The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-08-28


beauty in her death hiss 7"
The girl fell upon her knees ia a pa
roYysm of grief, and could under
stand no more of her incoherent eycla
nations.
The whole scene was so weird and
shocking that it seemed as if my senses
were leaving me. Every possible rem
edy had been tried for the child, who
was evidently dying. The whole
household had been aroused, but Nine.
Elizabeth had not yet appeared on the
sorrowful scene. l inquired where she
was, but no one seemed to know. Be-
fore the physicians, for whom servants
hsd been dispatched in all directions,
could arrive the bsqy had breathed his
last. One could not help feeling of
relief that his suiferings we're over and
no one seemed able TO realize fully the
great loss that the ducal house had sus.
tanned.
Tho doctors confessed themselves
completely baffled and unable to &C.
count for the sudden and fatal turn of
the child's apparently slight illness.
The story of the White Lady and her
deathly kiss was firmly believed in by
servants, and among the more respon-
sponsible members Of the household it
seemed to gain credeuce.
The whole occurrence seemed TO me
monstrous and impossible, and half
believed it all horrible dream, but
there was tho dead child before me-a
sad reality. Late in the afternoon l
had stolen in unknown to every one and
stood before the bed where he lay. As
looked at the quiet rigid form, the
conviction seized me with q strange
force that this child was not the heir
of Beroldstein-treachery might so
easily exist where misfortune was
traced to supernatural influence.
The little face, marked and drawn az
if from burn, gave no idea how the
child had looked in health-the limbs
seemed the same and the light curling
hair was like Roderic's, but still my
eyes we're dry, and could not mourn
over this mysterious changing. Some
thing within me rebelled against the
mockery of the ducal coronet and rich
lace adorniug the deathbed of a poor
little stranger.
told no one my suspicions-I had,
alas, no proof and to lull my excite.
ment went out into the gathering
darkness, paying little heed to the dis
tance l walked. At last, feeling weary
i was miles away from the castle-I
was about to return when saw light
glimmering from cottage window
within few steps from where l stood.
I was surprised to find house in that
lonely spot, for l had been told tina,
that portion of the moorlands was toe
low lying and barren for human habi
tation. As the idea of a short rest was
not unwelcome / looked through the
thinly-curtained window, and saw tina
tall, dark woman bending over {
steaming saucepan on the stove and ,
little child in ragged clothes making
friends with shaggy dog were tn
only occupants of the room.
was about to make my arriva
. known when a second look at the child
whose face was turned full towards tn,
window, made me pause suddenly
Was dreaming or were those reall
little Roderic's blue eyes looking u
with the frank, wide open gaze that
knew 80 we'll The soft golden curl
: had been cut off, and the coarse, rusti
clothes were good disguise, but
knew my young charge too we'll to b
deceived.
Like woman mad, flew back owe
{ the long dark road to the Schloss.
, was not safe to let my investigate
go farther alone so seized on tn
t first servants l found-Max, til
). coachman, and the maid Lisette, whor
8 l had befriended--and giving them
Y hurried account of what had seen,
Y led them back to the lonely cottage.
t We made our way in unceremoniou
ly enough. At the first glance Il
!. room seemed vacant, and my hea
!. sank but the next moment we disco
o cred the baby asleep upon pilloS
n a dark corner. The man gathered l
a the little bundle and bore it to the ligh
o the baby awoke aud looked with sleep
|. hazy eyes at the disturber of his res
d Even then saw no look of recogn
v ton on the servants faces. Could
70 be mistaken The thought was mi
n cry.
q But, becoming fully aroused, Il
J. little child sat up and held out
It arms to me, claiming in baby-langua!
n an old friend.
at is your young master--l have
. longer any doubt !" the man said,
ii stictivcly raising his hat.
"Laok for the mark of the dogs bi
Al on his knee, to make sure," put in l.
a. cite, trembling with excitement.
st I had not thought of this before, a
or was thankful for the girls suggestic
ly As l expected, we found the three lit
rt prints made by the dogs teeth in {
O. babys tender flesh. At this addition
Y, proof of my darling's identity I
ID upon my knees and sobbed for pit
10 delight, thanking from the depths
my heart the mysterious Provider
y that had directed my steps to the de
a late cottage.
Q, At that moment the woman whom
d. had seen on my first visit entered
ID room and the look of terror that ca
d, over her face at seeing us shall ne'
ss forget.
ID, "What-who I" she began confus
ts ly but Max interrupted her by seyi
I'd coolly
n "We have come to relieve you
he the care of this child. He is nee'
at the castle, where he belongs"
IT. Putting the little boy into my v
ing arms helwhispered few words
Id me to the effect that / was to 60 b
NO with all speed and send two or tn
men to relieve his guard over the 6
ng picious premises.
w An hour later the Schloss BerC
nd stein was the scene of tho grestest
bs element. The news spread like W
fire throughout the whole neighborhc
ID, that the young Duke had been rest
a ed from the dead. | dressed Ii,
se. Roderick in his own clothes, gave
IL