The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21

MY pOSltlCl was etdOdlfhs>inE- 10
wake up in the middle of the night
and to find myself in a strange
house was a new experience. [
CROPPED about the room and felt for
the door by which | mad entered /; il
was locked. Bell Of any sort |
could find none / tried to raise
my voice, but the death stiffness and
darkness of the room seemed to stifie
me. | found the window and looked
out. 1t opened high above a court
ward closed in by walls. Again |
tried the door. Then Remembered
that it was a sort of passage-room (;
that there was door leading frou. it
to an apartment beyond. | manag-
ed to find this door, covered as 1t
was with heavy tapestry hanglngs
Feeling very much like a thief, |
tried the handle. Ii turned in my
hand, and the door yielded noise
lessly. Beyond | saw large square
chamber, evidently bedroom but
the bed was unoecupied. II was a
quaint and hauLted-lookiug room,
with high oaken skirting and pan
eled ceiling. A. couple of candles
burned on the dressing table. and
threw faint light over the dark fur
niture, and the tapestries that hung
against the walls.
Once more / tried to call out but
my tongue seemed dried up. and
my voice refused to be heard. Pres
emily, to my relief, | heard 4 human
voice. 1t evidently came from an
apartment beyond the one into which
l had yentured. Impeiled, | hard
ly knew how, / resolved to venture
further; and as my footsteps fell
noiselessly on the thick carpet, l
could hardly believe | was not wan
dering in dream through the rnys-
terious chambers of the dead
Yet more aud more distinctly |
heard the sad, low voice that had
caught my ear, and | approached
stealthily, and | confess with some
thing like awe, the door, which, as
| perceived, opened from the bed
room to the chamber whence the
voice proceeded. Here, as before,
curtain of antique tapestry reaching
from the ceiling to the floor conceal
ed the aperature, and trying eau
liously TIE door, | found that it
opened toward me. This gave me
time TO reflect, before iutruding,
with stealthy steps, IN the dead OF
night, into the privacy of this In
nermost chamber. Like q guilty
creature stood and listened. The
voice-for there seemed to be one
was close at hand. 1t was strange
ly melancholy voice, yet possessing
a fascinating power that chained me
to the spot.
"Wiil you never, never speak to
NE again, my darling, my darling !"
I heard the words too plainly to
mistake or forget them. viii you
never speak to me againl Year al
ter year, as the day comes round, /
have prayed to God to grant me but
cne sweet word-one word to tell
me of your lovel Oh, my darling,
my darling, have l prayed in vain ?
viii those lips meyer again open
with a smile, those eyes never again
look into mine, even when come
to you on my knees, as | do this
Christmas morning y
These strange words reproached
me. Into what sacred precincts
had l intruded? What heart
breaking grief was l desecrating?
Suddenly the tone of voice chang
ed. The sad pathos gave way te
accents of joy See see, my be-
loved one here are gifts sorthy Of
a Queen. Did l not tell you the
time would come when all our strug
giles would be over when there
would be no more fighting for very
bread no mora daily care nC
more dread of the future no fear:
of success, because it would be al
ready minel Ah, Gertrude, my
vile, my darling. you were good anC
patient to me in those days. Ii tht
clouds were dark, your eyes wer,
. always bright if The heavens wer'
overcast, your smile drove away tht
storm your voice was the music o
nv life, your ceaseless trust was my
4 lodestar. But all has changed those
DAYS have passed | am rich now
they say | am famous. The day Il
row too short ier NY work, ana th'
night too short for rest. And yet
need rest. | feel | cannot live mHcf
longer if | may not rest. My bralr
/ is ever reeling with weariness, yet
cannot sleep. Night after night /.
one long vigil. No sleep, no rest
no peace | have been waiting fol
this night, for you, my love, fol
you And now the hour has come
/ 1t is Christmas morning. Hark
Already | hear the sound Of the
Christmas bells. All no wonder
tor my wife, my beloved, has come
back to me at last-come back tC
me from the dead !"
In feverish excitement | listened
But there was no answer, not {
sound, when that trembling voic,
ceased, to break the stiffness of the
night.
J. Presently it began again. They
tell me it is thirty years ago. Non
sensel That is only a dream. Il
was yestereay-yesterday that you
spoke tie me for the last time-yes-
terday that you bade me goodbye
and kissed me when | went away
And to-day, you are as you were
then. No change. no change, none
at all. You are as young and as
fair as when | first took your hand
in mine and called you wife"
Then there was pause, and | wa;
conscious of the same movement be-
yond the tapestry behind which ]
was guiltily hiding.
i What followed started me, but il
called me back to life. With voics
thrilling with emotion, the man
once more broke the silence. Ger
trudel These are yours. This Is
your birthday. and our old we'd
ding day, ard l have not forgotten
! you. You do not believe that am
rich and famous, and that your hus
band has many friends. See, These