Hatchie, the Guardian Slave; or, The Heiress of Bellevue

, setting hi

ely vi

il the fact w

ble fury and

oppose

espe

is last, not fully ripe in years, but mature in the stature of a good man. His worldly affairs had all been arranged, and with his mind at

of death had struck down her father in the midst of prosperity and happiness. She felt that she was alone in the world. Her unsympathizing uncle seemed not to feel the loss, but appeared even more cold and churlish than ever. She could not expect from him the offices of kindn

nt, and ascended the steep bank. Following the smooth shell road through the long vista of negro huts, he reached the little grove of tropical trees which surrounded the proprietary mansion. Casting an anxious glance around him, to satisfy himself that he was not watched, he cautiously approached the only illuminated window on that sid

r. His fiery red nose was placed in strange contrast with a pair of green spectacles, which entirely concealed the color and expression of his eyes. His clothes were of a most primitive cut, and had probably been black once, but were now rusty and white from long service. His form was portly, a little inclined to corpulency. His hands were most unprofessionally dirty; but this might have been occasioned by contact with the canoe in his passage. On one of

se teeth were chattering with apprehensi

n a silky tone, which, proceeding from such

" interrogated t

! Everythin

I will see that all the servants have retired," said Ja

brought to the library the bod

ilt, and was endowed with immense physical strength. His brow was a little wrinkled, and his head was a little bald upon the top,-and these were the only evidences of his years. His expression was that of great intelligence. In his co

information than is often found in those of his condition. He could read and write, and by his intelligence and singular fidelity had proved a valuable addition to his master's household. Possessing his confi

cquired a perfect knowledge of Jaspar's character,-a

ity of their stations, very much as a faithful dog watches over a child intrusted to its keeping. Towards her he entertain

the mulatto entered the lib

nd detected the tremulous quiver of Jaspar's lip;

hen. You can

, with his customary obeisa

d get the keys of the secretary," sa

ng-he knew not what-had been excited by seeing Maxwell in earnest consultation with Jaspar on the day of the funeral. He had, of course,

the room, and heard the creaking

parted, Jaspar called his con

dy for busin

you pay me the first instalment. I c

ok from his pocket the mone

titious will, which Maxwell had drawn up in

appeared not to be in the possession of his usual confidenc

soon make this one so near like it that the witnesses themselves shal

first read this to me.

d the paper through, and Jaspar prono

cess," said Jaspar, rubbing his hands w

cept that these witnesses wi

ther, would not let them read it or know its purport. Maxwell and mysel

be worth a tittle in the

one would contest it. He

ey not conte

st as well. As a kind of assurance for the witnesses my brother affixed a character,-a kind of cabalisti

ractised till I can do it to perfection. You

ddity in this inst

t, Mr. Dumont! My stay

om a small iron safe in the lower part of it a large packet, on which wer

" said he, "d

er yet saw a name I

careful, I entreat you! Thin

brother himself would not deny it,

rily, as a superstitious thrill

is accomplice time to recover from the surprise of his sudden entrance, he levelled a blow at the lawyer, and another at the perfidious brother, which placed both in a rather awkward position on the floo

De Guy and Jasper, a

directed his course to the river, and scarcely a moment had elapsed before he heard the steps of his pursuers. Leaping down the bank, he ran along by the edge of the water, with the intention of reaching a boat

done its work, hastened down stream to a small point of land which projected into the river, with the hope of securing the canoe and the body of the slave, upon which they expected to find the will. The canoe was driven ashore, as they had anticipated; but it

esses. They had before intended to produce a fac-simile, mechanically, of the original,-a purpose which could not now be accomplished. The witnesses were all friends of Colonel Dumont, and they had various papers signed by them from which to copy their signatures. The worst, and to Jaspar's daring mind the only difficulty which now presented itself, was the fear that the body of Hatchie might be found, and the genuine will thus

r retired to his pillow confident of success, to await