The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-03-01

! lamp still feebly lighted the miserable
room, andshe lay gazing at the fame
until a strange Confusion ofrsight and
= sense entirely overpowered, him. In
, the doorway suddenly appeared two
!, jfaces-Hickson's and the Mexican's
He strove to speak but the power Of
4 jutteranee was gone, and he could only
gaze with eyes dilating ana brain on
I. fire upon those two faces, familiar as
4 his own; but, merciftil heaven how
distorted What could it mean p
Why shouidf the eyes of the Mex lean
u burn SO deep into his is--sMn2-EsWhy
: should-come, come, this is vision
: "a nightmare--we knoS that the inn
j ,ipossible cannot existEeh,s friends p
the narrow wallsIof a room, like this
cannot close in upon us-nor the cell
ing undulate like the waves of astorm-
tossed sea. Strange-strangel pshaw
lpshaw! n new fact in science, perhaps
WHAT'S that you said? an eclipse. of
the sun, eh? Ah, yes-there it turns
the great fiery orb. with dark NOV
4 ing pots upon, its flaming surface
/ how came @e ,6n the sea? the ship
rocks wildly-wildly-and the roar
ling waves are terrIble-maidening
now there is a sinking-a surging-
crashing whirling horror, q mist--a
murmurTnotbingness L.srs a,zs q,
4 Remember" said :Hickson, count
ing the last of, the fifty pieces into the
4 Mexicans hands. remember it must
be done before daybrcakl Dig deep
and earn your Z money n .s. b..a -
We must now shift the. scene to a
solicitors office in San Antonio. Seat,
ed around covered ,abie, upon which
are strewn various deeds and sealed
idocuments, is group of gentleman,
busily engaged in discussing heappro-.
iEpriation of an estate Two of them
fare the trustees and executors of the
will left by Hiram Somers, Esq. re.
Gently deceased. Prominent among
the number is the solicitor. himself;
aud opposite to him, nonchalent and
Einsolent as ever, is mau in whom
we recognize the black beard and wolf
ish smile of worthy Mr.. Hickson A
| pocket book marked Guy ->omers"
Is in his hand, and pair OF halfemp
tied saddle-bags lie on chair beside
him. 49,. s......t.
+ CAS-. you perceive. Mr., Somers,"
says the solicitor, addressing Hickson,
"the will names you as he only sur
yiving relative of the deceased. In
your letter of the 9th inst, you. ae
knowledged our remittance of five
hundred dollars on account"
I" t,rsd sent receipt Uninterrupted
Hickson blandly. ,-a-' r'. it. =
''And senta receipt arquieseed the
lawyer Your letters here agree with
our correspondence - memorandum
seems to tally, and all correct and
conclusive. 1t only remains to draw
up the forms, and you step comforta-
bly, into handsome competeney-a
handsome competency sir. Permit
me, Mr.. Somers, to congratulate
you i .e '4 -.s-s 80 o..
Mr. Somers. alias Hiekson, bows
land shows his teeth; the trustees and
others crowd around and Offer their
Fluctuations Il sudden sound causes
the heir to listen intently. f-,i
"What's that" he asks sharply.
Mr.. Solicitor goes to the window
! and looks, out. Jess -.--e- ~ -i 7.7f
''1'heard nothing, he replies moth
ing but the galloping of horse" 81
tThere are more than one" Hiek
son mutters; SIT sounds like regi-
ment of cavalry i''3 s<i~ ts-5= 'Aiiz7 :
Another pause, during which the
trustees renew their chat, the solicitor
l,leaves the window, and the pens of the
clerks rattle furiously over the parch
&, ments that are to enrich william =
Again Hickson starts ana listens the
sound has become louder and clearer;
the galloping of horses at their utmost
speed. - ssszs'@szziisss.zss
T 9Somesone in a dluseJ of hurry !"
observed one OF the trustees.
'N "A Government dispatch, most
likely suggests the SOLICITOR ssiYe
are ready, gentlemen. Mr.. Somers,
your name to this document, iit=yeu
please" ;igz sE.-i-E5i e't 20 s1gjs
Mr.. Solicitor hands the pen, and
spreads out new.flled deed The
trustees sign one by one. AS the last
name is written, confused murmar
OF voices is heard without, footsteps i'll
the yard below, a hurried tramp upon
the stairs. @ r.
Z Your signature, Mr.. Somers," says
the solicitor. 1--WE are waiting"
s Bot Hickson does not take the pen.
He trembles Ills face is deadly pale. !
He utters cry in whieh horrcr and
rage are strangely blended. ,AH re-
gard him with surprise, and, following
his riveted gaze, perceive, tor the fist |
time, a pale face in 1.-The doopway-a |
h lndsome, restllte face with a Prs- !
fusion of aubul n har r., and a, pair lot
gray eyes fixed reproachfull y upon the /
shrinking Hickson,5 who gazes in re- |
turn and gnashcs his teeth, tie very !!
embodiment of 4 hunted wolf at bay |
"A human wolf. tuning upon his
hunters. III r...r., IL bro .sszr..sl
j.. "NYho is this MANI . bursts in
gene;a exclamation from every mouth.
3. ASK that mani thundercd the in7
truder, striding into the room. . ,s,scl
70 "An imposter--a madipan n ejacui
lated Hickson, between his teeths-4 ID
T" y miserable relative of mine, who is,
the scoprge of my liteTan insane
wretch, gentlemen, escaped from an
asylum. and assuming my. name. You
shall hear him presently" he adds
with desperate effort, as q gieam OF
hope shoots to his eyes at the ingeni=
GUS thought. ,,:.-z.-H -.r.,, l,.,;l
r. The stranger advances step sa5 J.
- "Gentlemen, he begins, '''my name
is Guy Sommers. brother to the man [
whose will YOU are about To execute.