The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-02-26
II m M Will L..

It was little after midnight, that a
knock came to the door of the cabin. |
heard it first, for used to sleep in d little
snug. basket near the fire, but did not
speak. for was frightened. 1t was still
repeated louder, and then u cry:
..Con. Cregan! Con-, l say, open the
door! I want YOU"
| knew the voice well; it was Peter
McCabe's; but pretended to be fast
asleep, and snored loudly. At last my
father unbolted the door, and heard him
say:
the old man worse p
"Flix, that's what he is, sir; for he is
dead, entirely"
GLORY be his bed" said tho old man,
"when did it happen2"
'About an hour ago" said Peter, in a
voice that l, even from my corner, could
perceive WAS greatly agitated. He died
like an. old heathcn, Con-, and never made
will"
THAT'S bad" said my father; 'for he
was always polite man, and said what
ever was pleasing to tile company"
'1I: is bud" said Peter, shut il would
be- worse, if he couldn't help.it. Listen
to me now, Corney; | want you to help
me in this business; aud here are FIVE
guineas in gold if ye do what bid ye.
You know that ye were always rcckoned
the image Of my father, and before he
took i'll We were mistaken for each olhcr
every day of the week"
"AnanW said my father; for he was
getting frightened at the notion, without
well knowing why.
"Well what want is for ye to. come
over to- the house, and get into the, bed. -
Not beside the corpse?" said my
father. trembling.
"By no mems; but By yourself; and
you're to pretend TO be my father, and
that ye want to make yer will before yc
die and then Ill send for the ncigbors,
and Billy Seaman, the sc'ollnastcr, and
yell tell him what to write, leaving all
the farm and everything to me-ye un-
derstand. And as the ncighbors will see
ye, and hear yer voice, it will never be
believed bnt it was himself that did it,
"The room must be very dark says
nv father.
ssTo be sure it will; but have no fear
Nobody will dare to come nigh the bed,
and yell only have to make cross with
your pen under the name."
"And the priest ?" said my father.
"My father quarreIed with him last
week about the Easter dues and Father
Fom said he'd not give him the rites and
that's lucky now. So come along, now.
quick, for we've no time to lose; Il must
be finished before day breaks"
My father did not lose much time at
his toilet, for he just wrapped his big coat
round him, slipping on the brogans and
left the house. sat up in the basket
and listened till they were gone some
minutes, and then: in costume as light
as my parents set out after them, to
watch the course of tho adventure.
Thought to take short cut, and get there
before them; but by bad luck fell into a
boy hole, and only escaped drowning by
chance. As it was, when reached til.
houce, the Performance had already begun.
think see the whee scene this in.
stant before my eyes, as | sat on little
window, with one pane, and that broken
ore, and surveyed the proceedings l,
was large room. at one end of which
was q bod, and beside it was table with
physic bottles, and spoons, and tencups
little further off was another table, at
which sat Billy Seaman, with all manner
Of writing materials before him.
Fhe country people Sat two and some.
time three deep round the wallis, all in.
tently eager and anxious for the coming
events. Peter himself went from place tc
place, trying to smother his grief. and Oc.
easiormly holping the company to whs
key. which was supplied with more than
accustomed liber,tlity.
A low faint cough from the dark cor.