Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-08-01

coffin to the stone niche assiEne6 q to
it. and had turned my eyes awaS I'm
shuddering pain when I waa tai 10
look at the heavy oaken casket2 hung
with tattered velvet and ornamedted
with furnished silver, which contained
all that was left of my mother, who
died young. had felt sick and faint
and cold, and had only recovered N.Y.
self when stood out again In the Zee
air with the blue dome Of heayenaki HI
above me. And now was shut in che
same vault, a prisoner, with what hone
of escape? I reflected. The entrance
to the vault, 1 remembered, was liz.
red by heavy door of closely twlSted
iron; from thence a flight OF ssteep
steps led OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to
where, In all probability, I now WIS,
Suppose could in the dense darkness
feel my way to those steps and Climb
up to that door; of what avail? III was
locked, nay, barred, and as It wa1Ssit-
uated In a remote part of the burial
ground, there was no likelihood \ Of
even the keeper of the cemetery pass-
ing by 1t for days: perhaps not sfor
weeks. Then must starve? or die
of thirst? Tortured by these inaNrin-
ings rose up from the pavement and.
stood erect. My feet were bare, and
the cold stone ON which I stood chilled
me to the marrow. 1t was fortunate
for me, thought, that they had buried
me as a cholera corpse; they had left
me half clothed for fear of infection.
That is, I had my flannel shirt on and
my usual walking trousers Something
there was, too, round my neck; felt
it, and as did a flow Of sweet and
sorrowful memories rushed over me.
1t was slight gold chain. and on it
hung locket containing the portraits
of my wife and child. I drew &c out
In the darkness; covered 1t with pas-
sionate kisses and tears, the first I
lad shed since my death-like trance:
tears scalding and bitter welled Into
my eyes. Life was worth living while
Nina's smile lightened the worlM /
resolved to fight for existence, no mat
ter what dire horrors should be in
store for me- Nina, my love, my beau
tiful one! Her face cleaned out upon
me in the pestilent gloom Of the char
mel house; her eyes beckoned me- her
faithful eyes that were now, - felt
sure, drowned in weeping for my sup
posed death. l seemed to see my ten
der-hearted darling sobbing alone. in
the empty silence of the room that
had witnessed thousand embraces
between herself and me; her lovely
hair dishevelled; her sweet, pale face
haggared with bitterness Of grief!
Baby Stella, too, no doubt she would
wonder, poor innocent! why did not
come to swing her as usual under the
orange boughs. And Guido, brave and
true friend! 1 thought of him with
tenderness. l felt 1 knew how deep
and lasting would be his honest re-
gret for my loss. Oh, would leave
no means of escape untried; l would
find some way out of this grim vault.
How overjoyed they would all be to
see me again; to know that l was not
dead after all! What welcome I
should receive! How Nina would nestle
into my arms; how my little child.
would cling t,> me; how Guido would
clasp me by the hand! 1 smiled as I
pictured the scene of rejoicing at the
dear old villa-the happy home Sanctt-
fed by perfect friendship and faith
full love!
To Be CONTINUED . 5