The Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1870-1875, 1870-12-02

Drain of the contents Of this he
said in a confident tone; "it will give
YOU courage. In the course OF few
minutes you will be another man"
Heintz Wherart obeyed. Under
/ the influence of the draught. he re-
/ gained little of his composure.
Nov" observed his superior, pre-
pare to accompany me. You may not
| like the task, but il is one you are
bound to perform"
The sexton bowed his head in tacit
acquieseuce.
Are you ready?" said the Baron.
! II an" was the ready response.
For by this time the sexton was fully
aware that all remOnstfauces would
be useless; he therefore made virtue
OF necessity, and proceeded at once to
the cathedral, accompanied by the
| Baron.
During the short journey, be au-
swered the queries of the latter with
as much brsvity as possible. Upon
reaching the half opened door of the
sacred edifoe, his heart beat violently,
but he strcve as best he could to con
ceal his trepidation. And, assuming
an air of confidence, he strobe boldly
along the aisle of the church.
Heaven preserve and protect us,
murmured the conscience stricken
Heintz. as he approached the entrance
to the vault"
If you have any fear, Heintz
Wherart," said the Baron. in g con-
ciliatory tone, SAY so, and | will enter
the vault alone"
81 would not have it so. my lord,
returned the sexton. Il know the
way far better than you can possibly
do. Duty dictates that l should enter
first.
The lamp was still burning. 1t
shed a siekly glare upon the somber
walls and melancholy relics of NOR
tally enshrined within that gloomy
receptacle. The sexton, who had
been closely followed by the Baron,
uttered an exclamation of terror and
surprise.
"Wherefore this sudden fear?"
said the latter.
Look yonderI The saints be good
to me, guilty sinner that | am = ejac
ulatsd Heintz, falling on his knees
and clasping his hands, as if making
a mute appeal to some patron saint.
Upon the instant the Baron's eyes
were directed to one object in the
vault, at the farther extremity of
which he beheld his wife seated on
stone. She looked more like q spec
tire than a denizen of this world, al
belt she regarded the new corners
with a vacant stare, such as q person
might display who has been suddenly
awakened from long, deep sleep.
Heavenl Am / dreaming, or do
my senses deceive me?" exclaimed
the Baron. Shredder, my dear wife.
speak-ansWer mel Say, is it you?
Speak, dearest! For mercy's sake,
speak,
Where am L? And what is the
meaning of all this?" murmured the
Lady Schroeder. in faint weak tone.
Her husband sprang forward and
clasped her in his arms. He took her
cold hands within his own. clasped
them, and covered her face with warm
kisses. Meanwhile, the sexton
rocked himself to and fro, calling up
en- all the saints In the calendar to
shield him from harm.
Lady Shredder had already realized
her position. After Hientz's depart
ure she aWoke from her lethargy, and
passed some terrible moments. To
her surprise she discovered that she
was clothed In silk. She glanced
around, and her position was but too
| palp2ble. Instead Of being in a warm
bed, she was reposing in a narrow
coffin. The appalling idea of being
! buried alive occurred to her; above
all, the fear of dying Of hun
ger, and of passing her last
/ hours amidst the dead, raised her de-
spair to the highest pitch. She looked
with horror upon the long rows of
leaden collins; despair gave a tempo
Tary strength, and she succeeded In
reaching the cloister, where she wan
dered about for some time, then, faint
and sick of heart, she returned to the
vault for the lantern; sudden weak
ness compelled her to rest for while
/ on one of the stones, and while she
was in this posture relief came to her.
/ Her husband and the sexton made
their appearance. The former, joy
fully bearing his beloved wife In his
arms, adopted the ittest measures for
her restoration. He took her to the
hotel, and contrived to conceal the
true cause of her resuscitation.
Great was his Joy when the physician
in attendance upon his lady declared
that all danger was over. 1t was i'm
possible for him to remain angry
with Heintz Wherart, whose scrllege-
ious crime produced such happy con-
/ sequences.