The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-03-11

examining II closely, turned INC muzZle
to his heart
A violent reverberation Of thunder.
followed by dull silence. stayed his
hand for a moment. Victorelle burst the
cords from her hands, and commenced
plating her loose wet hair, as she said
slow wly: "Gustave ST. John, do you re-
pent of your deep crimes
He groned heavily, "In dust and
ashes. Oh Victorelle intercede for
me, that Heaven may show mercy to my
guilty soul"
A failt smile broke over the face oi
the forest phantom. Go !'' said she, in
tone Of musical sweetness. From
this moment cease to haunt you, and
the crime OF murder is lifted from your
soul. By miracle, the Victorelle you
sent out upon the ocean Of death has
avenged her wrongs and brought you to
repentance. Think of her from hence
forth as one who forgives and prays for
you-as one who is now happy. Return
to Italy. and in your native land strive
by deeds of kindness and Christian
charity to merit the rest that is offered
you above"
Gustave strove to speak, but Victorelle
waved her hand. "You would have
taken your life to atone for the wrong
YOU pracliced on me. Iiestore you that
life, and send you away from America
forever. The packet containing your
confession must be buried beneath this
tree. When this is done, and YOU have
left the shores of your adopted country,
| shall never trouble you more.
She was gone-and with one sigh OF
relief Gustave ST. John turned away
from the spot. The Forest Phantom
was never seen again in the lonely path.
for the next day the repentant Italian
started on the journey that was to lead
him into exile. And one hour from the
time that witnessed the burial of his con
fession beneath the tree designated saw
that packet in the hands OF Victorelle-
no longer the ayenging specter, but the
anxious mother and devoted wife.
A merciful providence had assisted
her TO escape that night, when morta
aid would have been in vain. and
thrown upon the beach miles away
from her home, she lay insensibe
till morning. a long illness followed
and when she recovered, it was to find
her husband maniac and her babe
missns--perhaps murdered. Half mad
dened with the loss of her child, she
pursued the footsteps of Gustave ST. John
with implacable vengeance. Day and
night she tortured him, till she dragged
from him the secret Of her child's exit
ence, and then without revealing to him
the deception that bad SO haunted him,
sent him away forever,
Little Maude was found, aud once
more the mother lavished caresses on
her in the old cottage by the sea. From
his meager cell they brought Paul Ches
ter to his old home. and beneath its quiel
influence his malady assumed a gentlel
tone. Gradually he grew more rational
and at last, after long months of patient
waiting, the lamp of reason once more
lighted and illumlned his soul with lis
precious rays. And then, when he
learned through what dreadful trials
Nictorelle had passed, he clasped his two
treasures to his heart, and thanked
Heaven for the restoration of sunshine in
in their home once more Sweet Vie.
torelle, darling Maud, and noble Pau
Chester. may God bless them all.
Across the sea, in convent grim and
old. dwels priest who is sincere and
benevolent, charitable and kind, austere
and pious, though superstiliously adher.
ing to his belief in ghosts and commu
nications with the other world. But
though he often repeats to the little
children who bend round his knee the
commandment Thou shalt not kill"
he never relates to them the story oI
Nietorelle-The Forest Phantom.
Mr.. Edward Forde, of Buffalo, few