The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-03-26

lli1b> lISibDIilg DSltdlH IHt, Htu
suddenly | stumbled over mound
and my tongue unloosened, and ut
tered sharp cry.
Ia an instant the men had seen NE
and, jumping from the grave before |
could rise, | was seized dragged for
ward, and the light OF the dark-lantern
was turned upon me.
! man who had been sitting upon .
stone away from the others came quick
II forward; glanced up, and recog-
uiZed him with eyes and tongue AT the
same time.
"Stalfordr'
Yes. it was Stafford. but SO changed
from the handsome, dashing fellow he
formerly was. as 10 be barely recogniZa-
bic; wan and hoiiow-cycd. with
strange, searching look that added TO
my already overwhelming fright.
You know me. " he muttcred. Who
are you?"
'.Kenton, the watcher, Mr.. Stat
ford"
Stafford turned to the men and said,
go on with Your work. and make
haste; no time to lose. Leave hin. to
me"
The men took up their spades and
resumed their work upon the grave.
Stafford motioued me To sit down,
and lald himself upon the grass OPP
posite to me. Thus we remained-I
know not how lomg-t seemed an age
to me. | was thinking what | should
say to him, aud finally l mustered up
courage TO speak.
MIR. Stafford" | said, and lie start
ed and looked up.
"Weil?' he answered, after a mo-
ment's silence
y on are getting me into an awful
scrapc, Mr.. Stafford"
He did not answer for some mo-
ments. and was Just about to speak
again. when he said suddenly, Look
here, KcntOn; vou keep quiet and all
will be right. Wen leave this place
as we found it; and unless YOU speak
no one will know the grave was touch
ed; so if you get into a scrape YOU
will walk in with your eyes open"
But suppose, Mr.. Stafford, it should
somehow be discovered that the dia-
monds are gone-what then?'
Diamonds" he said quickly. What
diamonds?n
w hy, l thought you were after
them"
As soon as had spoken the words I
saw that had done wrong He Jump
ed toward me rs if he would have kill
ed me with a blow, and grasping my
throat lercely, he demanded: What
do YOU mean, man? What diamonds?
speak out"
Releasing me as suddenly as he had
taken hold, be asked coolly: do YOU
mean that there are diamonds on that
corpsc?'
Yes, " replied, ''the General pur-
chased diamond set, and-''
He turncd quickly, called one of the
men, and said to him: Keep your
eye on this man; if he moves knock
him down" and strobe rapidly of to
the grave.
/ saw that he gave the men some di-
rectons, but | could not hear what
they were. heard, however the
scraping of the spades on the coffin,
and knew their work WAS nearly ac-
cOnplished
They needed the assistance of the
man who was guarding me, and he
tool. me To the grave with him. The
coffin was quickly hoisted up with
ropes aud landed by the side of the
hole
Go you to the wagon till I whistle"
said Stafford. 'Kcnton is used to this
thing aud Shall help me-"
The men Withdrew. and Stafford
handing me the tools bade me unscrew
the coifin-iid. | was about TO refuse
regardless of consequences but the
strange look in his eyes compelled Inc
against my will to do his bidding.
| commenced the work. and Stafford
STOPPING close to me said "kcnton |
your own safety compels your silence |
concerning what you've discovered to- |
night did not know there was any |
one watching; | did not know there |
We're any diamonds. Go on with YOUR
work; don't stop. This coffin contains |
my wife-my wife. KentOn; ana her |
father knows it, aud burie5 her, shuts
her in the ground leaving me to dis
cover it as | can. | swore that not |
even death should part Us. and I'll |
keep my oath. Shes mine spite of |
law, spite of malice and prejudice
she's mine, and | claim my own"
The lid was uncovered aud | rose
from the ground
Stay here, kenton." he said. and |
stopped 10 lift the lid from the coffin.
For an instant it flashed through nv |
mind to push him over into the grave.
escape and give the alarm. but had |
not the heart to do it. and besides, | |
thought it would then become known |
that there was but one watcher.
T., ,,,,,np,-,l .l, 4 .,,,l l., 81 L.,
Generals daughter. is | saw her on
the day of the funeral, rs natural as
she were but sleeping.
tie raised the corpse from the coffiu,
and throwing his arms around it he |
pressed it closely to him, swaying to
and fro.
"Oh, myd6ar one, my life my soulm
he said, is it thus we meet again?n
and he sobbed aloud. and | myself felt
ike joining him.
He quickly recovered himself, how
ever and slowly rested the body back
INTO the caskct. As he did 50 he no.
iced paper and bringing the light
.oward it he called me to him, aud
said. eagerly:
Look. Kenton. See; l told you
1t was certificate OF their marriage.
Now, kenton, YOU have seen with
Jour own eyes-you kuow-and should
you hear her fair fame maligned, brand
he speakers rs liars. Kentou-liarS.
But l forgot you are forced TO keep
luiet, and Della. my dear one, must
70 uurighted. But enough. Look
here. kenton; | claim my own, moth
ing more. Here-sce these diamonds.
He carefully removed them, kissing
The cold clay again and again rs he did
so. and laid them in the coffin. The
certificate he put in his pocket, and
then he raised the body aud laid ii up
Oh the ground.
Now" he said. screw on the lid
quickly, and I'll call the men TO fill the
hole"
| screwed on the III, and the men
came back leading a horse and wa
Toneite, which they left standing at