The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-08-23
limbs and abe fell fainting on the c,ld
stone floor, with Ralph'a name trembling

Va ncl llpbs II 40 ~ x a fI-ict,
When at length her uensea returned "a
her. a chill like that Of death seemed
creeping through her veina-tho cold altar.
light was Rlimmeriug through the iron tret.
work, and q mournful.voiced cricket was
chirping lust within tho yault, Alone. al
ntght-iall, within q funeral ahrine-Belle
c'asped both her hands over her throhbinc
forehead, and wondered that reason i.se,l
had not deferted It's throne. She dared
not turn her head lest Bho should pee
phantom faces looking upon her from tLe
darkness, abe Hhrank into herself with a
vlVidnefB that was almost supernatural, ali
the legends that ahe had ever read OF I'm.
man creatures who had perinhed In auch
living eepulchera as this, rushed oyer.
Whelnipgly into her mind It was lonely
part OF the cemetery, and one seldom via.
tied; night was dropping over the Novem.
Der landscape-and Bellies heart almost
ceased beating, as she thought Of the long
silent hours that lay before her! STl; %.
"shall / perich here beiors help a.
reach me?" she Thought Job, why, why
did not listen 10 lslph's words and obey
his wishes2 Shall Inever see Ralph sgain?
IN, kind Heaven, be mercIful, aad avert
from me go cruel iattl" ,5n 80
she checked her sobbing-it sounded no
strange and hollow In that dismal, echoinv
place--and crouched down In sort az
dumb horror that was more pl.eous than
would have been the widest burst Of Rsief
IN that one instant all the folly and willtuI.
ness and reckless waywardness Of har
whole existence rose up before her, and
Belle could SEQ her own lie, rs It were.
from the underground Of another shore
--aimless, unsatisfactory, irivolousl
"0h, " thought our poor Belle, III ever / |
live to escape from this hideous, livipo
tomb, 1 will value lie as 1t should bs val. |
ued. IL" go I1I.i0 "
And once again the chill shudder shoct
shook har slender frame from head 10 foot
Hush there was jootstep. a Yuillina
with slow and uncertain motion among thee
piles Ct dead leavcs! l IajIT ,T'3's
WAS 1t q human tread ~ or''-and Belle
covered yet lower behind the iron door,
was 1t some pale sheeted ghoes HAUNTING
the spot where it, moral remains had lope
since moldered into due,?" -
But the cheering CLEAN from a very Zeal
lantern soon settled the matter, as it threw
It's red beams scroes the stone aoor Of the
vault, and Belle could perceive the stoon.
ing figure Of an old man, in shabby over.
coat, with black wossted cap pulled oyar
bis gray hairs, advancing toward her,
"Graciousl' he said aloud, "how chan,o
memory do fail him, when he gets to hs
ap'ards Of 10. I could ha' took Bible oatb
lett that vault door open this afternoon
and here 1t is, shut tjghtas-helio! who's
here?" = - 's'''''''
For Belle Wyndham's falteriup cry had
cached his age deatened ears, lust as hs
vas turning away, and in five minutes she
Tss Recessed from the bondage that had
threatened to be 60 direlul.
She was tsken to the old mans cottapa =
uat on the outskirts Of the cemetery, AMI
message Immediately sent to her home
meassge whose visible result was M, :
Ralph Dale, aushed, esger and joyoup.
Belle, darling!" be exclaimed, rs ha
o!ded her In his arms, after they wers saia.
y seated in the carriage which was 10 con-
icy them home, "how you have terri6ed
"How I have terridsd myself |" she muir. I
nured, growing as pale as death. -
But Bale Wyndham nsyer forgot the
ecaon she had that night learned-the lr1. J
ION Of how deep chain OF conse quercps
nay hang upon neidle whim.