Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-01-08

tents. For once, rn:.iof, Will ner' LIZ
tongues, % was right. Lawyer Dixon had an' /
his possession will, one of his own man
ture, which had been signed, sealed, and, VIZ w
messed, as we have seen. But nova Week
had pas.ed since the funeral, and the wolihy yG.'.
gentleman of the legal profession thoughntasls ~ /
expedient to present himself at the hoase, otts !
and duly inform the family Gifts existence;
Great, indeed, was the astonishmefto tof MIS-;
Sender and Harry when the fact became 7
known. Old Jacob had, all through his Hfe,, ;Htfe,
great horror of will-making, and had al t
ways entertained the superstitious noGionF-traaaf
death invariably followed the making. q: q i
will: and although he had been repeatedly |
urned by his wife to make some final dispcsSi:-
tion of his property, he had never asaEeat
Welded to her opportunities. Moreover, Dixon
was man whom he had been frequently
known to declare was trickisf and knavlsh-
one who, with soft words cid pretty com1li- /
ments, stole into the Learts of the ignorant
and unwary, as o wolf steals into a.foldsatd
night to p!under and deYour. These clrculml-.
stances made it all the more improbable e
the family of Jacob Sender, that Wit WITH nus
thorough knowledge of the character and Gun. tn.
ming of this man, he should have seleee!ea
him of all others to repose condolences IN anu
make sole executor Of his will. *. 4.
"It is falsel" exclaimed Harry, in an eyer
ted tone, the moment the visage OF tle.sl
attorney was fairly outside the door. ILLS
o shameful, deep laid plot, dyed wiEh fraud fraud
and lies, to get into his own empty poekets.
few hundreds of my fathers money. ButlIi
defeat his object! I'll riddle to the bottom
this mystery, and bring the william tojustice"
"Pretty complimentary" sung out the
smooth, silvery voice of Dixon, who, j! seems,
had net stirred from the door, where had
been an attentive listener. swell. breakup
the will, provo it forgery, ard bring me to
justice, fyou can defy all power t2 doit!s9 IT.
One o'clock that afternoon was the time ap.
pointed for the reading Of The will, in the
presence of the Scniders and the two clerks
who had witnessed it. Dixon read III slow
solemn tone what he emphatically assorted
was the last will and testament OF Jacob
Sender. .,e.
"To my dearly beloved wife, Mary Sender,
who has been willing and able hepmate,
and has, for thirty three years, shared Win Win
lne the Joys and sorrowS Of life-to her
leave just what The law allows; were it totake
its course-viz., the income of third OF my
whole property, which, after her decease, Is
to descend to my eldest son, Thomas. ssist
l. I" In view of Inc fact that my younger son,
Harry, has al uncle worthy and wealthy
bachelor Of position and influence, who tcr
years has regarded him in the light OF son,
and has frequently declared his intention of
making him his sole heir and legatee; l have
deemed il unnecessary to make further pro-
vision for him than to make q lew meinentoes
of respect and affection, viz, piece-thefirSt
ever earned (which is to be found in tkeup.
per drawer Of my old rcd chest, sewed up in.
ihe-top Of blue stocking, the swordand
other military equipments belong sirg tony
. deceased brother, John, and worn by Sim on
lie bloody field Of Waterloo, four ster
plates, the dying gilt OF my grandmother, and
the OLE! ianily Biblc. 10 bostow upon him
these precious relics Of the past is the strong
est proof of affection l can give him.
10 my eldest s'sI, Thomas, as &c hes no
expectation 10 rely upon, give aid btGuealh
the remainder Of my property, my baEk and
railroad stock real ard personal estate, except
the beqaes;s | haze already mentioned. Ii
; my sons desire tia; shall rest quietly in my
, crave, let there be no s;rif, contention in
regard 10 The settlement Of my Affairs Let
my wishes DC executed to tue letter: other
wise my greysd spi:t shall haunt and harGss
them 10 the Gay OF their death"
\ silence still as midnight followed the
reading; dissatisfaction was expressed on eve
ry countenancc, and a murmur Of disromtent
and doubt r1n around theassembled company
, aWould you like to sac the wi?" politely
! asked Dixon, as lie handed it to Harry, VINO
! was standing leaning against the aut:-sheii
, sien; and molionleSs as q statue
Ny father never made that will sir, he
' said, calmly and composeily, as he fixed his
I clear blue eye full upon the lawyers face.
;. Do you mean to nsiEuate doubt as to
;. lis genuineness p asked Dixon, his lips quiv,
: cring with rage as lie spoke.
a No, insiiuaie notLing-for insinuatlons
arc unnecessary. 1t is 4 boll-laced scheme
l. of fraud and lluavery, go: up by villains AN; anc
:, . rascals to deprive me Of my lawful, hefedlla
- ry rights. Lat it shall be defeated. Sir, il
d snall 90 before judge and jury M latber
, sentiments shall be known--n
i !" Not so fast young man. interrupted Dix
u on, with the blandest smile possible. F." Avers'
i as Your father always was to the making o
his will, yet q short time previous to Ill
=, death, certain events occurred to produce az
T entire alteration in his views Oh the subject
:, Hear me I" he exclaimed, seeing Harry abou
:. to speak. a Just nine weeks before his death
6 he came TO my Office; deep seated gloon
Il Il had settled upon his countenance, and HI
" soa, he said, vas oppressed with sorrow
r Friend Dixon,' he began, ismy end is ap
" proacbing. have been warned of it ly rap;
t. aud drearns and unmistakeable signs.
70 &c Pooh = said | don't give way to idl
Il fears. You're hale and hearty as am, AM
rs likely to live these dozen years
- ale shook his head mournfully. Deaf
,o has sent his forerunner to warn me of myar
" preaching end, and something tells me- b
,t added, laying his hand upon his heart, tha
a the warning. is true Yesterday l was sittin
-, all alone by the kitchin fire, ponderng upo
Il the events of the day, when heard the tow
- clock strike twelve. l looked to SEQ if th
oh clock on the mantcl-shelf agreed in time, an
saw both tho minute and the hour .hano
=. pointing directly to the figure OF twelve, the
I In slowly both hands began to reverse their nj
~ tons till they fell back dos.n to the figure
ea ,,a six. That means something thoug ht l SON
ne ne Invisible power IS at work. It's the larbll
n on ger of evil" coming events cast their sha'
eiI ows before;" and as wondered and COME
ils tured, the pendulum began, to go with asto
n0 a ishing velocity, swinging to and fro, 6eatir
a. :; against the case at each. successive motto
81 81 Then the striking commenced-one, 'tW
ia three, four, up to sixty-nin times-slow al
III measured as the tolling of the bell. Then
,an an rappng followed right on the wall over II
,am ID head just sixy-nine distinct raps were give
~ T.. There, thought l, amsas good aS de-
aia ,.ia man; and that night dreamed that in ju
glS1 six weeks at just half.past,six O'Clock sh'
81 seu breathe my last. My mortal career is almt
,as, na, ended, aud all that remains for me is 10 Gle
ess es. up my earthly concerns, and prepare 10 me