Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-02-13

SeVar %ind mfSs th aota annad YOU
Charles sat down and wrote : few : j Ines
9 hand9 They werss AZ follows: a.|15" { 49,.
Igs ;HMR. GAaH:t am upon ID my death bed, and
wish to see YOU. / have something import
& amt to say, and cannot live but ajfeW hours.
a a..a4u 81, s;,4 "KgaENE L1s1E."@
7FV"Now prepare yourself fof long journey,
to any place where you can go comfortably
until old Gage dies-he can't live forever Or
until this cursed affair forgottep."1 :.
II am prepared already T. have unpacked
can STARK 81 at two hours notice." -
"Well, get every thing ready, for you must
20 Tomorrow"
Il The arrangements we're soon made for a
trip to st. Louis; and the name of Eugene
as q new title, under which he hoped for .
uew life, with new fortunes. s''" "a -
Now" said Charely, slet me- get you up for
dying man, and then do you 90 to bed, while
Igo and bring Gage" s';i.' = ;:5-& ar ;
A little chalk and India:ink made q cadav-
erous. looking subjectof Eugene-who, poor
boy, was almost pale enough in his normal
condition. He went to! bed afterreceiVing his
cue from Charley concerning his reception! of
Gage, and was stationed in the next room,
where could see and hear without being
seen or heard. S'''' -
ing disappointed that he was -aboutto have
his revenge cut short BY his victims death! "a
"Ah, Mr.. Gage" said Eugene family, "you
have come, chi hardly expected you -
"You wished to speak with me-" ...c -.
"Yes. want you to forgive me before !
ing for any one. You have injured me severe
4 y, but freely forgive you all. - Will you do
The hard-faced old stockbroker relaxed a
little. Poor Eugeune seemed so weak $50
near to Deaths door-.hat he felt as if his
lengthy death-b bed scene, which Charley
rendered as painful as possible by his remarks
and by-play-at the great risk Of making the
dying man laugh.-Gage pardoned his foe
gave him his hand, and promised to attend
Two hours afterward Eugene Isle was ne
more, but Eugene Hawthorn was en- route for
| st. Louis. , 80 :
The next morning Charley Hale called Up
on me, and got me to accompany him to an
some mahogany coffin, and had it conveyed
to the lodgings Eugene had occupied since
his return from the South. He then sent
word to Gage that the invalaid was dead, and
would be buried the afternoon following:
The death was duly announced in the papers,
and certificate written out by Charley,
signed "Charles Hale, NJ. DIP stating that,
the deceased, Eugene Lisle,z died on the
night Of Wednesday, at eleven O'clock, Of ner-,
! vous fever" - ? I.l:. r -, IKE
."Now for your part Of the drama. Z said he.
II want you to shave as nearly like Eugene
99oss1s and 1t ct arg up b his
shall have to come pretty near it."
submitted myself into his hands, like
lamb being led to the SHAMELESS, and in short
time was shaved, and whitened, and touched
up with India-ink, like bad photograph,
dead Isle. The family in the house, were:
strong sympathizers with Eugene, and lent
| all their aid to the deception. was presently
laid out, dressed in aIsuit OF Eugene's clothing,
left by him forthe purpose, and was carefully
placed in the coffin, upon the lid Of which Char
plate made of tinfoil, to the effect that "Eu-
gene Lislie, aged twenty five years and two
months, died on the-of January, IS"
| I had never been in a coffin before, and
hope that shall find my occupancy of one
more comfortable. The position was unpleas-
were decidedly somber. Eugene had a few
| distant relatives living, but, fortunately, no
near or dear ones. The secret was too grave
to be intrusted to any save those who have to
take part in the arrangements, and Charley
accordingly gave it out far and wide that all
who wished to see the remains Of the young
| man must come to the funeral .
| This was a grand affair. The minister
firmly believed that was dead; and SO did all
present with the exception OF the undertaker's
er of the hearse, Charley and myself. e.
| Thought the ceremonies would never end.
My back and legs were frightfully stiff. My
| shoulders acheQ-the coffin, being open only
over the face, was terribly close, and smelled
of new varnish strong enough to sicken me.
| Then I was so afraid that Bertha-whO was
| present with her husband, anc who believed
| Eugene to be dead-would get up scene and
| discover the truth, that trembled every time
any body approached the table where lay.
At length, however, the service was over.
Charley came up, and bending down to take
! last look, whispered to me:
II say old boy, tue lid isn't screwed down
get along as best you can. till the :hearse
starts, then lift off your cover and get out Of
the coffinw
This operation took about five minutes;
and if it had taken three more they might
great propriety-for should nave been stihed
| to death. - T.! 1..-:.
As soon as I found myself fairly in the
hearse, lifted the lid from my face and
breathed freely again. As the vehicle drove
away raised the rest of the lid of, got out OF
the coffin and found note from Charley on
the floor of the hearse, in conspicuous place
where couldn't have helped seeing it,:
This note contained Instructions; and, in
accordance with them, took quantity of
| 1EOu DdE6, WHICH udu ueeu 6LOWeO away Ut
forehand in the front part of the hearse, and
placed them in the coffin in such 9 manner
that they could not rattle about This gave
weight to the Illusion of those who lift
ed it. I then found a screw.driver, in the
corner Of my vehicle, and with fastened the
roof Of my quondam mahogany resting-placc
This done, !coiled myself up in comfort
able position, lit cigar, and, on the whole,
rather enjoyed the ride:
Arrived at the cemetery, Charley and the
undertaker's man contrived to stand at the
end OF the hearse, 40 as to conceal Its opening
while the coffin was being drawn out; and as
soon as that operation was concluded, they
disposed the curtain so as to hide me from
the gaze of any body who might be standing
near.
The hearse then drove away, and returned
to the city at a rapid pace. At the stable
where it was kept, I slipped out unseen,
washed the paint and chalk from my face, and
walked over to Charley's lodgings, as coolly
as if had not been undergoing a recent
funeral. ! ~: T.. .-3; b.. 49,.
In an hour the planner and executor of this
extraordinary feat made his appearance. He
told me that Mrs. Gage had evidently suffered
intense pain during the whole scene; but the
presence of her husband kept her from ex-
hibiting any emotion. j.
Charley; "and if old Gage should die she
would be all the more glad to find Eugene
alive. think myself that it is d charitable
action on our part, clear through. know
that !, for one, have no qualms Of conscience
am! happy to be able to add pleasant
sequel to my somewhat unpleasant COMES.
sions. Gage lived but two years longer, when
an apoplectic fit, brought on by unR0vernable
passion, struck him down, and in less than an
hour hislife had fed. &c. T.. ~>.,' '''''
! Bertha, who had settled into a pensive
melancholy, that made her more charming thar
ever, regarded his death as happy emancipa
ton for her from his unreasonable and tyran.
meal domination. @%!<s
Charley and I Immediately dispatched Il
joint letter to Eugene, who had entered il
business in st. louis, and was prospecting
We then broke tn news of our deception
gradually to Bertha, and in 4 few months sh,
removed to the home of Eugene's, adoption
where she became, not Mrs. Lisle-for til,
young man would never own his unfortunat,
name again-but, Mrs.. Hawthogne.--Ne,
York Mercury. = ~ .. ''"'3 sS.'' j.
II n-s~.:., IL VY.I. OIL o.. .!'t,'