The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-08-11

You have but to command me-" said
the handsome young man; "I am entirely
at your SERVICE"
Well, then, you must know that one
of my relatives has been killed in duel.
He is in the woods, and we are making
every effort to secure him an honorable
burial In the meantime, the body is to be
placed in the Roman tomb at nine o'clock
this evening. AS the tomb is neither
covered nor enclosed, we very greatly fear
it may be disturbed therefore beg of you
to go there at half past nine"
"To the witches denP What an idea p
You are afraid already? Mon Dieu,
how faint hearted the young men are"
"I am not afraid, but you are giving me
a very queer commission.
"Call it fancy if you will, but can
only confide this to one who is very de-
voted, for it is absolutely necessary to con-
ceal this mystery from everybody. You
must go there at exactly half past nine,
and you must dress yourself to personate
an angel of light, and carry torch in
your hand. The fearful stories of which
the tomb has been the subject, will be of
service to you, and those who may be
scheming to carry away or rob the dead,
will, upon seeing you sitting at the foot
of the tomb with your torch in your hand,
be SO terrified that none will dare ap-
proach. At midnight you may return
home. Will you do it?"
81 WILL" said Wenceslas, who feared to
displease her.
" 1 must be certain that you have per-
formed this service; but remember, not
word about it to any one, ard at this price,
my hand is yours"
Wenceslas regained his usual composure,
smothering as best as he could those su-
perstitious fears which sometimes assail
the strongest minds He swore that he
would be both obedient and discreet, and
that at half past nine precisely he would
be at his post, where be would watch the
dead SO carefully that not even bat should
approach. He soon took his leave in order
to make his preparations.
A few moments afterwards Lambert
Won Moll, also faithful, appeared to rem
der his homage to the young lady. He
was lawyer, and everybody predicted
Brilliant future for him.
" If you really love me-" said the CO.
quette, 81 am going to prove it, Some of
the neighbors whom you know, and who
are our enemies wish to injure us. For
this purpose they have placed dead body
in the Roman tomb, which belongs to our
family. wish you to make every possible
effort to carry off the corpse"
81 p' interrupted Lambert
Certainly. know that you are brave"
"That is true, but this is such ridicu-
lous commission"
"The body will doubtless be guarded by
mere children, and in order to disperse
them you must blacken your face and
make yourself as ugly as you are handsome;
in short, disguise yourself as demon.
Call it ridiculous comission, if you will
but go to the Roman tomb at precisely ten;
take up the body and bring it here, and
you will gain all my gratitude"
Lambert Won Moll reflected for mo-
ment and deciding that it was not too
great price for the heart of Gertrude, he
like the two others, promised punctuality
and discretion, and accordingly withdrew
to make his preparations.
Sigismond de Vletter then came to pay
his respects to Mr.. and Mrs. Stocks; he
wished Gertrude good evening, and con-
versed few moments with her, while tax
ing turn in the garden. Having drawn
him aside, Gertrude, who had her projects
proposed he should in his turn assume a
character in her comedy. But Sigismond,
who perceived some malicious intention in
spite of her grave tones, told her that for
anything serious or important, she might
command him; but that such childishness
was only proper for children. The CO.
quette not finding him very complaisant,
left him.
The night was very cold, and at nine
o'clock GILES Collins arrived at the Roman
tomb. He had furnished himself with a
small lantern, not being very courageous.
He went all around the tomb, and carefully
examined the bushes and every place in
which he thought any one might be con-
cealed, and then, not at all reassured by the
silence and solitude which surrounded him,
he extinguished his light, and enveloped
himself from head to foot in long white
sheet which he had brought, concealed
under his coat then extending himself at
full length in the tomb, soon became as
| gloomy and rnntinnlaas as thn nIinnh l,n