The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-04-14

fnlllp lace UciOrc uic OIL eiiC sa.S
as merry, laughing little boys then
as the handsome, pleasant-looking one
which was his when grownup.
At last the minister was through ana
then he came to the head of the coffin as
the undertaken unfastened the lid and
turned it back. He stood for moment
looking down at my young master; then
he said, his voice all of "a tremble:
"An opportunity will be given to all
who desire to look once more upon the
face Of our dear young friend"
Then followed directions to the people
how to move so that no confusion should
follow, and then for an instant there was
pause of such utter stiffness that could
hear my heart beat, before the rustling
of draperies and the subdued sound OF
moving feet was heard.
Then rich and poor young and old.
friends and strangers, joined in the pro-
cession which was to pass by poor Master
Philip and gaze upon his dead face. I'm
of English birth myself, and 1 have all
the English horror of the American Gus
| tom of opening coffin in public. lfelt
as though would give worlds could l
have the right to speak out then, and
there, and forbid this exposure OF Master
Philip. But Gods ways are not our
ways, and it is well that l hadn't the
power, for all of q Sudden heart-rend-
ing cry rang out, followed by:
20, nv Philip, is it thus have found
you? Dead! Dead!''
Then there was a commotion about
the coffin, and slight form was soon
after carried hastily down the aisle. A
Young girl had been the actor in this
strange scene, and had fallen in faint
after giving utterance to her wild cry.
She had been almost the last one to gaze
at Master Philip, so, with a solemn face,
the undertaken stepped forward to close
the lid again over the silent sleeper.
What must have been his feelings.
then, to see Master Philips dark eyes
open and gaze up into his face, with q
look of intense entreaty in them? With
one startled glance at him, he exclaimed:
| IF there is physician here, will he
please come forward? We have nearly
put live man under ground. 1t is a
case of suspended animation.
Then the scene that followed It beg
gars description!
1t was so terrible, yet SO joyful. when
at last my young master was fully
brought back to life. 1t was hours be-
fore he could speak, his wide-open. i'm
ploring eyes being the only sign OF life
for long, anxious interval of time.
Had it not been for that piercing.
heart-breaking cry, he would have surely
, gone down to his grave then and there
: in his young manhood. and no one would
; have ever known that he had left wife
, and a baby-boy to battle with the cod
; world. While they were working Oyel
! Master Philip, others had taken the pool
\ young girl into the vestibule, and were
irving to restore her to consciousness
e 1t was nearly as difficult a task to bring
her back again to life, as it was will
!. Master Philip. But at last she opened
q her eyes, and looked about her, wistfull,
!, at first and questioningly-then with
!. sudden recollection of What she had seen
d she shivered and seemed about to go Of
. in another faint, but just then messen
Il ger came in hot-haste with an inquir
for her, and request that she should b
" brought into the presence of the ma
If whom her cry had aroused to life again
n The dread accessories of death had bee
% hastily removed, blankets had been sen
e for, and q lounge and pillow had bee
"a brought, so that the ante-chamber ha
Il been transformed for the time into til
II appearance of a sick room.
a Her lettering steps had to be supper
e ed, for as no one knew the relation sh
bore to Philip, no one had said to HI
ar Your husband lives" so that the trut
burst upon her like flash of lightning
,e 80 sudden and overwhelming was h
= low when she saw Philip, and heard hi
m say, "Come here, my own little Polly.
in With low, glad cry she tottered 70
is ward and threw herself upon her kne
beside him.
ct He laid his hand upon her pretty hes
/ and turned his eyes beseechingly upc
To his father, who stood near watching hi
/ with variety of feelings struggling +
the mastery in his stern face. N
" mistress was standing by her son hol
ee ing his other hand, and looking at hi
IL as though if she turned her eyes avn
to for an instant she might lose him.
Is Bless her! Master Philip felt that
was sure of her forgiveness! but it was
II. more serious question about what
nv father might do.
it'll Perhaps If he had been fully conscio
,e. Of what had taken place--how he b
he been thought dead. and had been coli
ay ed, and had come nigh to being p
as under ground-he might not have felt
ad uneasy about his fathers forgiveness
m But he only knew that something stran
i'm had happened, and that he must lose
IRE time in saying what it was upon
RS mind to say.
Father" he said, feebly, '.forgi
ne me for deceiving you SO long. ha
vas been married to Polly for two years, q
ad have been afraid to tell you. She's
Id. good as gold, and you and mother mi
", love her for my sake. We've gotta bal
nd too, and he looks just like you"
ell There was . mighty struggle going
me in my old masters breast; but natu
ew affection drove out the old Adam, and