Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-11

wait in the vestry until we are ready to leave
the church.
The sexton nodded and walked away, car
rving his lantern with him. The General
and the stranger were thus left in total
darkness There was no light whatever in
the gloomy building, except the faint moon
beams streaming in through the one distant
window.
.Why have been summoned here?' ex-
claimed the General. "What is the motive
of all this NONSENSE"
The strangers voice answered him from
the farther end of the building.
''You will know presently" said the voice,
in slow and solemn tones. "Look toward
the moonlight below the western window"
The General looked, with a shudder of
horror, in the direction of which the man
spoke. Family visible in the struggling
rays of the moon he beheld the ghost-like
form which he had seen in the garnet at
midnight upon the tenth Of October. He
recognized the shadowy and indistinct fig
ura at once.
An exclamation of terror burst from his
lips, but he was a brave man, and he quickly
recovered his presence of mind. He tried
to rush toward the wrath, but he was
stopped by range OF pews, which formed a
barrier between himself and tho shadowy
FORM The interior of the church was
strange to him, and it would have been ut
tarly impossible for him to find his way to
the moonlt window in the darkness. He
was compelled, therefore, to remain where
he was, separated from the apparition by the
entire width of the holy edifce.
"Granhv Dumont," said voice, whose
tones recalled more wildly that horrible
IL "a 10, .ol
-''Granby Dumont, you refused to heed
my warning.
Il did, answered the General, haughtily,
because your words contained vile SLAM
der against the most lovely and innocent of
women. If, dissatisfied at the ill-success
of your first attempt, you seek second time
to succeed in your foul plot I tell you that
you waste time and trouble.
''You refuse, then, to be warned?"
Il refuse to listen to ii shameful SANDER!
If a voice from the grave were to tell me
that Maud Ovington is unworthy Of my love,
1 would not believe the hellish falsehoodr
''You would not believe the voice of the
dead, if the dead could speak"
'sNor' exclaimed the General. 81 would
not, so help me Heaven!'
ave will test your fortitude some day,
perhaps, OTduDy DuulOul, Sdll I16 NOlC6,
solemnly; "the dead shall speak to your
'Impious blasphemerr' cried the General;
81 will hear no more"
He turned to leave the edifce, but remem-
bered that he had heard key turned in the
lock of the door by which he had entered.
He was, doubtless, prisoner, caught in the
trap set for him by the enemies of the wo-
man he loved.
'Listen, CRANKY Dumont," said the voice
of the apparltion -''Lsten, and be warned
while there is yet time! Tomorrow morn
ing it will be too late-to-mOrrow morning,
if you are to lead your promised bride to
the altar, be warned before it is too late, or
live to repent your folly through a weary
lifetime Of misery. Maud Ovington is a
murdereSs!"
LIAR" cried the General, almost with
rage.
''She is a murderessw repeated the spirit.
''It may not have been her hand which
struck the blow, but it was at her bidding
that the blow was struck. Ask her the fate
of her lover, Clarence Suydam, the artist.
Bid her recall to her memory the events of
the ninth of October, and then tell her that
she is unworthy to be the wife of an honor
able man. Remember-the step you are 10
take few hours hence can never be undone;
the VOWS you are to speak can never be re-
called. Remember, and be warned while
there is yet timer
''Slanderer!" exclaimed CRANKY Dumont
Infamous slandererl Maud Ovington
was rs high above Clarence Suydam as the
stars are above the earth What was he to
her?"
Her loveri" answered the voice, solemnly.
''Tis talse!" cried the General.
''Her wretched dupe-the poor fool of her
false smiles-who was weak enough to be-
lieve that the fashionable beauty would de-
scend from her high estate to wed the man
whose only wealth was genius"
''Tis false, say" repeated the General.
at is true, CRANKY Dumont," answered
the pitiless voice. ''Ask Maud Ovington
for the missing letters-the missing letters
which contain her VOWS of constancy to the
murdered man! 1t is true, CRANKY Dumont,
and your own heart tells you that it is true"
1t was indeed so-a deadly coldness at the
heart of the generous and trusting man
seemed to tell him that there might be truth
in the cruel words he had just heard. The
excitement, the wild passion, the indignant
pride, were too much for the strong man to
bear-the moonlit window, the spirit form,
the dark shadows of the pillared aisles swan
before his eyes; he staggered forward for
few steps, reeled, and fell heavily to the
floor, with his face toward the ceiling.
The sexton heard the fall, and came, Ian
tern in hand, from the vestry.
He stumbled over the PROSTATE body of
the General. For moment he was horror
struck, believing that the church had been
polluted by some deed of violence, but, on
bending over the General he found that he
had only tainted.
"What's the meaning of this, I wonder?"
he muttered. 81 hope there's been no mis-
chief done. was wrong to consent to this
business, and to take the other mans
money. If it was found out, I'd get into a
regular messl''
He held the lantern above his head, and
looked about for the man who had bribed
him to consent to the meeting in the church
AS he did so, he caught sight of dark fig
ure going out of the side-door, and at the
same moment the door closed with loud
bang.
''Gone!" exclaimed the sexton; ''that's
queer! And he has left me with this man in
an insensible state!'
He went into the vestry, and after search
ing two cupboards, returned with bottle of
smelling salts and another bottle containing
water. He sprinkled cold water over the
face of the General and put the smelling
salts to his nostrils.
CRANKY Dumont revived slowly and, open
ing his eyes, looked about him.
'Ah, l remember!" he exclaimed, starting
to his feet and looking toward the faint
mOnphaopoc. ET all TUl,o.. =