered, but still a reasonable man.
AS soon as dcccncy would allow, after
the arrival Of Philip, Father Pedro sugges-
ted to William that it was proper for him to
resign the house and estate Of the Man in
Armor' to its rightful owner, as he had
heard the conditions Of the will mentioned
by many Of the inhabitants. William coolly
replied that he believed it to be in the pos
session of that person now, and produced
| Twill, signed by his father, witnessed by the
Ilawycr and Mr.. Agayo, the principal fca-
lures Of which were these ..
That the two largest estates were the
{Qrepsst1 oGsyk killiam, tbs smaller bsiug the
fPfoperty cf Rnnunciata; no mention being
made Of Philip whatever.
Many persons on the Island had heard Of
! the original will, many had talked with the
deceased gentlemen about it; but still no
one had any personal knowledge of it.
Father Pedro was not to be so easily dis
fcouraged, and asked several influential men
to 60 with him TO the Mar i. .,rmor,' con.
Hont :" iiam, tell him Of their suspicious,
and ascertain what they could.
| William received them all in the most
Iundauntcd manner, declared his determine.
tion TO maintain his rights, and put all sus-
tplcon at defiance.
l slow do you dare, gentlemen, because
ono man dies in his bed, and another falls
from his horse, TO say that have murdc ed
kWhy do you believe that, because inherit
Emy fathers estatcs--hc believing himself to
have no other son--that, therefore, have
forged a will: Produce your proofs, gen.
tlemen, Of my guilt; produce one connect
hing link between me and the death Of these
men, and ! will abdicatc n favor Of my bro
ther, feeble and broken man, who shall
have the care and support he requires, but
who never shall hold the position Of power
and proprictorship which hold
a low, iiendish laugh was the only sound
which broke the stiffness after this speech Of
Williams Old Lanta had stolen in as he
spoke, and now stood behind Father Pedro's
chair uttering her broken and almost unin.
telligiblc sounds.
William sprang at her, but an athletic
man near him held him down in his chair,
while the old woman spoke, brandishing "a
vial in her hand
lie kill him, he kill Mr. Agayo! He
ask him to drink the night before he die he
put this in his cup lie kill dc old lawyer;
he knock him oft his hOisc under de cotton.
wood tree. | watch him Dcre is more
ike dis in his in'.case, and something
else, too
'Th0 old woman watched him growing IL
yd under her words, aud dar;ed toward
him, 'Iol Kill my daughter, too you say
you love her. you beat her, you break her
heart. | break your heart The old crea.
! ture fell on the floor uttering Wild sArieks.
/ Lb.e all her imaginative aud savage race,
she could bc willy and quiet for time but
the terrible food would come at last, and
pos IL nv"rwhelmcd her.
! t'rhc gentlemen gathered around William.
Father Pedro and one other were dispatched
I for the drcssing-csse. In it was discovered
several vials OF poison, and, in a secret top,
the origHa! will, the contents Of which have
been before stated
! s'Wilam recovered his coolncss somewhat,
begged of the gentlemen TO remember that
| the word of n slave vas not of value as ties.
,imony, but surrendered himself prisoner,
and desired that legal opinion should be OBJ
tanned at once, as he wogId then clear him
SELF
'lic walked into small room near the
lldoOr, from which there was no cgress
except the window aud door, both Of which
were Cslcctually guarded.
six men remained through the night two
walking up and down before the window,
two in front Of the door, and two more
threw themselves on the couches in tae hall,
waiting to relieve their comrades.
In the morning the dlgn'tarics OF the Is
lands arrived, the door OF tho room was
opened, but the prisoner was gone.
The men who had guarded the window
had not LETT their post; the door was Sc
curcly guarded there was no other opening
to the room. II seemed as II he must have
entered the solid wall.
However, he was gone The search for
him proved utterly unsuccessful, and was
given up. Gradually he ceased to he talked
about There were Wild ruinors OF his hay
ing been seen in boat, pulling for some
ship; but nothing very definite was known
Perhaps year alter this sudden dlsap'
pearance, Annunclata came back from Eng
land She was followed by a, English gen
tleman to whom she had promised her hand
and, finding her brother Philip much i'm
proved in mind and body, she determined tc
celebrate her marriage at his house, ana en-
deavor to break the chain oil dreadful events
which had followed one another under the
roof of the Man in Armor. .
The marriage day oil Annunclata arrived
They had deemed it proper to show their
sense OF the neighoorly kindness OF then
friends, and invite them to be present. Al
though the fate Of William hung over then
like dark cloud, yet their conviction Of hi:
crimes, and his harsh and unbrotherly con
duct toward them, had blotted out the love
Of kindred, and they had got to look upor
him as something mysterious and dreadful
and to try and forget him.
The wedding was arranged with grca
state, as became the wealth and socia, posi-
-, " r A.. ,,.,,;o, uho ,,l.,t,r, I, tha;,