The morning call., 1891-01-18

their voices. another touch Of their hands ?
That would be more than human heart
could bear. In my despair ! made sudden
effort to sit mp in my bed. My hand struck
bottle, and it fell to the rocky floor oil the
cave. Tie next moment my noStrils were
filled with the stimulating odor OF ammonia.
1t revived me completely, and | set my leet
upon the ground, but | shuddered ms
sharp and far-reaching pains leaped from
joint to joint. Merciful Father, can II be
that have slept too long. With trembling
hands CROPPED for the matches, but 80 SIN
ana helpless were my hands and fingers that
1t was several moments before / could sue
coed In grasping match firmly enough 10
strike 1t. A glass Of wine helped me to col
lect my thoughts. My chronometer had run
down. The oil in the lamp had burned out.
Gracious heaven" | tried TO whisper,
"perchance l have slept too long. l may
come too late TO keep him from working
irremediable injury" Taper in hand, went
staggering toward the door of the cave
Twice, thrice the huge stones which closed
the opening refused TO move. My strength
was rapidly leaving me. In another instant
felt that | should totter and fall. Making
superhuman effort / succeeded in displac-
lrg the smaller of the stones. The sight OF
the suns rays lent me new courage, L
worked the other block of stone out OF the
foundation and crawled out into the blessed
light of day. The cellar of my laboratory
had been cleared of ashes and debris.
clambered up the stone steps on all fours,
for | dared not attempt to try and
stand erect. AS | reached the gar
den walk newspaper lay in the path. |
stopped and picked it up. 1t was dated
June 21st. My brain reeled. | staggered
to rustic seat. God help my dear ones ~
| cried out. at is three weeks since L
entered Cuggerynossett Cave" Suddenly
an ear-pierclng Shrek caused me to spring
up. 1t was the gardener. lie had caught
sight of me and had fallen in swoon. L
paid no heed to him. Other beings were in
my thoughts. | turned my steps toward the
house. They were uncertain, but every
stride gave me new strength and unlocked
my stiffened joints. AS l rounded the cor
ner of tue house deep measured solemn
voice fell upon my ear: do you, IhcOdora,
take this man to be your welded husband
With bound l reached the low veranda
and pushed open the outer door, and in an
other instant | stood in the doorway Of the
| drawing-roOm.
"Stop!' l cried out in a tone which
| echoed through the old mansion with dis.
| tnctnesS that startled me. Stop, say,
| put an end to this Infamous business"
/ can't remember exactly what happened
| but there were shrieks from the wOmer
| present. My eyes were fastened upon the
wretched Yokel. He staggered back and
| turned his face away from me as If he
| feared trat my eyes would burn into hi:
very hearts fiber.
Cop / exclaimed 'Away with you
! Take your vile BODY, with its viler heart
! from beneath my roof, lest | hand you Ovel
to the officer Of the law"
He did not wait for a second command
| but backed out of the room with averteC
| eyes. BY this time Theodore had sufnci
emily recovered from the shock of seeing the
! dead return to life. She threw herself il
my arms and for an instant our tears RAJ
together; but suddenly she drew back an(
| called out:
Come, come, dear uncle, and set ou1
| poor Writ free"
Freew l gasped. why has Yoke
dared to imprisOn him ?''
Yes, in the oak roomp she answered
mes prisoner i'll the oak room. Come
come; I'll help you. Oh, if we had only
believed him when lie told US that you wert
not deadp'
With half dozen blows of an AK bea
the door oEen and caught my beloved son il
my arms. Theodore stood by, dumb viii
amazement at the sight of Wirt's face
| lighted up with its old-tlme glow of love ant
| intelligence.
He turned and held out his arms invit
ingly to her, but the tears burst forth ant
she raised her hand as if to say it must no
be- But my noble, generous boy would no
be put off. He drew the blusAing girl upol
his breast and cried out:
Come to me, my loved Theo; | can wei
imagine that when you heard what SCENE,
! to you the language of mailman yOl
should have deemed yourself set Tree from
pledge as yet uDspoken."
But wien Writ and | now for the FIRST
time heard the record of Bran YokeP
yillainies, his juggling with the accounts o
the wooden mills so as to make that concern
| seem lnsolvent and his threat to sell the OLE
homestead, a thing specially forbidden b,
my will, in order that he might force Theo
dora to become his wife or go out into tn
world with her mother a penniless wan
rer. our Indignation reached fever heat.
He must not escape the meshes of tn
law, father" exclaimed Writ.
We'll consider that subject tomorrow
| my boy, | replied, encircling my children
with my arm. For the present, I've all
can dc to take care of myself" l added
laughingly. This very moment my poo
old heart is hammering away altogether to-
rapidly for safety. l must go and take
little bromide"
The next day came news of Braun YokeP
hight and also Il voluntary confession from
one of our operatives that YokePs assel
ton that he had rescued Theodore frol
death the day her skirts had caught in til
machinery at the woolen-mills was withou
any basis of fact.
l heard afierward that he had died in Ior
don after using up in wild dissipation tn
ready money lie had carried away with hin
copyrighted. 1891, By the Attthors' Alliance. a
| rights TeSelUed.
The story for Sunday, January e5th. viii