Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-01-12

"Such is the case I plainly confess ii, =
returned the trembling repentant.
The Baron poured out from bottle q
goblet Of some potent liquor, which he
handed to his companion. 6E&4
Dram off the contents of this, he said
in confident tone; lit will give you
courage. In the course of a few minutes
you will be another man."
Heintz Wherart obeyed. Under the in
fluence of the draught he regained little
of his composnre.
"Now," observed his superior, "prepare
to accompany me. You may not like the
task, but it is one you are bound to per-
| FORM"
The sexton bowed his head in tacit &C.
| Quiescence. III ff8 4Q 9t3~ ss
"Are you ready" said the Baron
| 81 am" was the ready response. For by
this time the sexton was fully aware that
all remonstrance would be useless; he
therefore made virtue of necessity, and
proceeded at once to the cathedral, ac-
companied by the Baron.
During the short journey, he answered
the queries of the latter with as much
brevity as possible. Upon reaching the
half opened door of the sacred edifice, his
heart beat violently, but he strove as best
| he could to conceal his trepidation; and,
assuming an air of confidence, he STROBE
boldly along the aisle of the church.
Heaven preserve and protect us" muir
INJURED the. ence-stricken Heintz, as
he approached the entrance to the vault.
IF you have any fear, Heintz Wherart,'
said the Baron, in conciliatory tone, "say
so, and will enter the vault alone"
II would not have it SO, my lord" re-
turned the sexton. II know the way far
better than you can possibly do. Duty
dictates that should enter first"
The lamp was still burning. 1t shed a
! sickly glare upon the somber walls and
melancholy relics of mortality enshrined
within that gloomy receptacle. The sex
ton, who had been closely followed by the
Baron, uttered an exclamation Of terror
| and surprise.
Wherefore this sudden fear" said the
latter.
Look yonder! The saints be good to
me, guilty sinner that / am" calculated
Heintz, falling on his knees and clasping
his hands, as if making mute appeal to
some patron saint.
Upon the instant the Barons 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 a spectre than denizen of this world,
| albeit she regarded the new corners with a
vacant stare, such as person might dis
play who has been suddenly awakened
from long, deep sleep. G
Heavens! Am l dreaming, or do my
senses deceive me?" exclaimed the Baron.
Schroeder, my dear wife, speak-answer
me! Say, is it you? Speak, dearest For
mercy's sake, speak !"
where am II And what is the mean
ing of all this ?" murmured the Lady Shroe.
der, 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, call.
ing upon all the saints in the calendar TO
shield him from harm.
Lady Shredder had already realized her
position. After Heintz's departure 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 palpable. Instead of being in a
warm bed, she was reposing i'll a narrow
coffin. The appalling idea of being buried
alive occurred to her; above all, the fear Of
dying Of hunger, and of passing her last
hours among the dead, raised her despair
to the highest pitch. She looked with
horror upon the long rows of leaden cof-
fins; despair gave a temporary strength,
and she succeeded in reaching the cloister,
where she wandered about for some time
then, faint and sick at heart, she returned
to the vault tor the lantern a sudden weak
ness compelled her to rest for awhile 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, joyfully bearing
bis beloved wife in his arms, adopted the
fittest measure for her restoration. He
took her to the hotel, and contrived to con-
ceal 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 impossible for
him to remain angry with Heintz Wherart,
whose sacrilegious crime produced such
happy consequences.