The Morning herald., 1876-12-28
CORD AND CRERSR.
CHAPTER XIV.
TWO LETTERS.


row Of graves we stopped. "Here," said
the woman, ''are twelve graves. These
we're made last night. These are those
twelve which you saw"
"And where-where, O God, is shew
''There," replied the woman, pointing to
one which was the third from the end.
"Do not deceive me!' | cried, implor-
ingly. "Are you sure? For I will tear
up all these till l find her."
:" am sure, for was the one who buried
her. l and man"
Iseized the spade and turned up the soil.
| labored necessarily for what seemed an
endless period. l had thrown out much
earth but had not yet reached her. l felt
my itful strength failing me. My mind,
too, seemed entering into state of deli
rum. At last my knees gave way, and l
sank down. But would not give up. l
tore up handfuls of earth and threw them
into the air.
"Oh, Edith" I cried, II am here! l am
coming! | am coming!'
Come, Sir" said the woman, suddenly
in her strong voice, yet pityingly. "You
can do nothing. l will dig her out in a
minute"
God forever bless your l cried, leap
ing out and giving place to her. l watched
her as she threw out the earth. Hungrily
lgazed, devouring that dark aperture
with my eyes till at last tie rough boards
appeared.
Then l leaped down. I put my finger,
at the edge and tore at it till itgave way.
The lid was only fastened with few nails.
Ny bleeding fingers clutched it. Ityielded
to my frantic exertions.
Omy God! was there ever sight on
earth like that which now met my eyes as
raised the lid and looked below? The
moon, which was high in the sky, streamed
down directly into the narrow cell. 1t
showed me the one whom / sought, It's
bright beams threw lustre round that face
which was upturned toward me. All me!
how white was that face; like the face Of
some sleeping maiden carved in alabaster.
Bathed in the moonbeams it lay before me,
all softened and refined and made pure; a
face of unearthly beauty. The dark hair
caug ht the moons rays, and eneircled the
head like a crown of Immortality. Still
the eyes were closed as though in slumber;
still The lips were fixed into smile. She
lay as one who had fallen into deep,
sweet sleep-as one who in that sleep has
dreams, in which are visions of more than
earthly beauty, and scenes Of more than
mortal happiness.
Now it was with me as though at that
unequaled vision I had drawn into nay in
most being some sudden stimulus GER
tain rapture of newborn strength; strength
no longer fitiul and spasmodlc, but firm,
well fortified and we'll sustained.
| took her in my arms and brought her
forth from the grave into the life ofearth.
All me! how light thing was that frail
and slender figure which had been worn
down by the unparalleled suffering through
which she had passed. This thought
transtixed me with pang of anguish
even awed the rapture that felt at clasp
ing her in my arms.
But now that had her, where was l to
seek for p place of shelter? l turned to
the woman and asked "Is there any Sc
Guided place where she may sleep undis-
tlrbed till she wakes"
NO: there is none but what is crowded
with the sick and dying in all this island"
u must have some place."
There is only one spot that is quiet"
What one?"
THE dead-house."
! shuddered. "No not there. See,"
s. sald l, and l handed her piece of gold.
Find me some place and you shall have
still more"
!, WELL" she said, hesitatingly, IT have
the room where me and my nan live. l
suppose we could give up that.
Take me there then"
Shall | help you carry herr"
r, mo-" | answered drawing back my pure
Ruth from her outstretched hands, "No,
will carry her.
G., The woman went on without word.
one 81 led the way back to the low and dis
%al u sheds which lay there like a vast
charnel-house, and thence to low hut
some distance away from all, where she
opened door. She spoke few words to
T. man, who finally Withdrew. A light was
turning. A rude cot was there. Here
'a'a no the one whom I carried. ra l
: Come here" said I, three times day
Will pay yOu veil TOR fhiS.U \, 9isSIs