Daily globe., 1879-02-09

oeen lnulcLeO 1Or perJurerS had 1t not been Tor
the lavish use OF Cages gold, YET, Eugene's
was right and who was wrong. It was dis
reputable charge anyhow, and the young
man found himself an object of distrust and
suspicion everywhere.
II am sick Of this" said he, one day to him
self and myself; Eugene Lisle is bad name.
1t has fallen into bad company, and he who
bears it is worse than dead. I wish he were
really so''
,"Then, why the deuce don't you die" asked
Charley; "we will help you"
What do you mean%'
|. "Simply that I have an ideo. Stand up
alongside of George there-so; that's it-yes
-yes-1 think I can do it,"
do what?"
Never mind; I'll show you"
"But what did you want us to stand up to.
gether lor?'
''Only to see whether you could be made to
look alike. I think with a little shaving and
a little artistic making up, could fix it SO
that George could be mistaken for you"
Were nOtunlike."
mo. Now l want you to write note to
John Gage, in trembling hand"
John Gage? What for?"
Never mind. pll write the note, and you
must copy it."
Charles sat down and wrote few lines,
whlcn Eugene copied in faint and irregular
MIR. GAGE: am upon my death-bed, and
wish to see you. have something import
ant to say, and cannot live but few hours
EUGENE LIsLE."
"Now prepare yourself for a long journey,
| to any place where you can go comfortably
| until old Gage dies-he can't live forever or
| until this cursed affair if forgotten"
Il am prepared already: I have unpacked
none of the baggage I took South with me.
can start off at two hO1,rS, notice
"Well, get every thing ready, for you must
| go tomorrow
The arrangements were soon made for
trip to st. Louis; and the name of Eugene
Hawthorne was adopted by the young man,
| as a new title, under which he hoped for a
ueW life, with new fortunes.
Now" said Charely, "let me get you up for
dying man, and then do you 80 to bed, while
I go and bring Gage"
| little chalk and India-ink made cadav-
erous- looking subject OF Eugene-who, poor
! boy, was almost pale enough in his normal
| condition. He went to bed after receiving 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.
In half an hour Gage was brought in, look
| ing disappointed that he was about to have
"Ah, Mr.. Gage" said Eugene family, ayou
| have come, eh? hardly expected you"
"You wished to speak with me-"
| 4es. want you to foIgive me before I
die. can not leave this world with ill-feel-
! ing for any one. You have injured me severe
~ but freely forgive you all. Will you do
The hard-faced old stockbroker relaxed
| little. Poor Eugeune seemed SO weak-so
| near to deaths door-.hat he felt as if his
hatred ought to die with its victim; so after
| a lengthy death-bed scene, which Charley
roro6n f,11
| 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
his funeral.
Two hours afterward Eugene Lisle was no
| more, but Eugene Hawthorn was en- route for
st. Louis.
The next morning Charley Hale called up
on me, and got me to accompany him to an
| undertaker's. There he purchased hand
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. d." stating that
''the deceased, Eugene Lisle, died on the
night OF Wednesday, at eleven o'clock, of ner-
vous feyer.''
"Now for your part of the drama" said he.
Il want you to shave as nearly like Eugene
cold corpse" We WON'T bury YOU, but we
| shall have to come pretty near it."
| submitted myself into his hands, like
lamb being led to the shambles, and in short
time was shaved, and whitened, and touched
w. with India-ink, like bad photograph,
until bore quite strong resemblance to a
dead Lisle. The family in the house were
| strong sympathizers with Eugene, and lent
all their aid to the deception. I was presently
laid out, dressed in akuit OF Eugene's clothing,
| left by him for the purpose, and was carefully
placed inIthe coffin, ,uponithe lidof which Char
| ley had fastened good limitation of silver
plate made OF tinfoil, to the effect that "Eu-
gene Lislie, aged twenty-five years and two
| months, died on the-of January, 1S-."
had never been in a coffin before, and
| hope that shall find my occupancy of one
more comfortable. The position was unpleas-
! ant, and the thoughts that it gave rise to
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 arrange gernents, 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 grand affair. The minister
firmly believed that was dead, and so did all
present with the exception OF the undertaker's
man, the family who kept the house, the drivss
er of the hearse, Charley and myself.
thought the ceremonies would never end
My back and legs were frightfully stiff NV
shoulders achel-the coffin, being open only
over the face, was terribly close, and smelled
OF new varnish strong enough to sicken me,
Then l was SO afraid that Bertha-who was
present with her husband, anc who believed
Eugene to be dead-would get up a 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, the lid isn't screwed down
get along as bestyo can till the hearse
starts, then lit OFT your cover and get out CT
the coffin!"
This operation took about five minutes;
and if it had taken three more they might
have screwed me down and buried me with
great propriety-for should have been stifed
to DEATH
AS soon as 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 off, 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, I took quantity of
iron bars, which had been slowed away be-
forehand in the front part of the hearse, and
placed them in the coffin in such a 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 it fastened the
roof of my quondam mahogany resting-placc
securely down..
This done, coiled myself up in a comfort
able position, lit a 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, so as to conceal its opening
while the coffin was being drawn out; and as
soon as that operation was concluded thev
disposed the curtain SO as to hide me from