Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-11-07

dJc care. L pbuScu WOuuoIlu6iy, uuu
watched her. She went TO the brlgand's
chest Of treasure and proceeded TO ca
anime It's contents,--laces, silver and
gold cmbroiderles, antique ornaments,
she took carefully In her hands, seem
ing mentally to calculate their cost and
value. Jewels that were set as neck
laces, bracelets and other trinkets OF
feminine wear, she put on, one after
the other til her neck and arms were
loaded, and llterlly blazed with the
myriad scintillations OF different col
CURED gems marvellcd NJ her
strange conduct, but did not
as vet guess It's meaning. moved
away from the staircase and drew iD-
perceptibly nearer to her HsrE
what was that? A strange, low rumblinR
like distant earthquake, followed by u
sharp cracking sound; ! stopped TO listen
entlvelv A furious gus. OF wind
rushed round the mausoleum, shrieking
wildly like some devil In anger, and tho
strong draught flying through the gate
way cxtlnguished two OF the flaring
candles. My wife, entirely absorbed
In counting over Carmelo Neri's treas
ures apparently saw and heard nothing.
Suddenly she broke into another laugh-a
chuckllng. mirthless laugh such as might
come from the lips Of the aged and senile.
The sound curdled the blood In my veins
1T was tho laugh OF madwoman!
With an earnest, distinct voice l called
70 her.
Nina! Nina!"
She turned towards me still smiling
her eyes were bright, her face had re-
gained Its habtual colour. and as she
stood In the dim light with her rich
tr, sscs falling about 10, and tho clust-
crny gems massed together In
glittering IRE against her white
skin, she looked unnaturallY, wildly
beautiful. She nodded to me, half
grnciously, half.haughtily, but gave me
no answer. Moved with quick pity l
called agaln-''Nina!"
She laughed again--the same terrible
laugh.
Isl 81! Son. bella, SON. bellissima"
she murmured. "Etu, Guido milo? Tu
mamie"
Then raising one hand as though COM
manding attention. she cried--"As-
colta!" and began 10 sing clearly though
fecbly:
"Ti salute RosiSnuolo!
Mel tue duolo . Il salute!
Sci I'amante della rosa
Che niorendo 81 10 sposa!"
As the old familiar melody echoed
through tho dreary vault, my bitter
wrath against her partially lcssencd;
with the swiftness Of my southern TEN.
permanent certain compassion stirred
my soul.
She was no longer quite the same woman
who had wronged and betrayed me,-she
had the helplessness and fearful limo.
cence OF madness In that con-
dillon could not have hurt hair OF her
head. stepped hastily forward-I re-
solved to take her out OF the vault-after
all would not leave her thus, :.
but as approached, she withdrew from
me, and with an angry stamp OF her foot
moLioned me backward, while o dark
frown knitted her fair brows
''Who are you?" she cried impcrious-
". You are dead, quite doad! How
dare you come out OF your grave"
And she stared at me defiantly,-then
suddenly clapping her hands as though
In ecstasy, and seeming 10 address some
invisible being ut her side, She said
in low, delighted toncs-"He is dead,
Guido Are you not glad?" She paused,
apparently expecting some reply, for she
looked about her wonderingly, and con-
tinued-"You do not answer me-are
you afraid? Why are you so pale and
stern? Have you just come back from
Rome? What have you heard? That ]
am false?-oh, no! l will love you still!
All! / forgot! You also are
dead, Guido remember now-you
cannot hurt me any more-l am free
and quite happy"
Smiling, she continued her song
Iii salute, Sol di Maggi
Col tue raggio ii saulitol
Sci rApollo del passato
Sci l'amore incoronato!"
Again, hollow, rum
bling and cracking sound overhead.
What could IL be?
''Lamore incoronato!" hummed Nina
fitfully, as she plunged her round jeweled
arm down again into the chest Of treas.
ure. Isl, sill Che morendo 81 ia sposa
che moFenno 81 IA sposa-
ah!"
This last was an exclamation Of pleas.
urc; she had found some toy that
charmed her,-it was the old mirror set
in its frame Of pearls. The possession OF
this object seemed 10 Gil her with extra
ordinary JOY, and she evidently retained
no consciousness Of where she was, for
she sat down on the upturned
coffin which had held my liv'
ing body, with absolute indifference.
Still singing softly to herself, she
Eazcd lovingly at her own reflection, and
fingered the jewels she wore, arranging
and rearranging them in various pat
terms with one hand. while In the other
she raised the looking-Rlass In the Hare