The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-06-12

r more hopeful, when a thought occurre
= to me that made the cold perspiratiO
/ start from my brow. | should b
= asphyxiated. The place was hermetical
: ly closed. The oxygen would soon b
= exhausted and l should be slowly stifled
} Already seemed to find difficulty il
I breathing. l gasped hard for breath
sprang to my feet and again fruitlessl,
= felt all over the bare brick wall.
AT length, by great effort of will,
calmed myself and sat down, resolved a
least to meet the fate that had courteC
with calmness and courage. How long
sat thus cannot tell, probably severa
hours. Gradually became conscious OF
a faint sound like the roar of distant
: gale; then fancied that l could heal
the plunge of breakers upon the shore
and this grew more and more distinct
until l could plainly feel the earth trem
BILE with the violence of the waves. Al
least it was comfort to feel that was
not so deeply buried that no sound from
the outside world could reach me. lis
tened long while and perhaps fell into
a dOze, for felt torper steal over me
which mentally attributed to asphyxia.
ton, and | dreamily wondered how long
bhO'hN bO III Wy anu NuCIntl blt
death was painful.
suddenly was aroused by an indie
Unable sense that was not alone. There
was presence near me, something not
to be seen but to be felt. Presently
was moved by mysterious impulse to
write. | took out my notebook and
pencil and laid my hand on the paper,
when with no volition on my part, rath-
er against my will, my hand began writ
ing rapidly. 1t seemed as though an
other mind was in possession of my arm,
and began trying to read what was
written, judging by the motion of my
fingers, for l could see absolutely moth
ing. | soon found that the writing was
in Spanish, and finally made out the
word sword and then 'tinder- box and
then behind you The motion of my
fingers ceased, and began to feel care
fully of the wall against which | sat.
soon found rather large smooth surface
close to the floor, evidently of some other
substance than brick, and as my hand
passed over 1T a strong, involuntary i'm
pulse came over me, and pushed it with
all my strength. 1t slowly yielded, and
found square opening some fifteen
inches wide. | grOpcd within, gradually
pushing my head and shoulders through,
and presently my hand touched some
thing metallic. picked it up and felt
of it, 1t was round and fiat evidently
a box. | drew back and managed to
open it, and inside | found flint steel,
and tinder. In moment more my Ian
tern, which found on the floor of the
cave, was lighted. | next examined my
notebook. Written in dainty feminine
hand, in Spanish, | read;
Stranger, for the love of the blessed
| Virgin, take the luckless gold from this
accursed place and deliver me from my
bondage. | am chained by this treasure
to spirit that loathe and place that
| detest; and my father suffers tOrments
worse than purgatory these hundreds of
years. Set us free by taking the gold.
You will find a sword with which you
can easily dig through the top of the
vault, and a tinder-b box in the treasure
vault behind you. Be in haste, lest Ber
nardo return and interrupt you. Take all
the gold for the peace of
'DONA MARIA VEREZ.'
| 81 opened the square door again and
looked in. l saw a low vault, say five
feet deep, in which was piled more gold
than had ever seen in my life, oaken
boxes and kegs overflowing with gold
Piles of rotten bags from whose rents
the gold slipped down in yellow heaps
on the floor, solid ingots of gold and sill
yer heaped together in confusion. Here
was treasure indeed. l stuffed my hun
cry pockets as full as they would hold;
| then picking up short thick sword that
lay among the treasure, returned to the
larger apartment and attacked the brick
vault over my head. In a short time
had dislodged several of the bricks, when
suddenly large piece of the vault caved
in, and barely saved myself from being
buried in the debris by springing out of
the way.
"a sudden gust of fresh air swept
around the cave, and the wild howling of
the winds and the breakers became more
distinctly audible. | clambered over the
pile of brick and dirt and, by the help of
a couple of benches which found in the
cave, managed to drag myself out of the
hole. | found myself in a large apart
ment walled and floored with brick,
which perceived to be sort of cellar
under the large house of which | have
spoken. After few minutes delibera-
tion set to work, with what material |
could lay hands on, to cover and conceal
the hole by which l had ascended and
my task was yet incomplete, when such
a howl of rage and fury as / had never
heard came from beneath my feet NV
first thought was that the spirits had re-
turned and were bent on avenging their
plundered treasure.
To say that | was terrified poorly ex-
presses my feelings.
In an instant | had burst open the frail
wooden door of the cellar and was in the
open air.
A terrific storm was raging. The wind
blew hurricane, driving before it blind
ing sheets of rain. The spray from the
breakers was dashing clear over the
house, though it stood at least fifty yards
from the shore. The lightning glared in
one incessant flash, and the crash and
roar of the thunder was awful. But high
above the uproar of the elements rose
the unearthly screams and yells behind
me, and without pausing moment
flew from the place as fast as my legs
could carry me, and ran till fell ex-
hausted with fatigue and fright.
'When at last | reached my boarding
house found that had been twenty
four hours in the cave.
"My hair was as white as it is now and
it was week before my nervous system
had recovered from the shock sufficiently
to permit me TO walk"
The speaker paused with the air of one
who has finished his tale, and proceeded
to relight his extinct cigar.
"And the treasurer" | suggested at
length.
"Oh," he reiolned, 'it was not long till
l had trim yacht anchored off the shore,
manned by trusty fellows, aud l managed
to get the treasure aboard her unOb-
served. | have never had to work since.
But" he added after some moments, IL
would not undergo that experience again
for all the gold that Spanish buccaneers
ever handled"
"And did the spirits allow you to take
it unmolested?' l asked, anxious to heaI
his reply.
No" he said, "no; had trouble
enough, but had to keep faith with the
unhappy girl that saved my life. would
have died rather than leave a real"
''Have you heard from her since?' !
asked curiously.
81 can't talk about that" he replied
'or shall give myself away. | am writ
ing her life. ."-Neio Orleans Picdyune.
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A CHILDLESS HOME.
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