The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-08-21
BACK INTO THE CRYPT.
NJ. MATH1As's STRANGE RUsE TO TEST THE
FIDELITY OF HIS WIFE.

When they heard of the death of M.
Matthias in the little city Of Lyre-sur-Hs,
there was feeling of great surprise. A
man scarcely 40 years old, robust, straight
as an arrow, married only two years to a
young and charming girl he adored, all
exclaimed, "What mischance!"
Naturally, now that NJ. Matthias was
dead, they only discussed his virtues
while living. He was no longer called a
skinflint and miser. They even forgot
the story of his famous marriage, which
was not at all to his credit. Only a few
recalled the vague dislike this great man
had always inspired with his sly, treach-
erous ways, or the strange stories that,
rich and retired from business, he en-
ployed his leisure hours in concocting and
manipulating poisonous drugs, with
which he experimental upon dogs and
animals. But now these are idle tales.
lie is dead. Peace to his soul.
In carefully rejecting upon his death,
was it so very extraordinary Evidently
NJ. Matthias had presentiment of his de.
mise. He had but lately constructed a
family chapel in the cemetery, which
awaited his remains. Moreover. for
long time he had appeared unquiet and
restless, wandering around his house as il
suspicious Of mysterious robbers. For
whole weeks he would shut himself up in
his laboratory, and the chimney would
roar and flame all night. "Premonitory
symptoms of cerebral excitement" said
DIR. Dabarre, (which will suddenly end
in fatal apoplexy."
Well. to be brief, NJ. Matthias had a
magnificent funeral. Scores of the
population attended him to his last
resting place. But must confess there
were many dry eyes. When the great
oak coffin was lowered into the crypt Of
the funeral chapel it seemed truly mon
umental. Two men Of his size could
have slept in it easily.
On returning from the funeral, every
body was saying, Il wonder what the
charming widow Of NJ. Matthias will do?"
Now, to tell the truth, NJ. Matthias was
not dead at all.
Two hours after the ceremony you
could have witnessed strange scene in
the underground vault, where the bier
had been placed.
A little sharp sound was heard, like
the click of spring; the coffin opened
like cupboard. NJ. Matthias raised up,
stretching like man just awakened
from sleep.
A dim light from a grating in the
upper part Of the wall enabled you to see
NJ. Matthias step from his coffin and rub
his legs, which were little cramped.
Otherwise he felt very well, very COM
Portable, indeed. The narcotic potion he
had swallowed, after careful measure
mept, had produced the exact effect he
desired. They had believed him dead,
had buried him; so far, so good.
For long time NJ. Matthias had taken
every pecaution ia preparing for this
event. The vault in the chapel had been
constructed with the most wonderful in
genuity, workmen had been brought
from Paris to build it, secret places ar
ranged for suitable clothing, eatables,
and few bottles of good wine, cool and
fresh, as you may we'll suppose.
By this time NJ. Matthias realized that
nothing hollows the stomach more than
being buried: 80 comfortably seating
himself on his coffin, he complacently
ate his rations and drank to the future.
Now it is time to explain why M.
Matthias is six feet under ground of his
own free will.
As always, there is woman in the
case.
M. Matthias, formerly druggist, en-
riched by pills and cataplasms, had fallen
in love with the niece of the receiver of
taxes for the city Of Lyre-sur-Ys. He
quickly proposed to the young girl, and
she as quickly refused him, which rem
dered him as madly in love as an imbe-
cile-pardon-as man 40 years old who
had never been in love before. Treacher-
GUS and dishonest by nature, he in.
veigled the receiver of taxes into plot
so skillful the unhappy man at the end
of the year, knowing the government
Golfers were not intact, seriously con-
templatsd suicide. Then NJ Matthias ap.
peared as savior, imposed his little con.
ditions, and the niece sacrificed herself
for the uncle who had always been as
a father to her, although she loved and
was fiancee to a young notary Of a
neighboring city.
She, unhappy victim, submitted to all
the consequences Of this unfortunate
marriage. But NJ. Matthias had the con-
viction that she hated him; from that it
was easy to believe she deceived him
and this suspicion soon degenerated into
positive monomania.
His wife never went out, no one ever
visited the house. No matter, M. Matthias
felt that only his own obtuseness, his
want of finesse, prevented him from dis
covering her infidelity.
Then this luminous idea surged in his
brain. He would simulate journey, not
to Havre or Versailles, like the husband
in comedy, but longer journey, from
which it was far more difficult to return,
But he would return, safe and sound, one
OF these nights and confound his l.nfaith-
full spouse.
He had given himself three days to re-
main in the grave. Thinking of his
nearly consummated plan with great sat-
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