Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-06-29

forgotten. Inever asked why this dis
covery was so long delayed, or what
had 50 suddenly changed her ambitious
nature; only felt that loved her and
that she returned my love. l hurried
to her presence, and met with the
kindest reception. The weeks that fol-
lowed we're the happiest Of nay life. /
never thinkof them now, because OF
other memories they call up; but then
they passed like dream OF heaven.
There was still more pleasure in
store. Bryce came 10 me one day, and
announced that he had written to an
English friend about nay claims to an
inheritance there and had just re-
celved an answer showing plainly that l
was the heir to the great Morley estate,
and that my fears OF poverty were
forever removed. The pleasure this
gave me WAS wholly on Bellies account
though since our reconciliation she had
never hotea that my poverty troubled
her. Now the last obstacle to our
speedy marriage was removed, the day
was fixed, and the preparations were
being pushed forward to suit my in
patience. l.s
Men were not put in this world to be
altogether happy, and when everything
seems unusually propitious there Is al
ways trouble at hand. A terrible
ordeal awaited me. was awakened
one morning by dull sense of oppres-
slon and agony, aud found TO my hor-
ror thai could not move hand or foot.
A strange cataleptic state had come
upon me, aud deprived nae Of all power
OF motion. l made the most agonizing
attempts, for l kne " that if L could stir
even my little finger, the spell would
be broken, but it was in vain. Ny
will was strong, but it had no power
over my body. 1 was helpless.
THE servant raped at my door to
tell me that breakfast was ready; and
went away, thinking that l chose to
sleep. A boy came with a message
from Belle; but the note had 10 be left
unanswered. Bryce called TO make
arrangements about my enternk into
possession Of the English estate; and
I could hear them tell him that was
still sleeping. At length they became
alarmed and broke into my chamber.
They came to my bedside and drew
back its curtains.
Great Godp was the exclamation,
Mr.. Ferrell ia dead
The horrible thought which had
haunted me all the morning was true.
Ny hiring spirit Tas imprisond in a
corpse.
How many hours or days went by l
could not tell. Ny agony was too
great. But when my wearied mind
grew .calmer through exhaustion, 81
found that was lying, still helpless 10
a coffin. Where was II Had the last
rites been performed, snd the earth
pressed down upon my coffin lid or was
| still unburied and with hopes Of rescue
if this awful spell could only be brokenF
All was still as death; was it the silence
of ihe tomb ? Strange thoughts began
to fill my mind. What if | were really
dead, and this the hidden horror of the
grave !? w ould my spirit lie imprisoned
here until the day Of judgmentP My
body would slowly molder away. the
rounded grave became a sun ken mound
the busy world 60 trampling by above =
and still should lie here waiting the
resurrection. Stranger and more horn-
BILE thoughts followed these ; but my
lips shall never speak them. 1t IS
better for rs all that they stay untold.
Il heard the sound Of a footstep by
my side, and then l. knew thatl still
was unburied, and D that Belle was
bending over my Tcofin That Office
was reserved for another. A second
person entered the room, and by the
voice knew that 1t was Bryce,
l.weH, Belle SAID he, this IS hard
luck, No chance for yout to be a rich
widow now.' t.f'i
Bob, said she, this Is no Jesting
matter. It is the downfall Of all my
hopes. And it stops our marriage for
ever, for until you or 1 are wealthy, l
never will marry YOU
Oh, don't be blue; I'll fnd some
other way TO make a fortune. but
when found out about FerrelPs En-
pIish estate, L thought | had IL sure. l
got you to firmly secure him before L
Disclosed the matter. Then you would
have married fortune. Ferrell couldn't
live more than a year, and thus We
should get everything. But nov he's
dead, and you are not his widow. lrs
confounded hard luck
The plot was laid bare to me in all
its audaclty and hearllessness. Indisna-
ton did what win could not do, and
broke The bonds Of my trance. l sat
up in the coffin still wrapped IN my
shroud, aud silently looked upon the
guiIty couple. The sight must have
been an appalling one for even the cool
Bryce Was seized with horror, and with
a fearful shrek they both rushed from
the room.
There ia little more 10 tell. The
strane, experience through which | had
pa,sed seemed to revoludonizs my
system, audI speedily recovered my
health. / left the town and sailed for
England without seeing Bruce or Belle;
axa,.,a avar fakan Mains not TO