The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-06-20
SELECT STORY.
BURIED ALIVE.

said these words, and did not release il
until he had led me up the time-hon
ored steps of our ancestral home and
begun to assist me to unfasten my
great coat.
"And how are you, my lad z he
continued, without giving me time to
reply to his hearty reception. "Why,
you look as brown as berry, and Ger.
tainly none the worse for your fifteen
years nabobism." .....i
/ had just returned to England after
having endured the trying climate of
India for fifteen years, and had has
tened at once TO the old mansion
where / had been born, and which
was, at the time of my story, in the
possession of my eldest brother, Ste.
phen. Our family bear the honored
name of Stanley, and are younger
branch of the noble house of that
name. They had been settled fol
many centuries in wild part Of the
Northwest Riding of Yorkshire, upon
an estate that was very beautiful from
an artistic point Of view, but very poor
from pecuniary aspect, and conse.
quently many generations of younger
sons had been forced to push their way
into the world as l had. My half
brother, Stephen, was IL years older
than l was, and had always regarded
me with an affection more fatherly
than brotherly, delighting IN giving
me pet names, and even when years OF
foreign travel had tanned my original
ly fair complexion and silvered my
hair | was amused by the way in
which, upon this our first meeting after
many years, he ignored the present,
and kept up the old manners aud say.
ings which had characterized him
when l was a boy at Stanley House.
"A substantial repast was provided
for me in the old diuing room, and
after l had done justice to it and the
gray headed butler (who had otiiciated
in my fathers time) had brought in
the wine, Stephen aud were soon
deep ip conversation on topics peculiar
ly interesting to me. ID
$50 you think the old place is
changed?' p he said musingly, in reply
to remark that had fallen from me
81 have not noticed it, but it may be-
it may be" ..'.'.....
"Indeed it is, Stephen" | said "and
l think you are allowing the best part
of the house to fall INTO decay. Now,
in my fathers day the West wing"
"Hush y he cried, interrupting me
with a startled look IN his eyes "Don't
mention that, for heavens sake She
loved those rooms"
In a moment l had grasped his
hand.
"Forgive me Stephen y l exclaimed
as the terrible truth flashed across my
mind, and saw l had opened an old
wound.
"There is nothing to forgive, Alf
my boy" he said, looking into the
bright fire ith an anxious, troubled
face. "You could not know of all the
horror of that terrible time ....
Indeed could not for was but ;
boy when | went to India, Neverthe
less / had heard sufficient while there
of my brothers unfortunate marriage
to convince me of the pain which my
allusion to it would give him. hat
heard how he had married beautifu
girl, and how fondly he had loved her
and how, after three months Of mar
ried life, she had deserted him. Will
whom or whittier she had gone no on,
knew; and her name had become al
most forgotten sound at Stanley
House.
| changed the subject of converse
ton and tried. TO make him forget th'
unpleasant recollections which IN,
words had raised, by relating some o
the most amusing adventures that haC
befalleu me whilst abroad but, thougl
he listened with interest, and seemed
to try to shake off the gloom that ha'
settled upon his mind, he never quit,
regained his wonted cheerfulness du
ring the remainder of the evening, anc
retired early to rest, eXcusing himsel
by saying ii was his custom.
Among the evils of civilization
which my somewhat stormy passag
through life had taught me that of lat,
hours was by no means the smallest
and knowing it would be useless fo
me to turn into bed before midnight,
put on my hat, lit another cigar AM
strolled into the grounds to get
breath of fresh air.
1t was a fine summer night. TIL
moon was shining brightly from
clear starlit sky. knew every foo
of the ground, and visited many of m
favorite haunts, and it must have bee
after IL o'clock before | began t
think of returning, My cigar ha
gone out when reached the bottOr
of the long avenue of tall trees, an
beginning to feel chilly walked som,
what quickly towards the hous,
crunching the gravel beneath my fe,
as | went. As | drew near the fror
door my attention was attracted b
the sudden appearance of man bea
ing lantern, who had evidently hear
my footsteps, for he stopped an
awaited my approach, At first
thought he was one of the servant
but upon drawing nearer l was su
prised to find it was my brother.
hastened to speak to him, when, to N
great astonishment, after glancing
me eagerly, he turned away witho
any sign of recognition aud hurri,
rapidly in the direction of the We
wing. My first intention was to CT
out after him, but upon second thoug
i decided not TO do so, for | was Dc