The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-09-20
Love me?' l questioned, almost


Yes, yes. and, oh, for so long!
When | thought was dying sent my
soul out in search of you, to bid you
come to me, sent it as the dove in the
ark, and it brought back the olive
branch of hope. Look at me, nv
Earl-my Earle, and tell me you will
love me even as | do YOU
"Charley, heavy blow from an un-
seen hand could not have staggered me
more. She recognized ME i'm the dark
ness, talked as if long acquainted-a
woman had never known, never seen.
of whom l knew not even the name
a sudden mysterious light flooded the
room. L knew not from whence il
came, thought it the electric fires of
her soul kindling in her eyes, aud all
was as bright AS sunlighted room"
And you saw, Earlep" questioned
his friend, with all of levity banished
from his countenance and all of in
crcdulity from his voice
Il saw little-at first nothing-but
the glorious eyes; then gradually a
form wasted to shadow, vet retain
ing marks of great beauty. You must
have seen in your wanderings one of
the thin porcelain lamps taken from
old tombs through which the light re-
hected. That was the way the girl
struck me-a spirit burning within a
mere shell of clay.
but the eyes, Earle?'
They We're such as l had never seen
before; eyes that l instantly realized
could passionately love and Indignant
ly repulse anything trenching upon
honor; eyes that could truly pity sor-
row and sternly scorn pre:ence; eyes
that could merrily laugh and weep Bit
ter tears; eyes that could dance with
pleasant anticipations or sink to the
lowest depths of despair"
"Above all, you would say, eyes that
could dazzle, captivate. and lead cap
tive, by the mysterious charm and
power of hypnotism.
"Yes, eyes that could lead to heaven. :"
''Or Hades. A dangerous acguaint-
ance, Earle"
IF given over to evil, but under the
influence of love would prove a
guardian-angel. But to my story. AL
most as soon as my hand was clasped
in hers she fell asleep. remained
motionless for long time, then gently
withdrew and learned something of her
history.
''Of an enthusiastic, poetical nature.
she longed to go on the stage. That
the Puritanical training of her parents
forbade. But they could not keep her
from haunting the theatre. She be-
came a nightly attendant, and-there
is no accounting for tastes, you know
she fell madly in love with me, or
rather the characters / personated."
"Claude and Romeop"
''Certainly. In this way she wasted
time, health and strength, became very
nervous, ill, and finally was unable to
leave her bed. Then she talked con-
tinuOusly of me, even in her dreams.
That night she had raved more persist
emily than ever, and the pysician
thought it best to bring me into her
presence, hoping to work cure, or
at least to prolOng her life."
''And succeeded, no doubt. in perfect
disenchantment," suggested his friend
tritie maliciously.
The brow of Earle Minturn CORFU
gated, his face lost all color, his hands
were clenched together Then, mas
tering the violent emotion, he said in
low, sensitive, choked voice:
when the brief story was finished
her mother stepped to the bedside,
and after loving look murmured
thankfully; 1t is well with her; she is
sleeping The physician tenderly put
his fingers on her temples, his ear to her
heart, and slowly and sorrowfulIy
answered: Yes. it is well with your
child. She is deadn"
"Merciful Heaven!" exclaimed Jour-
dine as he sprang to his feet. carried
out of his customary stolidity by the
intensity of his feeling. Hope graft
fed had killed her, the poor dear girIi"
From that room fed as if ! had
been guilty of murder, the physician
guiding me home. And, strange as it
may appear to You, for three days |
had no recollection of that terrible epi-
sode-none of the haunting eyes.
Then it was the night after the burial
"a very few hours after-when alone
in my chamber-no, | had been too
unweH to act-alOne in the darkness,
the eyes suddenly flashed before me,
luminous, entreating, compelling, as
had seen them at the theatre"
'EYou were dreaming, Earle"
mo more than you are now. They
said to me Come as plainly :. as if
human lips had breathed the word. l
could do nothing but obey. My will
was powerless to resist, my movements
no longer under my control. / arose,
hastily dressed, and went out into as
black and starless a night as ever
shrouded earth. The eyes led me, as
through the windings of the city out
into the graveyard.
MY God, Earle! 1t is wonderful
you were able to retain your senses.
call myself brave, but"
Let me finish. Charley. Between
graves of the long-mouldered dead, by
those who were but yesterday buoyant
with life and growing with beauty, the
eyes led me to the heavy doors of the
receiving vault, then seemed to pass
through and reappear upon the other
side"
go on, Earle" was hoarsely whis-
pered from lips that had become ashy
grey.
what happened l learned weeks
later, after recovering from severe
attack of brain-feyer. The watchmaI
at the cemetery heard me pounding
upon the doors and raving like mad
man."
"And no DOUBT you were.
II insisted that the girl did not
even know her name-had been buried
alive, and was endeavoring to get out.
To quiet me the door was opened, and
she was"
'Merciful Heaven! Still living?'
Eyes; had been buried while in a
trance, had partially recovered her
senses, and pushed aside the cotfin-lid
fortunately the screws had been re-
| moved-for air. Instantly medical aid
was SUMMONED. She was taken home
and
Lived, Earle? For Heavens sake
tell me if she lived!'
"She did. The terrible facts were
kept from her for a. long time, and
only revealed when she was restored tc
health"
did she ever learn the saving part
you had played?"
lit must have been so, for the frs
thing saw when restored to sanity
We're the magical eyes looking at me
And subsequently was told that the
girl, even when scarcely able to do so
had crawled to my bedside, had cease.