Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-12-25

and pick it up. 1t ran thus, omitting
localities:
Dear Uncle Ephroim.
Although l have not seen you for
years, and mamma might be displeased
at my boldness, venture to write you,
hoping that, as you are rich and power
full, you will come to her aid. For some
time past she has been losing her sight,
and it is said that unless she has the at.
tendance of some famous oculist her re-.
covery is hopeless. Uncle, for some
time past I have bsen mammals sole
support. am unable to provide her the
skill which will save to her what is of
more value than life itself. Will you
not help me. Make the coming blessed
Christmas gladstone to us. Your affec-
tionate niece, EVA BuRLINa.
The lonely millionaire reached for the
touching missive, picked it up and
slowly read 1t again. He dropped into a
deep reverie. 1t was evident that his
mind was busy with the idea of Christ
mas, his sister and niece and many
other things. He was a college bred
man, full of the lore of the mythology of
Greece and all nations, and presently his
head was filed with queer jumble of
all sorts of notions. 1t sank on his
breast, and soon he was plunged into q
psychological condition of indescribable
agony.
He was dead, and had been ushered
into the presence of Rhadamanthus. He
was arraigned to be judged. A vast
space, filed with an uncertain light,
bristling with shapes of horror but all
suggestive of irresistible force, held
an incompatible army. His dread Judge
was seated on high throne formed of
skulls, from the opened jaws of which
flames crept out and circled round the
feet of Rhadamant hus. Several great
caldrons Of liquid fire and lead were at
the feet of the throne, with hideous
servitors, with ladies', axes and knives, in
attendance. 8
The dread Rhadamanthus spoke:
mortal, come hither and stand in
front of the throne"
More dead than alive Ephraim Thomp-
son made tottering step in advance.
That his pace was not satisfactory was
shown by the fact that one of the attend
ants gave him punch with trident of
fame, which burned through his un-
mentionables and scared his flesh.
Said Rhadamanthus: cart thou the
mortal whose hands have always been
turned away from the sacred duty of aid
ing the distressed? Speak"
Ephraim tried to find his tongue, but
for the life of him he could not utter q
word. 1t Glove to the roof of his mouth.
WHAT" "spake Rhadamanthus, "Thou
hast not word to say. Guards, scar
with molten iron the hands that have
never been extended to relieve the dis
tress of brother.'
Ephraim was seized and led to the
mortar in which white hot molten iron
was sizzling. Barring his wrists, the
guards plunged them one after another
into the seething mass. The pain was
excruciating, but he was obliged to see
one after another of his hands burned
short off at the stumps.
Ephraim Thompson realized that if he
had been still alive the pain of such an
operation would have killed him. But
with every fiber of his being still tingling
with the torture of the ordeal through
which he had just passed, he found him
self again confronting his inexorable
judge.
"Stand forth again, Ephraim Thomp.
son." said Rhadamanthus, the inexora BILE
judge. cart thou the mortal whose
heart has never felt compassion for thy
kind, and whose every ventricle has al
ways during life been walled up with
adamant. Seize him, guards, and tear
out an organ which has never been
used for aught but selfish pulse BEATS"
At this dread order, Ephraim Thomp-
son made movement as if to fly. But
quick as fash the guards were upon
him. They bore him to the floor, he
was divested of his raiment, one of the
guards produced long, sharp knife,
with which he made long incision into
the breast of the miser, and grasping
Ephraim's heart, he tore it from its place
and held it aloft.
"'Tis WE'LL" said Rhadamanthus.
"Let the wretch arise"
Singulsrly enough Ephraim Thompson
did not seem to feel very much worse for
the loss of his heart. One of the guards
slipped sort Of electric sponge in the
place where it had been, and his circula-
ton seemed to go on as usual While
doing SO he whispered to Ephraim, "This
is about as much use as you ever had for
heart anyhow, miser."
OF course all this bloody violence was
an unspeakable agony to Ephraim. His
scared stumps gave him excruciating
pain, and the ripping up of his breast,
and the violent excision of his heart,
we're agonizing to an inconceivable de.
gree. In addition, his imagination was
tortured by the anticipation of horrors
yet to come. The caldron of molten
lead was still smoking near him, and the
whole space, which stretched away into
illimitable vistas, was filed with grisly
and menacinp shapaa. averv ono of which