The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-11-20

off with the coffin-lid! For Gods sake,
delay not! She is not dead!"
rather shrieked than said the last
words.
The change that came over that as
sembly! Many swooned away-a crowd
rushed to the coffin-I pressed them
back-the hand of the undertaken
trembled-screw after screw fell rat
thing to the foor--my heart beat dull
and heavy with the excitement of hope
and fear.
The coffin top was thrown aside. In
my arms / bore the fair creature to
couch. AS l returned for a moment l
saw her only sister-a girl of sixteen
standing as if riveted to the floor,
her cheeks hollow and CHASTITY, her
eyes fixed aid frightfully glaring. l
seized her by the arm, but she stirred
not 1 shook her rudely, saying:
"Unless you help me, Marie, she will
really die! Quick! come. cut off her
grave clothes! She must not see them
must never know Of this"
The girl sighed, shivered-then, with
a wild, unnatural burst of laughter,
reused herself from her stupor. Then,
as suddenly, flood of tears came to
her relief. All was right now. She
followed me into the next room, united
the white satin ribbon that confined
the delicate wrists, Embossed the linen
bands on her breast, SO that by the
time the young bride opened her eyes
she was lying as if she had sought her
bed for pleasant slumber.
And now, the most terrible excite
ment over, l breathed freely, And yet
another important task remained to be
accomplished. By my orders, the poor
husband had been briefly informed
that the ceremony would be detained
for moment He was so distracted
with his grief that all was alike to
him. They led him where they liked.
He sat in a little room just across the
entry; so deadened were all his senses
he had not heard the confusion. He went
in, closed the door and stood beside
him. He glanced up but once, then
buried his face in his hands with an
unearthly moan tn at went to my very
soil. Oh, such joy, such pure. exquis-
tie joy as flooded my whole being as l
felt what Heaven I should awake to!
Only angels can tell how sweet it is to
bring blessings to the wayworn and
hope to the Responding.
Frederick, said I, placing my arm
around his neck, "my dear fellow"
Don't try to comfort me, doctor,''
his broken voice responded; my heart
is torn up by the roots
What should 1 next say? A thought
occurred to me.
''Do you remember what Christ said
about the little mafdp She is not dead,
but sleepeth. F."
My peculiar accent. my information
struck him instatly. He shook sud-
denly, and raised his trembling hands,
while a strange expression shot over
his face. There were tears in my
eyes, but l smiled broad through them
at the same time. I tried to command
my voice as stammered: ''Did you
did you ever hear of people falling
into trances?-and-"
He sprang to his feet, clinched my
hands, breathed hard and through his
shut teeth. His eyes glittered.
"What!' he cried, comprehending
the hopeless face looking in upon us.
''dead?-in "a trance?-laid out?-
buried? - alive - alive! Great God.
Do you tell me she livesP-my May?
who gasped in my arms?-lay cold
on this bosom? Oh, have mercy!-
don't mock me!'
He staggered against me. almost
hopeless.
FREDERICK" I cried, tears raining
down my cheeks "she lives! she lives!
Your precious May is saved"
Another second, and I was in his
arms. he dancing deliriously round
with mo.
God bless you! God bless you!" he
cried. ooh, it is too beautiful, too
good! My dear God! how I thank
Thee!' And he lifted his streaming
eyes upward. LET me see her." he
continued. locking my arm in his. II
will be calm--very calm. Aud, doc
tor" he exclaimed, 'if at any time my
life will buy youa precious boon, it is
yours"
He did not dream, poor fellow, that
he had been my rival.
The mother hung over her child
the husband bent over his bride, full
of thanksgiving. She, with her large
blue eyes moving languidly but fondly
from one to the other, whispered: Il
am better, stronger. / shall soon be
well again. have been ill so longp'
Frederick kissed her white brow in
reply, and smothered his sobs in the
pillow. And then | left them, a hap
pier being-a better man!
May and her husband still live, a
fond, beautiful pair, even now.
/ am an old bachelor, but have the
satisfaction of knowing l rescued her
l loved from grave!-Evening
World.