Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-13
more hit Eugene Hawthorn was en- route for

more. Int Eugene Hawthorn was en- route for
ct. Louis. ISL
| 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 fever"
snow for your part of the drama" said he.
81 want you to shave as nearly like Eugene
| cod corpse" We won't bury you, but we
shall have to come pretty near it."
/ submitted myself into his hands, like a
| lamb being led to the shambles, and in short
| time was shaved, and whitened, and touched
up with India-ink, like bad photograph,
| until bore quite strong resemblance to a
dead I.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 a.suit Oh Eugene's clothing,
| left by him for the purpose, and was carefully
placed in the coffin upon The lid of which Char
| ley had fastened a 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 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 1t 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
pres mt with the exception OF the undertaker's
man, the family who kept the house, the driv::
er of the hearse, Charley and myself.
| Thought the ceremonies would never end
My back and legs were frightfully stiff. My
shoulders ached-the coffin, being open only
over the face, was terribly close, and smeled
Then l 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
a last look, whispered to me:
81 say old boy, the lid isn't screwed down
get along as best you can till the hearse
starts, then lift off your cover and get out c.
the coffinn'
This operation took about five minutes
and if it had taken three more they nigh
have screwed me down and buried me with
great propriety-for should nave been stifleC
to death.
AS soon as l found myself fairly in the
hearse, / lifted the lid from my face anC
breathed freely again. AS the vehicle drove
away / raised the rest of the lid of, got out o
the coffin and found note from Charley OF
the floor OF the hearse, in conspicuous place
where / couldn't have helped seeing it.
This note contained Instructions; and, il
accordance with them, / took a quantity o
iron bars, which had been slowed away be
forehand in the front part of the hearse, ant
placed them in the coffin in such a name
that they could not rattle about. This CAV
weight to the Illusion of those who lift
ed it. l then found screw. driver in tn,
corner of my vehicle, and with fastened tn
roof of my quondam mahogany resting -plac
securely down.
This done, coiled myself up in a comfort
able position, lit cigar, and, on the whole
rather enjoyed the ride.
Arrived at the cemetery, Charley and tn
undertaker's man cOntrived to stand at tn
end of the hearse, so as to conceal its openin!
while the coffin was being drawn OUT and a
soon as that operation was concluded, the,
disposed the curtain so as to hide me from
the gaze of any body who might be standin!
near.
The hearse then drove away, and return e.
to the city at rapid pace. At the stabl
where 1t was kept, l slipped out unseen
washed the paint and chalk from my face, an
walked over to Charley's lodgings, as COOL
as If had not been undergoing recen
funeral.
In an hour the planner and executor of thi
extraordinary feat made his appearance. II
told me that Mrs. Gage had evidently suffere
intense pain during the whole scene: but ia
trtsence of her husband kept her from ez
, hibiting any emotion.
! 1t is better for her to think him dead" sal
Charley; land if old Gage should die sh
would be all the more glad to find Eugen
, alive. think myself that it is a charitabl
J action on our part, clear through. l kno,
that |. for one, have no qualms of conscienc
I about it."
| am happy to be able to add pleasan
sequel to my somewhat unpleasant comics
sons. Gage lived but Two years longer, whe
an apoplectic fit, brought on by ungovernabl
passion, struck him down, and in less than Al
hour his life had fed
Bertha, who had settled into a pensiv
melancholy, that made her more charming tha
ever, regarded his death as happy emancips
ton for her from his unreasonable and tvran
nical domination.
Charley and 1 Immediately dispatched
, joint letter to Eugene, who had entered i
business in st. Louis, and was prospecting
We then broke tn news of our deception
gradually to Bertha, and in a few months sh
removed to the home of Eugene's adoption
where she became, not Mrs. Lisle-for tn
young man would never own his unfortunat
, name again-but Mrs. Hawthorne.-Nc
York Mercury.