The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-28


promises of Scripture; a Hast prayer,
and then the coffin was borne out to the
hearse. Mrs. Ames followed It, lean
ing upon her husbands arm and her
sons. Frank Ames-a Sall. dark and
rather handsome man, with Il deeply
furrowed bruw-seemed to be much
moved. Indeed, he showed more grief
than either of his parents.
Few followed thc hearse to the ceme-
terry. 1t was a bitter day Dr. Max
we'll openly advised that only those men
should go whose presence was aDso-
lutely necessary. AS he was not one of
these. he emphasized his own advice by
refraining from the ordeal. He in
sisted upon taking Anna Warren to her
home, and he exhausted much per-
suasion upon her father, who was obdu-
rate and would brave the weather
The grave had been dug through the
soil which the cold had turned to stone
into this narrow house" the coffin was
lowered, though Mrs. Ames had fallen
upon her knees in the snow to beg for
q last look in her sons face Samuel
Ames would have yielded, violating a
direct promise which he had given to
Dr. Maxwell, but Frank, though terri
biy excited by this painful scene, pre-
served his coOlness sufficiently to con-
troll the course Of events, until a new
and surprising influence changed all
n stranger had been observed among
the little party in the cemetery. He
was man OF middle age, plainly
dressed, and he seemed ITO knC,w no one
except boy named Horace Riddle,
with whom he stood apart. The boy
came OF one of the poorest families in
the town and was known as a ne'er-do-
well, which facts made his companion
OF less interest. No one gave him more
than passing glance
But just as the coffin touched the bot
tom Of the grave this man stepped for
ward.
Il sincerely ask your pardon" he
said FOR interfering in a matter with
which | have no right to concern my
self; but i it is at all practicable, /
would advise doing as this good lady
requests
There was that in his tone which cX-
cited a dreadful curiosity. 1t was 50
evident that he held something in re-
serve.
"Why?" cried a half dozen men at
once.
Because" said the stranger, this
boy informs me that he saw Edward
Ames alive in this town yesterday"
The boy instantly spoke up and con-
tirmed this extraordinary statement.
ii is needless to describe the conster-
nation which these words caused. Men
lost control of themselves. The coffin
was rudely dragged out of the grave.
Rev. Mr.. Warren and Frank Amcs
pleaded in vain for reasonable inVesli-
cation. Everybody else cOunseled the
immediate opening of the coffin. And
the stlangest part of the whole situa-
tiOn was that Horace Riddles word was
not worth penny in the town. If he
had told his story without the backing
of this mysterious stranger, nobody
would have listened.
Seeing that nothing could be done to
quell this excitement, and that Mrs.
Ames' agitation was rapidly approach
ing the point where human nature
would endure no more, the pastor gave
his sanction to the opening of the cof-
fin, he himself assisting.
The outer wooden lid was easily re-
moved. There was a loud cry from
those who were bending over the coffin.
The metal sheath was revealed, and
glance showed that it had been cut and
wrenched.
1--WE shall find no body here! cried
one of the men.
At the same moment three Others
lifted the metal lid which was scarce
ly fastened at all.
Yes. There's body here. He's
here, poor fellow" exclaimed he who
had spoken before.
The body was covered with an ordi-
nary white sheet. 1t was gently with
drawn, revealing the face of one who,
through the frailty Of her mortal
nature had transgressed, but had come
home at last-the face of Charlotte
Warren.
ITO be Continued)