The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-01-28
THE MYSTERIOUS TESTAMENT

(Concluded.)
Some ten wears has passed, ana amidst the
carss and tronbles of an extensive profess
s;ooa, carasr. had nearly forgotten the in
c,dants of the eventtui night, and held the
memory # the murdered martyr in the same
vsnarsiion rs l would that ola departed
si.ler The scutest officers OF the law had
baaa pisced upon the case and though they
exerted themselves to the utmost, no clue
was ever found to the dastardIy assassin.
The court term was just over, and felt
tire dire necessity Of some species of recres
:iou, when | received letter from my fos-
ter-brother, now prominent and successful
merchant of N, inviting me to spend
month or so with him. | had not seen him
for nearly ten years, and had been IN fire.
quent reception of similar invitations, but
had hitherto had neither ability nor desire
to leave nv business: now | felt strong
iuclnation TO visit and since he was fully
acquainted with the circumstances of my
adventure, concluded to bundle up my
relics and take them with me.
received hearty welcome from |ohn'
and was introduced to his somewhsi nu,ner'
Gus aud interesting family, who sPaseu no
time or pains to make the fisit OF tnsit
bachelor uncle an agreeable one. :,
Four weeks glided away moss pleasantly,
and began to regret M return TO nus'y
brief, and mns,y cases, when John dashed
into ths s.uiy room, where | sat eGgrossed
in a game o.. chess with his amisbe wife.
His fac vas radiant with smiles, and -four.
isaipg above his head couple of cards,
"Hsl. old boy" said he, ''you knew our Hon
orabe Judge Kennert, late member from
this district? Well, he offered himself for
the gubernstorisl chair, and completely dis
sauced all competitors. He is a most exem-
plsry man, vigorously just, yet humane. His
nams generously heads all subscriptions for
heather and other missionary objects. He
has munihcently endowed several churches.
Hs is a genial, social, whole souled oompan-
ion, extensively travelled. weil-rsad, brill
liant couversationalist, universally beloved
and immensely wsslthy-snd young too,
scarcely turned fifty. In hi; usual grand
style he proposes to give snte-insueursl
levee, very select, l assure you; quite a treat
to a man of your disposition, fer thera you
will meet eminent statesmen, grave Judges.
noted politicians, talented wits, charming
poets, accom- plished musicians, skiilful az
lists, and Bohemians and literal. of every
grade; and orr Hon. Governor elect has
sent me an invitation for you and myself.
Come now, are you not IN iuck-a conn par
alive stranger, from the hidden, uncivi!ized
and unknown village OF B, 10 receive
card to this recherche affair p
lsughingly thanked him for his oompli-
mentsrv slusion 10 my native city, and &C
c~psed with pleasure the pro fered card, for
/ had long desired an opportunity Of meeting
personally Governor Kennert, whose many
bets Of nobility formed the theme OF praise
IL the mouth OF every one.
The evening ct last arrived. The princely
mansion of the Governor beaned and
elowed under the rays of hundred lamps ;
long lines Of handsome equipsges, drawn by
animals of the purest blood, discharged
their happy freighIs at the open portals,
where al army of richly li7eried attendants
ushered the visitors to the drawing rooms.
1t wss scene of rare magEidcence. The
extensive psrops were filed with hundreds
OF delighted guests-a moving pageant oil
flashing diamonds, rich laces, exquisite
silks, SNOWY satins, handsome beaux escort
ing dashing bellies, uyriads Of ghttering
lights rejecting from the mirrorred walls the
gorgeous brlliiaucy of the dazzling speu
dor. Strains OF enhancing music enlivened
the scene, a fountain Of ingenious and novel
structure played jets OF colored water,
sparkling with many hues into the marble
b sin below, where gold and silver FISH swan
in spor.ive innocence. while the atmos phere
seemed burdened with the perfume OF the
rare exotic flowers spread upon every
SIDE, and the sweet notes of the feathered
sougsters in en- Gviary, gathered from
every cline, lent al additional charm 10 the
festivities.
We drew near to Gov. keunert. ] do not
know when l had seen a gentleman Of such
noble mein and commanding presence. Be
nightly appeared drawn in evesy feature
his smile was sunshine bis laugh q ripple
OF music. OF medium height, hair black,
sprinkIed literally with gray, smooth, round
smiling countenance, taulslessly dressed,
extraordinarily urbane and gentemaDly 4:
yet felt violent and unconq uerable anlip
sthy to this brilliant man. ! received aud
ecce pied forcible sntsgonism of seusibill.
", and felt as powerful repugusn; toward
him as knew he was positively constrained
towards ne. Our greeting, though ceremo,
niously courteous, was devoid OF cordiaiity
He held fns India kerchief to his face
during our interview, as J0hn said vas hi:
custom, TO conceal some disiguring heredi
tery birth mark, and his face singulsrl 5
swee, ard of great power; but the eye wa:
the wonderous feature. Il was a peculiar
eve-an eye once seen neverto be forgotten
Il fascinated me; it drew me instipctively
toward him. l was incapable OF removing
my own from it. and when, for the sake oil
avoiding apparent rudness. | broke from his
gaze, l involuntarily sought it again.
had indistinct re collection Of having seer
somewhere, in some place and q: g me-
period of my life, a similar eye. 1t expressed
10 a casual observer only goodness, self
contentment and hospitality, but / saw {
trembling restlessness, and perceived back
ia. back, way back in its very depths, ner'
vous anxiety, a wandering terror.
Where had | seen this remarkable ex
preston before? Where?-I left our hos
sorely puzzling my brains. but to no purpose
| "a -nbled through the rooms, looked at the
dancers, examined the paintings in the gal
lery, visited the couser 7story, but every where
that eye hauutsd me. exerted nv utnos,
TO divest myself of this influence, but in vain
the eye was ever present. Finally, saun
tered into the library to smoke cigar, u
usual resource in trouble or vexaiion.
The same elegant taste was displayed il
furnishing the library as had been exhibited
in the other portions Of the dwelling. Lon!
eases Of rare and superbiy bound volumes
bjjonteyie accumulated from every quartz
Of The globe, the walls hung with the tsvorit
studies OF the great masters themselves
unique and costly smoking sets, voluptuou
reclining and study chairs, Iuxuriously cush
Toned reposng divsns, lamps burning viii
spiced aud scented oils, i'm parted deliciou
isngaor to the senses, and presented on 8!
sides the same exquisite incentive to rehee
ton and meditation. In one corner of thu
room partially hidden by it's more snowy II
vais, was an old esc,Stoire, ancient, awkward
and strangely on, OF place, with its regal sur
roundings. NY LOOK lntuitiveiy turned tow
ards 1t, probable heir loom, and only ss sucl
valuable, and seized with an irreais,able i'm
pulse to examine it closer, rose for tn,
purpose, but accidentally tripping over
small ottoman, Stun bed and would have
fall n AID | nYtapd eei NV baud. r