The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-04-01

anu forms OF last wills and testamrnts tflt
myself sufficiently posted up. therefore
assured her that could draw viii which,
although could not warrant il to pass the
ordeal she mentioned, would was sure, be
proof, against the efforts Of all the lawyers in
Christcndom.
And now her manner changed from the
| tlerce and bold to the anxious and hurried.
.come, then, quick quick young man,
and you shall pocket one thousand dollars for
your nights work !" she exclaimed.
| And amazed and bewillered as | was, I
found myself at the neighboriug corner, step
ping into a hack, before the startling but
comfortable words, Zone thousand dollars
for your nights work !" had ceased ringing
in my ears. My conductress followed me,
and without orders we we're ratified furiously
along the streets to the - House, then the
largest hotel in the city. My visions of one
thousand bright dollars kept my tongue brid-
led, and was led in silence up two flights Of
stairs into suit Of rooms comprising parlor
and two bedrooms. The parlor, however,
was occupied by bed, in which lay an old
and evidently dying man. A servant was
with him, but he left upon motion from the
hand Of my companion who approached the
bed and said:
81 have an attorney. here, sir; shall he
Iprocceeds"
The old mans eyes Frightened up, and,
after glaring on me for moment, he spoke:
/" If you can draw my will. do it quick, now,
for must save my BREATH.
turned TO the table where found paper,
pens, ink and everything necessary; aud by
the light OF two sperm candles in heavy silver
candle-sticks | was soon busily engaged at
the will.
| will not trouble you with the details, nor,
TACT. DO remember them; but it is enough
to say that large amount Of property, real
and personal, bonds, mortgages, etc, were
left, in the words Of the will, to "my good
and faithful housekeeper, Angeine -, as
token Of gratitude for her long. faithful, and
merterous service" But the concluding
words Of the will shall never forget they
were written from his own mouth and made
me shudder as ! wrote them. There was
something fearful-yes, deyilish-in this
deliberately recording, in what atpurports to be
your last written wish, curse upon your own
offspring. And felt, as | wrote it, an in
voluntary desire to tear the paper into frag-
lnents, and to rush from the room, but the
thousand dollars were like so many anchors,
and staid aud wrote:
leave to my daughter Dora all the salts
faction she can obtain from my hearty curse.
When rags whip about her in her only home
the street, and dogs share with her the refuse
Of the gutter, she may regret that she dis
obeyed him who once loved her, but who, dy-
ing, cursed her.
There was something like chuckle in the
direction Of old Angeline as the dying wretch
dictated these fearful words but as looked
and saw the stern face as rigid as marble,
concluded | must have been mistaken. |
could not, however, diyest myself Of certain
feeling that all was wrong. A rich old man,
accompanied by an old housekeeper, and dy-
ing in strange city, her anxiety to have the
will so strong the curse on his daughter; and
the large fee, all conspirel to make me feel
that was being instrumental in the accom-
plishment Of some yillainous object. Agail
! mediated the destruction Of the paper, and
again my fee and my wants conquered. The
wall was finished. and read il over loud, the
old man groaning. and the old woman look.
ing an occasional assent; but when ! real
the terrible curse, a new actor appeared on the
scene.
"Oh tear It tear il! Oh God. you know
not what you do !"
The plaintiye tones Of that voice touched
my heart, even before my eyes beheld its
owner; but when saw her, heavens and
earth what an angel she was! The language
is yet undiscovered. Harry, that is competent
10 give you description Of that face, the
eyes dancing with excitement, yet liquid with
tears; the mouth proud as Juno's yet COM
pressed with anguish. Bot why do attempt
description The most majestic. yet the
sweetest c0untenancc ever beheld appealed
TO me, and not in vain for while the old man,
weak as he was, jumped from bis bed scream
ing "kill her Kill her" | tore the will
into framents, and we both fell TO the lloor,
he dead. and stunned by blow from the
heavy candlestick welded by the old hag,
Angeline.
When my consciousness returned, found
myself in my own bed al my boarding house.
my host and hostess nv sole attendants. My
: mind was clear the moment locked about
me, and knew had been brought home, and
, was now confined from the effects Of that
blow. | resolved to keep my own counsel.
and ascertain what could Ut the subsequent
, proceeding Of the night. Upon inquiry,
: lound that ! had been brought home by q
yuung gentleman in a carriage, who had
left lunds Ior tie employment u pl sician,
aud had also left letter for me. opened
tile letter az was alone, and found flty
! dollar bank.nOlr. with these words:
. You did last Ilight deed worthy u more
gratitude ihin our present means enable Us
ii express. The pruperly which 50 nearly
belonged to the infamous hag who struck ,ou
I will soon BE- ours and you shall then hear
lrotn Us. May the same kindness whlri,
prompted you 10 tear The papei, seal yuur
, lips hereafter as to the painful scenes of last
!. evening. Gratefully ,ours.
DURA AND HER livsaAND."
Ny irst act was to conceal the letter be-
meath ny pillow my second to call NY hosl