Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-08-31

ling" he murmurcd, but signing heavily.
"Death is better than such a life as that"
"It is an alternative Of dcath,' she an
swcred, "onc of the body, the other Of
the soul. But do not sigh, my love.
What this man says is false; no divine
law could authorize such a contamination.
do not believe his thory!'
At this, DIR. Pcchal, who had been edg.
ing toward the door, advanced again into
the room, and spoke with emphasis:
"You say you do not b. lleve my tho
ory? Very we'll! The proof is at any
rate easy. Twenty-four hours will show;
aud l, at least, am ready to die in defense
Of what have spent my life to vcrity.'
admitting glare of light Christina with
two tall wax candles. The doctor was
dazzled. and shaded his face with his hand.
Christina looked keenly at him as she
placed the candles on the table.
"It is already 50 dark, Fraulein,' said
she, land the gentleman is here" turning
to the doctor, II thought the candles
would be pleasant to you"
At the sound Of her voice, DR.. Pechal
started, and seemed strangely agitated
lie peercd earnestly at the speaker through
his spcctacles.
H9 ay g. cred the doctor doa a2s n
tremulous voice, "Christina! Christina
Lapech! can it be thou:' He stretched
toward he r his stumpy hands, which shook
as if with an ague.
Christina gaztd at him as if he were a
ghost At last she gave a low cry, pathetic
and loving
"Ah! Emil, my own Emil aftt twenty
years, hast thon come back to mey"
And what did these ridiculous old crea.
lures proceed to do, but fall into each
others arms and blubbs like two chill
dren, putting the younger lovers to the
blush with the f,rvor OF their emotion,
bursting freshly through the cerements of
a lifetilne
So the candles had at least as much to
do with Dr. Pechal's destiny as the om-
nibus. Several other dusky points were
also illuminated by their light. As soon
as he had recovered himself, and things
had begun to settle, the doctor recognized
in Charlie Caleph the fourth member of
the group.
"A remarkable coincidence!" and, after
a moments reflection, Sir, have not yet
learned your name-except the first one.
What is the last?'
"Why, DR.. Pechal!" exclaimed Mabel.
in larg ;-vyed wonderment, "how can you
help knowing his name, when you ad-
dressed Inc in the omnibus as Mrs. Ca.
leph:'
Upon which it transpired that the doc
tor had, in fact, known nothing either of
her name .r engagement; but had haz-
arde d name containing the same letters
as his own, feeling that in case it turned
out to be the correct one, he would lay
ocfrc nj, To r>f
hand. The little game at cross, purposes
which answered the purpose equally we'll,
had banished his first guess from his mind.
Now, as the reader has long ago OWNED,
its appearance as the surname Of our
friend Charlie at once established his right
to Mabel by the ruling Of that very law
which had at first seemed so adverse to
their happiness
And Dr. Pechal, it is needless to remark,
was more than ready to forego his claim
in one whom he already regarded with
ridiculous awe, for the sake of her who,
lost through 80 many years, he had long
ago given up as married and done for.
And thou art rewarded for thy constan-
cy, Christinchen," said the old hypocrite,
sententiously "for, hadst thou b. en- mar
ried, and our union impossible, so, also,
would have been the preservation of our
lives" Charles eyes had quiet twinkle
in them; he was thinking what a constant
man the doctor had been lately
THE law has been very lenient to all
of us" perforated the doctor; "seldom do
all the members of group possess the
qualifications for intermarriage, or the op-
portuuity to profit by the privilege if they
have it"
"l'm afraid, doctor,' said Charlie,
"you Il never forgive those unfortunate
candles for depriving you Of the chance to
prove your theory correct; though even
yet, If you insist upon it, it is not too
late"
"No, MOI" said Dr. Pechal, rather
gruftly latter all, there would be no sat-
isfaction in it; for not one of you would
remain alive long, enough to confess your
selves convinced"
And, as far as they are concerned, the
theory still lacks confirmation.-Apple.
TOMS Journal.