The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-08-30
TIE MANIAC CHEMIST.

Years had passed since had seen the
metropolis OF Amcr.ca-Ncw York.
reached lh; city the morning Of the 23d
Of MAY, 1896, and arriving at the house
Of my friend, Richard Carver, found a
piece Of Grape tied 10 the knocker
"Who is dead va, my mental
question, as. hcsitating not, opened
the door aud entered the par.or where
found Mr. Carver and bis wife sobbing
A. though their hearts were breaking.
Mine was slen. greeting, and | soon
learned the cause Of my friends distress
--CarOttn, their only child, lay ,hroudcd
for the tomb in the room over ms head.
She had died the evening preceding
my arrival, oi strange disease. after
All Illness OF a few short hour. Alive
in the morning laughing at the break
fast table; but al night dcad--hcr sin
less soul in the haven ol eternal rest.
With slow steps | accompanied the
grlcf-strickcn father up stairs, and we
stood by the coffin which contained the
form Of his iclOycd tarlDt'r She
looked very beautiful. even in the sleep
Of death her face wore a smile a, il
given in response 10 the bcckonings Of
angels. Her golden hair lay upon her
whltc-ro ed breast, crossed by her
snow white hands. ! laid my hand
npon the beautiful trcsscs, inwardly
wishing that ! might become the po-scs-
sor OF one.
At that moment Mr. Carver, ~ If
dyining my thoughts, stopped, severed
one Of the locks OF the lovely dead, and
placed il in my hand
"Mark. he said. 81 am about toa,k
OF you II myOr;" here he brushed the
Years from hi, eyes. "SOmr one must
watch tonight, aud wish that YOU per
form that duty you were lrie.ld to
poor Carlotta'
told him | accepted the trust. Eo
thanked me. and covering the cold
face ngain, We rc oined his agonilod
we bc.ow. Time passed gioomiy
enough till njghtfall, when, taking sew
Grad books an q lamp. made my way
TO the chamber OF death. After look.
ing upOn the face OF tarlotla, | sci the
lamp upon the table and seated IA, self
nca- i;
soon found that tie books hed
brought along Were uuinicrrst.nr
lad taken them at random from the
pariur table and that they would not
keep me- awake. ! laid them rs de.
and picking up the Lamp, began search.
ing the room Tor others. On the top.
most shelf Of cIothr,-prcs, cnrount
ercl u volume entitled Philosophy of
Lire, Death aud immortality and
with it resumed my seat. Upon the
hy-lcaf Of the book / saw in delicate let.
Ter, the name of her who was 50 near me
and 50 Still, and resolved to road the
book for her sake. Soon | was deeply
Interested, and page after page my eyes
dryourrd.
By.aad.by heard footsteps in The
hall aud | knew my sorrOwng friends
were seeking their room for the pur-
pose Of retiring At last | read the
last sentence OF the old volume. closed
1t, and fell back in the rocking chair in
sort OF du2c. | was only in n semi
unconscious state, for heard the rattle
OF vehicles over the stony streets, and
the loud voices OF those going home
my eyes had turned the light low, and
objects in the room were thereby rem
deled somewhat indistinct
cannot say how long remained in
my lcthargic sleep, when | heard steps
ascending the stairs. The footsteps
were those OF some one Invested OF
shoes. Irouscd myself and listened.
The steps approached.
80, It's only Mr. or Mrs. Carver
coming TO take n longing look at Car.
lotta,' unused. They think | sheep. |
and move easily 80 as not 10 disturb
me-"
Presently the door opened and the
person entered the room. By the dim
light | saw the outline, of II man. He
went over TO the coffin and began TO lit
Carotta from it.
The Dody was partially lifted from
the coffin. when turucd the light up
and IL flashed upon the intruder, The
dead fell from his arms and no stood
erect. lie was not MIR. Carver, hu, |
stranger TO my sight He was nearly !
as all as !, and his arms told me that
he had the strength Of the Ncmoan
hon. HIS hair was brushed behind his |
ears, and his eyes-oh, those dark. |
flashing orJs-Iod me that | faced a
mailman. | tremblcd as the truth |
flashed upon NV BRAN | wa, alone
and unarmcd with the dead and the in. |
sane, and in all probability / would |
have to fight the latter for the former.
In vain | tried to look those eyes
Town they continued to glare into
nine. Then I thought | might calm
be mailman by words.
] his Is beautiful night, my friend
began, trying to carry his thoughts
way IRON the dead.
YES; the stars shine like her eyes
aid once aud he pointed to poor Car
|otta.
was at loss how to proceed. The
ncAt moment he strobe forward and
cried
but she is dead. They killed her
because they hated her. Sne shall he
mine though. for all that | possess A
liquid that can bring the dead to life.
The liquid was sent 10 me from ,he
spirit land beyond the grave; the
angels-those who hurled Satan over
the battlements Of Heaven-broupht il
10 rae thousand years ago. | will re-
store life to my Carlotta, and then the
angels OF Heaven nor tho iiends OF
lades cannot tear her from me. defy
hem"
He again turned to the coffin and laid
is hands upon the dead.
" Let them bur- her." | said, softly
; 'ou.d "Ihen she will come and /
re WI h Won forever will watch and
e that no one harms her Depart TO 8
'w home aud prepare Tor THO bridall" I