The Press., 1894-01-18

CHAPTER III. awoke in the morning with start. Some one was knocking wildly. I leap ed out of bed and rushed to the door. It was Pedro. The old man was trem bling violently, and his features were pallid.
 "Don Ignace! Don Lgnace!' he ex- claimed.
 I rushed past him, down the stairs and to the don s room. It was tenant less, nor had his couch been occupied. I hastened to the library. Sitting in his armchair near his desk was Don Ig- mace. His head lay back against the cushion of the chair. His eyes were wide open.
 Don Ignace! Don Ignace!'' He moved not 1 raised his hand. It was warm, but fell helpless when l. let it go. He was breathing heavily, but could not speak. l poured glass of brandy and with great difficulty got a portion down his throat. 1 was chaf- ing his hands and trying to arouse him when" Grandpa! grandpa!' and my dear wife was on her knees beside him. l caress did not move, though the eyes rested lovingly upon her. She kissed his pale lips, but he for a time uttered no sound, but glanced from Coreta to me, then back to her. Finally his breast heaved, great drops of sweat stood out on his brow and from between his lips came the words, Boy, my boy !" flew up the stairs and snatched little Ignace from his slumbers, back again and laid him across the old man knees. His eyes seemed to devour him.
 "Grandpa, grandpa, 'isped my dar- ling boy.
 Then came the words, half inarticu- late My children, it is paralysis. God bless-remember, Gland; it's there. .''
 And his eyes were directed to the desk. There was q written sheet direct ed to me. 1 raised it from the desk. His eyes followed my hand.
 "Yes, leave Chanson have seen a vis-vision. Chanson will be swal- swallowed up by the waters that sur round it.
 He made one effort to raise his feeble frame and sank deeper in the chair. A gasp, and Don lgnace had joined his ancestors. 1 bore my weeping wife and little Ignace from the room.
 'Coreta, darling, we must bear up under this great bereavement.
 "Oh, Claud! Claud! Now l have only you and our boy
 The written instrument left by the don w;ls as follows:
 Dr7A (tI hot lo;H mains in the vault, do not delay, but leave the island at once. If not, trembe for your safe ty. Do not permit Coreta to visit the vault want priest. Read the simple burial service over my remains, and you and Pedro, Juan and Manuel can lay me in the vault. feel that my time is short. Goodby God bless you. Coreta and my boy.
 IGNACE DE FLOREMO.
 Pedro was heartbrOken, for he had spent lifetime in tine service of the don. The day after his death we pre- pared his body for it's last resting place.
 My wife, with little Ignace, had talk en last look at the features of the dead. l read the simple English burial service over him in their presence and that of the servants, and that night we bore the body of Don Ignace down into the vault and laid him beside his father.
 Horror was depicted on the features of Manuel and Juan. Pedro was one who would have been surprised at noth- ing. After they had retired l was hours bearing the contents of the casket over which Martell, had so long held guard up to our room. 1 had to return many times, but at last had emptied it. On the empty casket l replaced the skele- t01, cl, ho o1o tho wall and left the vault forever.
 Up the ladder, the last of the jewels about my person, the lantern in my hand, showed back this last lever. The iron sheet closed to with clang. Going through the armory, 1 took last look at the somber array of old time weapons on the wall-weapons that had taken human life. As 1 reached the door two sabers fell to the floor. The rust on the blades, to my fancy looked like human gore. One of them rolled over twice. What caused it? "Ha, ha, ha, ha! The last of the De Flore- mos!'' Did 1 hear those words? l glanced around. The weapons on the walls seemed swinging to and fro. A large glass decanter fell from the side board and broke into dozens or pieces. "Ha, ha, ha, ha! The last of Chan son!" Was l paralyzed? 1 managed to insert the key in the lock. Were the flags above my head waving from the wall? Surely some one was pounding on the iron plate had just closed.
 "Ha, ha, ha, ha! Robber, robber, robber! The pirates cursel The pirates pJ1rSn1 Tal if I Tn l1o if f''
 Thank God, the key was turned. 1 passed out with a shudder, locked the door and was soon in our room.
 'Oh, Claud dearest, do not leave me again! But what ails you? You are trembling like a leaf and are. oh, so white!''
 Nothing, dear. I have but fulfilled part of the don s last wish. Tomor- row we will fulfill the rest. We will
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