South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-08-25

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truth or falsehood, neither it nor you
shall ever part u.s. Do you suppose care
so much for my life here rs to sell, for its
sake, all that is most sacred and precious
to me? You have much 10 learn, with all
your wisdom. Did it never occur to you
that there is Life, somewhere, which no
theory of yours can ever reach? And
that very death, by which you seek to en-
slave me, shall be the means of my tri-
Umph over your
The doctor was awe stricken and silent,
and Charlie, who could scarce believe this
to be the modest and tender little girl
whom he had loved, and thought he knew,
looked up at her with reverence he had
never felt before. " You are right, dar-
ling" he murmured, but signing heavily
" Death is better than such life as that P"
1t is an alternative of DEATH" she an
swered, Zone 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 consummation.
do not believe his thoryl'
At this, DR.. Pechsl, who had been edg-
ing toward the door, advanced again into
the room, and spoke with emphasis:
You say you do not b. lieve my the
orY? Very welll The proof is at any
Iate easy. Twenty-four hours will show !;
and /, at least, am ready to die in defense
Of what l have spent my life to verify"
As he turned to depart, the door opened,
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.
=. II
she, "and the gentleman is here" turning
to the doctor, al thought the candles
would be pleasant to you"
At the sound of her voice, DR.. Pechal
started, and seemed strangely agitated
He peered earnestly at the speaker through
his spectacles.
"You may go, Christina" said Mabel.
= "Christina!" cried the doctor, in 3
tremulous voice, "ChristinaI Christina
Lapeehl can it be thou?" He stretched
toward her his stumpy hands, which shook
as if with an ague.
Christina gazed at him as if he were a
ghost At last she gave low cry, pathetic
and loving.
"Ahl Emil, my own Emil after twenty
years, hast thou come back to met"
And what did these ridiculous old crea-
lures proceed to do, but fail into each
others arms and blubber like two chill
1ren, putting the younger lovers to the
blush with the fsrvor of their emotion,
bursting freshly through the cerements of
4 lifetimel
So the candles had at least as much to
10 with DR.. Pechal's destiny as the ON
libus. Several other dusky points were
llso illuminated by their light. As soon
Is he had recovered himself, and things
lad begun to settle, the doctor recognized
n Charlie Caleph the fourth member of
he group.
"a remarkable coincidence" and, after
moments reflection, Sir, have not yet
earned your name-eXcept the first one. |
What is the last?"
"Why, DR.. Pechal!" exclaimed Mabal, |
n largs-eyed wonderment, "how can you |
lelp knowing his name, when you ad-
lressed me in the omnibus as Mrs. Ca
eph?"
Upon which it transpired that the doc |
or had, in fact, known nothing either of |
Ter name or engagement; but had haZ-
!rded name containing the same letters
g his own, feeling that in case it turned |
,ut to be the correct one, he would lay |
strong claim to the possession of her /
land. The little game at purposes /
which had ensued, ending in a solution |
which answered the purpose equally well. |
lad banished his first guess from his mind.
low, as the reader has long ago OWNED,
is appearance as the surname of our
riend Charlie at once established has right
o Mabel by the ruling of that very law
which had at first seemed so adverse to
heir happiness.
And DR.. Pechal, it is needless TO remark,
vas more than ready to forego his claim
q one whom he already regarded with
idiculOus awe, for the sake of her who,
Ost through so many yesrs, he had long
90 given up as married and done for.
And thou art rewarded for thy constan-
V, Christinchen," said the old hypocrite,
"f for, hadst thou bten mar
led, and our union impossible, so, also,
Tould have been the preservation of our
ves." Charles eyes had quiet twinkle
! them; he was thinking what a constant
ian the doctor had been lately.
"The law has been very lenient to all
f u.s." perforated the doctor; seldom do
Il the members of group possess the
for intermarriage, or the op-
ortunity to profit by the privilege if they
ave it"
"Tm afraid, DOCTOR" said Charlie,
you'll never forgive those unfortunate
lndles for depriving you of the chance to
rove your theory correct; though even
ct, if you insist upon it, it is not too
.te."
"No, no!' said DR.. Pechal, rather
ruffly; "after all, there would be no sat
faction in it; for not one of you would
,main alive long enough to confess YOUR
Ives convinced"
And, as far as they are concerned, the
leory still lacks confirmation.-Apple-