The native American., 1838-02-24

chimed three-9uarters-it wanted, then, quartz
to twelve. Where was he to look for assistance
at such an hour-or, indeed, at any hour! HI
had already applied to the rich prelates, and go
from them all that their charity was likely to give
Suddenly, thought struck him like lightning; he
saw his little Maria crying for the food he coulc
not give her-his sick wife, lying in bed with the
infant on her exhausted bosom-and then AIDE.
aide, in her splendid coffin, and her hand glitter
ing with Jewels that it could not grasp. " Oh
what use are diamonds to her now!" said he to
himself. g Is there any sin in robbing the dead to
give to the living? | would not do such thing
for myself if | were starving-no, Heaven forbid
But for my wife and child-ah that's quite ano-
ther matter"
Quieting his conscience as well as he could
with this opiate, he hurried home to get the ne
|cessary implements; but by the time he reached
his own door, his resolution began to waver. The
sight, however, of his wfe's distress, wrought
him up again to the sticking-place; and having
provided himself with dark lantern, the church
keys, and crow-bar to break open the coffin, he
set out for the cathedral. On the way, all man
ner of strange fances crossed him the earth seem
ed to shake beneath hint was the tottering OF
his own limbs: figure seemed to sign him back
lit was the shade thrown from some column,
in the night wind. But still the thought of home
drove him on; and even the badness Of the weather
carried the consolation with it-he was the more
likely to find the streets clear, and escape de-
lection.
He had now reached the cathedral. For mo-
ment he paused on the steps, and then, taking
heart, put the huge key into the lock. To his
fancy it had never opened with such readiness be-
fore. The bolt shot back at the light touch Of the
key-he stood alone in the church, trembling
from head to foot. Still it was requisite to close
the door behind him, lest its being open should be
seen by any one passing by, and give rise to sus-
picion and, as he did so, the story came across
his mind of the man who had visited church at
midnight to show his courage. For sign that
he had really been there, he was to stick his knife
into coffin; but in his hurry and trepidation, he
struck it through the skirt Of his coat without be-
ing aware of it, and supposing himself held back
by some supernatural agency, dropped down dead
from terror.
Full Of these unpleasant recollections, he tot
tered up the nave; and, as the light successfully
flashed upon the sculptured marbles, it seemed to
him as if the pale figures frowned omnously upon
him. But desperation supplied the place of cou-
rage. He kept on his way to the choir-descend-
ed the steps-passed through the long narrow pas
opened Adelaide's chapel, and stood at once before
her coffin. There she lay, stiff and pale--the
wreath in her hair, and the jewels on her fingers,
cleaning strangely in the dim lights of the lantern.
He even fanced that he already smelt the pestilen-
tial breath of decay, though it was full early for
corruption to have begun his work. A sickness
seized him at the thought, and he leaned for sup
port against one of the columns with his eye fix
ed on the coffin; when--was 1t real, or was 1t IL
lusion?-a change came over the face OF the dead
He started back; and that change, SO ndescribabe,
had passed away in an instant, leaving darker
shadow on the features.
ssIf had only time" he said to himself-'if
had only time, | would rather break open one of
the other collins, and leave the lady Adelaide in
quiet Age has destroyed all that is human in
these mummies; they have lost that resemblance
to life, which makes the dead so terrible, and
should no more mind handling them than SO many
dry bones. It's all nonsense, though; one is as
harmless as the other, and since the lady Ade-
ladies house is the easiest for my work, | must
cen set about it"
Butthe coffin did not offer the facilities he reck-
oned upon with so much certainty. The glass
windows were secured inwardly with iron wire,
leaving no space for the admission of the hand,
so that he found himself obliged to break the lid
to pieces-a task that, with his imperfect imple-
ments, cost both time and labor. AS the wood
splintered and cracked under the heavy blows of
the iron, the cold perspiration poured in streams
down his face, the sound assuring him more than
all the rest that he was committing sacrilege. Be-
fore, it only the place, with its dark associa-
tions, that had terrified him; now he began to be
afraid of himself, and would, without doubt, have
given up the business altogether, if the lid had
not suddenly flown to pieces. Alarmed at his very
success he startled round, as if expecting to see
some one behind, watching his sacrilege, and rea-
dy to clutch him; and so strong had been the llu-
sion, that when he found that this was not the
case he fell upon his knees before the coffin, ex-
claiming, Forgive me, dear lady, if take from
you what is Of no use to yourself, while single
diamond will make poor family SO happy. 1t
is not for myself-oh no!-iti is for my wife and
children
He thought the dead looked more kindly at him
as he spake thus, and certainly the livid shadow
had passed away from her face. Without more
delay, he raised the cold hand to draw the rings
from its finger: but what was his horror when the
dead returned his grasp!-his hand was clutched
AYE, firmly clutched, though that rigid face and
form lay there as fixed and motionless as ever.
With a cry of horror he burst away, not retaining
so much presence of mind as to think Of the light