The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-02-11

"lia. yon won't pay me, wont youf Ifyor
won't alive, you shall dead, then 80 here's fol
you"
He sprang like @ wild beast upon the bed
and, bending down over the sick man, with
both elbows foroefully compressed bis chest
rafting sound of frightful import issued
from the victims throat, q sharp convulson
ran through all his limbs, which presently re
Taxed, and then all was still. Thys seized the
bunch of keys, and with a single pluck broke
the string by which they were fastened round
Unole Jams neck then he slowly came down
from the bed.
And now there he stood. leaning with one
hand upon the table, quivering with agitation
and fatigue, and with the terror of the thought
that the noise of the struggle might have been
audible below. His eyes were fixed upon the
lifeless body; cold sweat trickled down his
| forehead and his cheeks. Perhaps he repented
him of what he bad done perhaps he trembled
| for the consequences Whichever it might be,
| he stood for considerable time as though
struck with utter helplessness. At last, with
u bideous groan, he mechanically took up the
lamp, approached the door of the room, an d
| opened it.
cry of terror burst from his lips. Before
him stood the widow, with look of interro-
CATION upon her countenance! Perhaps from
behind the door, through the key hole, she
| had heard had seen, all that had passed
FIercsly he gfared upon her, while she SEEM
ed totally at q loss to account for his disturb
| ed air; he even raised his hand as though to
| brain her with the bunch of keys.
What do you want here - he how]ed.
81 thought l heard you call me :" she an
| swered, retreating, and evidently preparing
for fight; cor was it Uncle Jan that called
We'll, well, there's no need to be angry;
can go came"
Thys let fall his hand with the keys, at the
same time stammering out:
Uncle Jan has had stroke; believe he's
dead. Go to him-no, go down and fasten all
the doors-bnt first see If he is dead, though
get some vinegar"
In his confusion he no longer knew what be
was saying, violent Revision in his
whole norvous system had eGsued- upon his
ru bless deed. With wavering steps he now
approached massive door, fonnd, after some
search, the right key, and passed into long
lark corridor which ran along the vhole
length Of the buildiuE, from one end to the
other TIE lamp threw its light on bat
small portion of the walls, and surrounded him
with IA dim HpheTe of illumination, without
efsctnalIy drSpelIiug the darkness.
Ga be went, stumbling and feeling his way
through these unknown localities. Already
were his terrors and bis Conscience holding up
to his tronbted Imagination the righteous
Judgment OF God upon his deed. How much
greater would those terroIs have been could
he have seen the human shadow watch crep5
after him from afar in the deep gloom OF the
corridor!
Probably indeed he may have heard some
suspicious sounds behind him, for he stopped
aud looked back. Eventually, however, | .
proceeded on his way, till again stopped by
another door of singular construction. The |
portal was low and arched: the door itself SO
thickly se5 with iron plates and bestudded |
with huge nails that barely was the wood |
visible beneath them. Several padlocks of
unusual size, red with rust, hung from it; q |
bar, or rather massive beam of IRON, added q |
last security to the lhiser's treasury.
With throbbirg heart and not without |
much labor aud pains, Thys opened the locks
and removed eli obstacles. He descended n |
flight of stairs, and found himself in an extern
slve cellar. And now, at last, arrived at the |
hiding place of the old mans boards the evil |
doer thought no more of his evil deed; his |
conscience held its peace; his fears entirely |
lef5 hun. Tne only feeling for which his
heHrt now had room was the barning desire
after the sight of gold, tie touch of gold the
heamed smile OF transport; in his eyes
glowed the fire OF passionate Ion iug.
With the lamp ia his hand, he walked round |
the ce'ier, setrcolug as he went; but, to his no
little CONSERVATION, nothing could he discern
but the four bare walls, and, near the foot of
the steps, large stone, which had evidently
served for seat. He began TO quake in all his
limbs; his c1unJeuance fell with anxiety and
veX alton.
"What!' he deieotedly murmured; lean it
be that the gold Is not heref And yet there's
Bee there i'll the wall isn't that a keyholef"
Laughing aloud. and beside himself for joy,
no hurried up to the point in the wall which
had attracted his attention, audibly venting his
citation as he sought out the right KEY, aud at
last opened q hidden cavity in the wall.
, Tia, la! here lies the treasury! See, see,
three bags! FOUR Ave bags! Gold gold!"
WIN trembling hands and inward exulta-
tlon he took one of the linen bags ont of it's
hiding place, aud was about to undo tue
string with whicI it was fastened but all at
nnce no started with a sudden fright the bag
Toll from his hand. He turned toward the en-
trance at the vau,5, aud listened With treLnb-
ing anxiety it seemed to him as though he
had heard IA noise III that directiuu-a noise
ls of tue cracking of iron.
For f'w momouts he stood motionlcss and
lervousiy listening; not the slightest sound
; utd he CATCH. Gradually he recovered f,om
MS fright; he took tAe bag up again from the
Sr"Hid, observing, as he did 30
Alb, it Is nothIng; the bolt of the lock, I
inFp,as, that hadn't quite shut ut first. So,
au ~ for it!'
AUG he opened he bag and hastily clutched
At It's contents. Bat how was the expression
II his c"nnten"nc" changed! what Gismay ut
once and contempt did it tell Of when his
'yos fell upon tue handful Of pieces which his
Eager grasp brought out
"copper"! lie muttcTed; copper - and he
ct the bag fall 10 snizs another
Copper! nothing but copper!' he again
'X9laim"d, VITA owing agitation.
Aud each time That he opened "A fresh bag it
NaH ever and again the mortifyiug word
'Copprr!' that fell from his lips
As ue proceeded IN this egitating search, his
lhe"k1 grew pale the sweat Of anguish burst
ORTIZ upon uls brow; his chest clved violent