The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-03-28

tertainment these two custod,aus had
retired to bod ut Gerald's urgent behest.
The evening outside was full of soft
breezes and scintillant starlight-sum.
mer darkness. with just the least autumn.
nal touch to it. To reach the Shady.
shore vault would require u walk of not
more than ten or fifteen minutes. Gerald
had secured the key, having long ago
placed it in a certain drawer, which he
had now but to open for the purpose of
laying his hands on what they sought.
He had supplied himself with, two or
three candles and u box of matches. All
was ready. His heart beat queerly as
he began his little journey across lots
n by dark clusters of lonely foliage.
The ghastly character of his undertaking.
wa not its only drawback. He seemed
to sec, again and again, before he reached
the vault forms dart out upon him with
vetoing gestures, accusative eyes. And
how could he explain his trespassing
presence in case any such arrest should
occur?
But, i'll reality, he gained the vault
quite unobserved. 1t was built of solid
granite in the side of a slight hill. He
listened for a moment, and then descend
ed the small flight Of steps leading in
ward to a large metal door. Then he
inserted his key in the lock. 1t fitted
perfectly. and quite soon afterward he
had passed within the interior Of the
vault, leaving the metal door behind
him just enough ajar to admit n certain
quantity Of air, yet not enough so as to
attract the notice Of any possible passer.
He now stood in pitchy darkness. A
heavy smell as Of fresh cut flowers at
once oppressed him. He had ceased to
feel trepidation; his old magnificent
courage and GOODNESS had come back to
him. Slowly he struck q match and
lighted n of his tapers. AS the flame
struggled from intense dimness into COM
parative brightness the solemn, stone
wrought chamber became clearly visi-
BILE. 1t contained but three collins. each
laid in Il separate niche. One was that
Of Louis Bonds mother, one that of his
father and one was his own. The last
lay heapcd over with wreaths and
crosses. All the inches were large, and
in a manner took from the usual grim.
ness of such receptacles by being un-
cramped and commodious of aspect.
Gerald had brought a small sconce for
his candle, and now set both on the edge
OF the empty niche, Just above the casket
of his frleni He waited some time in
awed silence. To open the coffin was an
act from which he shrank most reluc.
family. And yet his sacred oath com
PEELED him to perform this act. There
was only the usual lock to be pried
asunder, and for this purpose he had
brought with him II capable instrument.
Presently he banished his repulsion.
"How can there be the least dissertation
he thought, "when | am only following
out LOUIS own earnest wishes? Besides
the vow he once eXacted from me there
is q new stimulus in Brenda's account OF
that hidden paper"
And yet to spend three mortal hours
in this dismal vault! He began already
to feel that his nerve power, strong and
Trustworthy as it was. could scarcely en-
dure so drastic an ordeal. Still he must
make the effort. Looking at his watch
he discovered that only fifteen minutes
of the allotted time had already passed,
And yet they had seemed far more thar
an hour.
One stout wrench with his chisel and
the coffin waspriedapart. He soon looked
upon the calm, waXen face Of Louis
How like. and yet how completely soul
less and Inexpensive! What hope of any
vital resurrectional sign could possibly
be drawn from this pallor and apathy.
He leaned closer above the still feat
ures, familiar and yet utterly changed
He forgot the concealed paper of which
Brenda had told him, while he parted
from the dead mans breast and chin the
thick MASSES of flowers which lay there.
But he remembered, and with a piercing
force of recollection, what he had bound
himself of old to use every mental effort
in desiring and yearning after.
Some of the flowers fell over upon the
stone flooring of the vault--loose camel
las and white roses, with perhaps a few
glossy leaves of either. He meant tC
stoop and pick them up, when suddenly
a strange and horrible thing occurred
The light went out, and it seemed to hin
that az it did SO II sharp metallic sound
rang through the dead, abrupt darkness
And thea something struck him, will
a light, yet distinct, contact, full on the
breast. He lifted dis hand and caught
stiff square of glazed paper.
"The hidden letter. flashed through
his brain. He has given it To me him
self"
For the first time in all his brave young
life Gerald Ravelow knew what it wa!
to be dazed and half mad with terror.
T