The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-26

dance by being cDIfged 60 taKe snosner
officers duty, and there was a chance OF
his having TO do so again this day. So be
| resolved to so to the barracks and find out,
under pretext Of a visit to Mr.. Neville, who
had asked him to inquire shout hunter
he was anxious to purchase
Just at this moment q drag drove CD
| with that young warrior on the box, who
| hailed the squire and drew up with a crash
They were going TO hear celebrated choir
| at St. Patrick's church Would he comet
| He at once Joined the party, among whom
| was St. George
After the service, as they were hooking at
the curious old building, the sexton In
quired if they would like to see the crypt.
On their asserting, he lit a torch and they
| descended into the vaults.
Young Neville soon declared he had had
enough of it, and ran up the steps, followed
by all his companions except St. George,
who was looking at an inscription at the
far end of the crypt.
As Kerwan turned and looked back at
the soldierly figure of the hussar, the dia-
bolical idea occurred to him to keep his
dangerous rival out of the way for that
evening.
In an instant he pushed the heavy door
Of the vault, which shut with a loud bang.
leaving the poor young officer in semi
darkness and prisoner.
The rest of the party went gaily back to
their quarters without having observed ths
absence of their friend
Half frightened and half exultant at
what he had done, Kerwan returned to his
hotel. and lost no time in presenting him
self at Mrs Fraser's tea table, where be
was cordially welcomed by that lady and
her eldest daughter, but scarcely noticed
By Maria
That young lady employed herself by
standing on the balcony, watching the hall
door and listening to every footstep in the
street.
As the squire stealthily observed her
anxious and preoccupied air, he thought
with grim satisfaction that she would not
see St. George enter the house that even
ing, at all events.
Thinking it was now time to release his
prisoner, Kerwan excused himself for leav-
ing so early, and babe the ladies good night.
AS he left the house he looked up at the
drawing room windows; the lamps shone
out brightly, and he could hear Miss Fraser
singing, but Maria was leaning motionless
over the balcony and gazing sorrowfully
down the street.
Kerwan turned sngrily away, and hail
ing a cab drove to the sections house,
which was close to the church. He in
tended to get the old man to open the door
of the vault under the pretext Of having
lost pocketbook, which he thought he
must have dropped in the crypt, and which
haxr f6b.s tre %oI 81, II.
knocked long and loudly at the door, but
no one answered; he could not make HIM
self heard by any one in the street. AT
last an old man who passed by told him the
sexton was not at home, but would return
in an hour, as he had only gone to see a
friend. AS it was now nearly daylight
Kerwan determined to walk up and down
and await his return. At last he APP
peared, and both men went at once to the
church.
On the door of the vault being opened
Kerwan expected to see the hussar rush
out, but there was neither voice nor sound
in the crypt. All was silent as the dead
that had lain there for centuries.
A dreadful fear crept over kerwan as a
shout Of horror from the sexton drew him
quickly into the vault.
There lay the unfortunate young officer,
stone deadl The poisonous air of the
vault and horror of his situation had killed
himl
Years after in Spanish monastery was a
monk who had brought much wealth to
the community, and whose self inflicted
penances were SO severe that the brothers
suspected his mind was hardened by re-
morse, and they judged rightly.
Some few days after Maria Fraser had
last seen the Ill fated hussar Mr.. Neville
brought her letter found in the desk of
his late brother officer 1t was directed to
her and asked her to be his wife.
She never married, and could not forget
St. George. who was her first love and her
last.-London Society.