Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-01-15
A DEAD MANS SIGNATURE.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

X
Business of a twofcld nature had brough
Harry Sender to Harrisburg. His priucipa
and paramount object was to obtain legal ad
rice in regard to the feasibility of prosecuting
lawsuit, by which he hoped to establish hi
own hereditary claims as one of the heirs at
law. The next, and not unpleasing duty h
had to perform, was to visit his attiance'
bride, Annie Morris, to whom he had beei
betrothed for more than q year.
1t was full three hours ride tothe old home
stead, and Harry set off upon brisk canter
in the hope of reaching it by eleven o'clock
It was cold, but calm, clear evening. Th
moon shone out in all its brilliancy, and tn
twinkliug stars lighted up his lonely way, ant
as he gazed into the far off distant heavens
and contemplated upon the infinite power, tn
majesty, and glory Of the Great Creator, hi
soul was lost in strange bewilderment
wonder and alteration. Then he thought o
his loved Annie, who, with true womanl..
love and devotion, had poured the balm o
consolation into his sad, dispirited soul, am
had yielded to his guidance and keeping al
the pure, warm affections of her young heart
and of his father, whose grave was unwatereC
by a single tear, and of the ineXplicablc mys
terry which hung over the final settlement o
his property.
A full hour had passed in one profound
continual reverie, when the clattering OF
horses hools behind him made him turn Il
sec who was approaching But what was j
that made all tie blood rcccde from his face
his eyes almost start from their Sockets tn
bride drop from his hand, and his feet shak
in the stirrups? Harry Sender was mai
of determined bravery. There was no deet
os daring he dared not attempt, No danger
however imminent, he feared to face. Ha'
he suddenly encountered powerful foe
welding the implements of death and de
struction, he would have shed his liles bloo
before surrendering; but to be unexpected.
brought in contact with spirits from the un
seen world, clothed in bodily form, wa
enough to appal the stoutcst heart
In the rider of the coal-black steed he re
cocnizgd his father, clad in his accustomc
garb, gray coat, blue homespun pants, heav
leathern shoes, and a large, broad -rimme
hat, beneath which his thin, silvered lock
we're plainly visible; his face could not b
distinctly seen except That deadly pallo
overshadowed it, and the hand that guide
the spirited animal was dextcrous and skilllr
as ever; faster and faster he rode, and neare
and ncarar be came, and voice, hoarse an
solemn as the tomb, called out
"Harry Sender, Harry Scnider!"
Terrified and Mortified at this unexpecte
annarition. Harry's first impulse was to touc
,ba ro;no ne his horse and fy; then con
menced a regular John Gilpin race-th
ghost of the departed was pursuing the livin
9hills, valleys, meadows, and pastures WEI
swept past as a ball is shot out of cannon
Fleeter and Aeeter rode Harry, still th
spectre relentlessly followed, and alWay
keeping Just such distance in the rear; b'
the courage which had momentarily forsoo
him. soon returned-his curiosity was e1clte
If il was indeed the ghost OF his dead paren
why run from it? If the object of his no.
turnal visitor was to terrify him, he certainl
had attained it; if i. was his intention to re
or murder him, he could have done 1t Wit
far less trouble to himself, and no possib
chance Of exposure; at any rate, he won
confront his unwelcomc companion, whetht
friend or foe, and with this determination
re;ned in his horse, wheeled suddenly aroun
aud with bold face and resolute bearing, d
manded, "who LIE was, and why he sougl
him ?"
The spectre seemed taken by surprise
this unexpected movement. -,
81 am Jacob Sender, your father" ne al
swered. in the same hollow tones, as he mac
a halt. and stationed himself at short di
tance from Harry, beneath the spreadir
branches Of majestic oak, where the pa
licht of the moon could not fall upon his fac
"Oh, Harry, nly son Harry. my younge
born, the spirit Of your dead father is grievt
and troubled It cannot rest in the grave
long as there is strife and contention abo
the poor, insignificant heaps of gold he h
+. left behind him. Gold, gold, it is the root
ali evil! 1t divides the hearts of fathers al
mothers, brothers and sisters; it drags dow
the BODY to the grave, and sinks the soul
perdition. Oh, Harry, the soul OF your lat
er cannot slumber till peace and harmony
restored in his family. Let my will be ex
cuted as it is written; let all quarrellingsai
chickering's cease, otherwise my angry spll
shall harrass and torment all who refuse
obey nv commands" With these words,
impressive shake of the head, and defia
gesture, the spectre touched the reins of
horse, and was soon lost from view in t
f shadows of night.
Harry sat as if petrifed, gazing into t
midnight darkness long after the vision h'
disappeared. His dress, his silvery loci
every look and gesture, were SO exactly il
his fathers. He remembered the concludil
clause of the will-coud it be that it was
deed genuine and legal, and that the d
tressed spirit Of his parent was indeed wa
dering in this terrestrial sphere TO haunt o
harrass, as it had threatened, al VINO refus
to obey the mandate OF his wlilf -,
It was late hour that night when Har
Sender arrived i'll sight OF the old hon
stead, his paternal mansion. a tuli' 5T1g 21g
lieht glsred from the sitting-room. WI
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