The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1889-04-04

upon ID; and every fair day she goe
down the path 90 Usher's meadow
4 where the two used TO stroll %
Rethef. Just turned In there a.
came along. But excuse me, sir
I've got TO tend % o Law case owe
10 Need City, aud l mast be goinl
as tits most court time.
The stranger continued on, an
pretty soon left the highway an
turned down the Usher meadov
road. He evidently had . curiosit,
to get q sight Of the "love-eraeked'
schooI-mistress who was the heroinI
Of the wiltonyille drama OF Nv
years ago. When part way to tn
meadow, he rested himself on ia
rock, In the shade Of tall pine. ant
awaited her return. He did no
have TO wait long, for presently
Miss Barrett vas seen approaching
! As she came up, he could see tina
she was handsome, albeit having
sad, eare-wOrn look.
He rose and walked toward her,
and when they met he uttered 9
pleasant "GoOd morning" Evident
ly little startled, she was about 10
pass him without speaking, making,
however, the slightest inclination oil
her head.
pray, don't be alarmed, Miss
Barrett" said he, I'VE have met
before"
Possibly, SIR" she answered /;
but fail TO recognize you"
The stranger thereup0n produced
q little gold lOeket, which he opened
and held it up. with trembling hand,
to her gaze. No wonder Miss Bar
rett gave an exciting start and
turned deadly pale, for the loeket
contained q picture of herself, and
there had never been but one Just
like that In existence aud that had
been buried with her dead lover
five years before!
Don't be alarmed" said he, re-
turning the loeket to its accustomed
place, "for / am no ghost, but
returned wanderer" And 20 saying,
he removed his bat, his false whisk-
ers, aud a. the falntlng girl fell
against his strong arm, there was
disclosed to her amazed sense the
unmistakable face aud features Of
Herbert Lane.
Consciousness having returned,
Miss Barrett was the excited listen
er to q strange story In brief, her
lover had been 4 victim Of syncOpe
"A perfect resemblance Of death, OF
which exceedingly rare though
well-authenticatrd eases are re-
corded.
And ah! how can I describe that
terrible awaking," he continued,
'how, with . sense Of sufiocatiOn, l,
in my agony. burst the wesk coffin
lid. only To find myself doomed to q
slow, horrible death, in that black,
sirkening sepnleher! Then, how I
suddenly heard voices ut the door Of
my prison house, aud almost held
my breath, lest I should brighten
them away premaiurely. How they
entered, two OF them, with a lantern,
and seeing me there, in the habili-
ments OF death, one, with n scream,
took to his heels. while the other,
" no proved To he q doctor after my
body for dissection, bravely stood
his ground, aud, finding ] was q be-
ing Of earth, helped me out, first
readjusting the broken
rpffin lid. and then locking the tomb |
door; wrapped me in q cloak and
buffalo coat. aud at my request drove
me to the nearest city; where, under
! false name, remained awhile, till
July recovered: then, wishing to he
lead to home and fIiends and all
hat have been dear to me, | went /
.est by means nf money kindly lent
me- by the good old doctor.
Fortune favored me, and ! ac-
,uired competence. Hut the yearn-
ng cane over me to ace again my
I'D home. my mother aud sister,
Ind to learn what became OF you;
- I started east, and here ! am"
at il indeed q strange, strange
tory" commented his half-dszed
Yes; ms precious one, II IL
strange story. Hut. Nellie, the Sc
luel To my story IL for you to tell.
Nth you lies the power 10 make II
wet or bitter. Five years ago, this
month. On this very same spot, you
ave yourself TO me. viii you
gain consent to be my wife"
There was no rOyness now, no
nOking downward with blushing
ace, for years of sorrow had changed
lie once merry-hearted girl to
woman. Looking up quiet
Y, trustfully into his face, she calm
\, vet earnestly responded:
~ am still yours-ever yours,
through life. through death and
ternIty. 60 Yankee Bf1dC.
u