The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-01-24

which | was capable. As the las
notes died away hot tears fell upor
my hands. | looked up into Alice.
face She was weeping. Flushed
! with the heat of sudden passion
clasped her to my heart and kissed
her. A moment later a thrill 0t
joy passed through me as her lips
touched my brow. Releasing her
| knelt before her. She laid hel
hands upon my head as though il
blessing. Not a word had been
spoken, but our stories had been
told-we loved one another.
III.
"Alice did did not go TO Europe.
Our parents were not opposed to
our union. Indeed, they had ex-
pec,ed such an event, though not
so.sOon. Still, they had so famil
iarized themselves with the idea.
that, when our love for one anoth,
er was made known to Alice's
parents, the trip to Europe was
Abandoned. We were not, howev-
er, to marry until the lapse of Two
years, when would be twenty-five
and she twenty. Fortunately my
parents were we'll off, and it was
not necessary tor me 10 earn my
living before | could marry Alice.
All the same, | was ambitious
enough TO work hard at The studies
which were to fiji me for the legal
profession, a course in which she
encouraged me. Need | tell how
happily those two years passed off?
OF our loving exchange of conf
dence? or the trust we reposcd
in one another? The sweetness
and beauty of Alice's character be-
came more and more apparent TO
me, and when, two years after our
engagement, we were united in
marriage, it seemed TO me as if The
climax of happiness had been
reached. As | stood at the altar to
receive her, and she came up the
aisle clad in white, her face calm
yet radiant, | could mot but feel
that | was receiving an angel into
my life. Nor was / mistaken. But
| had been mistaken when / had
thought that the climax OF happi.
ness had been reached on our we'd
ding day; for every day of our
married life brought new happi-
ness. Alice's face often wore that
calm yet radiant expression it had
worn on our wedding day. Her
lips often seemed to me about TO
part in a smile OF happiness. When
her face wore that expression OF
quiet rapture it was lovelIest to be-
hold. | see 1t rising before me
now ! | put out my hands TO touch
il /! has vanished /! All it was
but The vision of a spirit ! For, alas!
Alice is no more. Three years OF
ever-increasing happiness,and then
came a tragedy all the more terri
BILE for the bliss which had preced- |
ed it. All, bitterI memoryEof the |
hours of agony passed at her bed
side Alas! VIII time never as
'uage the despair, the agony of |
hat hour when they told me that |
ler eyes had closed in death /
charged them with lying TO me
or, as | looked upon her face as
The Law there so still, her lips, as so
)ften before, seemed TO me about
part in a smile of happiness. Is 1t
| wonder that, when they came 10
bear her away to the tomb l stood
ike wild beast at bay before her
,oflin and dared them 10 approach!
SeIzed, overpowered by superior
it was only when they
threatened TO force me TO remain
guarded in that room, that deslst
ID in order that Knight be allowed
o follow her remains to the tomb
nd there be suffered To gaze upon
Ter features. Fools TO think her
lead ] knew better than they.
Would her lips still seem to part
n a smile of happiness if she we're
lead and lost TO meg ! felt that
when at the moment which others
would think 10 be the moment Of
ny final parting from ber in the
omb, | called her by uanie, she
Tould awaken from her trance and
lasp me TO her bosom and return
nth me once more into the air and
AT last that moment
anne. The dreary coriege had
cached the tomb, The heavy portal
ad been thrown back, and they
ad born the coffin into the sepul-
hre and placed it upon the cata-
alqoe. / stepped forward 10 take
that the fools who had brought
ne there thought would be nv
lst look at her. As | approached
sr / saw the dear familiar look Of ,
uiet rapture come over her face,
er lips seemed about to part in a Z
lissfnl smile and | was sure / saw ,
light tremor Of the hand nearest J
be. l COZ Id not control my feel
lgs. "Alicel Alice y ! exclaim- f,
d, and rushing to the side OF the !
oiiin, raised her and clasped her
D my breast. n
ale is madl" I heard one of
hose behind me exclaim. A mo- {
lent later | was seized by strong !
rms. I struggled with the strength J
desperation. Il tsvailed me moth :
". / was dragged from The tomb.
heard the changer Of The portal
losing upon my beautiful wife.
hen / lost consciousness. u