The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-02-23

i
her upon her snow-white bed anC
folded her hands together.
Her sister, Sarah, wished to re
move the costly ring, Hugh Vim
cents gift, but her swollen finger
preventing, she consulted Frank
about it.
There is nothing too good ol
valuable to adorn my darling
'Tis hers" he said, "let it remain p
And so it sparkled and flashed
the whole night through, as if in
mockery of death.
| Hugh Vincent's splendid man,
sion was situated in the suburbs
of Boston. Mount Auburn, he
said, was long way of. There
fore he had built a family vault at
the extreme end of his grounds.
There he was buried, and there
too, they carried his widow.
1t was now bright afternoon,
all nature seemed joyous, afford
ing a striking contrast to the
grief-stricken hearts who stood
around, as Elites coffin was pla-
ced in its allotted niche. A pray
er was offered with bowed heads,
and then the keys being given in
charge of her old and trusted but
Ter, the company separated, leav-
ing her to a lone repOse.
Frank Potter alone remained.
He wished to look npon his dar-
ling once again, and imprint a
first and last ,lliss upon her cold
lips. Motioning the old man to
retire, he opened the glass lid
and gazed with teerless eyes
upon the only woman he had ev
er loved. #an'r
How calm and peacefully she
rested. Beautiful even in death.
He took a flower from among
those she held in her hand, and
hid it in his bosom. Then wait
| ing to see the butler securely
lock the outer door of the vault,
he turned away with a feeling
that now there was Nothing worth
living for.
But he must return to the
scenes hallOwed by remembran-
ces of her sweet presence. Per
haps Sarah, Ettie's sister, might
wish it, and so it proved, for it
was mournful pleasure to speak
of the loved and lost, and specu-
late as to the cause Of her sudden
death.
So they remained conversing in
to the twilight. Sarah remarked
that perhaps Ettie's spirit hover
ed over them even then.
Presently a step was heard COM
ing slo wly up the gravel walk,
the outer door was opened, and
the steps advanced into the hall,
and stopped at the parlor door.
Who could it be +? A neighbor per
haps who has kindly come to offer
consolation.
Sarah arose and opened the
door, when suddenly a tall, white
robed figure glided past her, and
fell fainting at Franks feet.
1t was Ettie Vincent.
"Oh, heavens9" exclaimed
Frank, raising her PROSTATE form
and clasping her to his breast.
80, my darling," he cried, press
ing passionate kisses upon her
lips. All this warmth and glow
of affection aroused her energy, |
and revived the trembling form |
he held in his arms.
Placing her tenderly upon the
lounge, he rang for assistance for
Sarah had fallen insensible from
fright at the sudden and mysteri-
GUS appearance of one whom she
supposed to be in her grave.
Brandy and other restoratives
were judiciouSly given, and when,
an hour later, quiet and strength
were restored, Ettie held up her
finger, showing a deep and angry
wound upon it, ,II
81 heard all that passed, dear
she said with a week |
voice, "almost every word. l
heard the physicians say that l
died Of heart disease, and how l
thank you for requesting that the
brilliant ring should remain upon
my finger, rather than it should
suffer mutilation. But every sense
seemed fast bound, except, in
deed, the sense of hearing. /
could not move q muscle-oh, 1t
was agony to think THAT l
was to be buried alive, and to
know that you were powerless to
save me from such a horrible
fate.
~ felt your warm kisses while
in the vault, and tried to make
some sign; but death itself could
scarcely hold me more firmly, and
when l heard the iron door clang,
and the bolt shot, and heard, also,
your retreating footsteps,I think
that l must have swooned, for /
nothing farther until /
felt the cold breeze tanning my
forehead, and a severe pain in the
mangled finger.
"Then ] was able to open my
e yes, and in a short time was
able to sit up in my coffin. Only
think, Frank, my coffin. Then |
saw a dark figure gliding swiftly
from the vault, leaving the door
open. My ring is missing, and
believed my life, for the blood