The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-15

i Aad Ne tatsp osSal hws1 tw6 vsssi
6nee she III Id Is NJ insngS. ,sal
II thst n Ne papg. ThsrA also, ! read
"The body found In the woods at ----.
has been identified BY the garments and
some personal peou1lAfities a that Of Gas.
per Atbwold, wealthy oitisen, who hal
been missing many days. His funeral
takes place this morning"
dropped the paper in amazement. MY
own name-the record Of my DEATH Then
hurst into bitter laugh. understood
It, The beggar whom had clothed had
died upon the road. He it was who was
that day to be buried under my name.
At first 1t seemed merely a cruel joke.
ter written to Kate Norman flashed upon
me. must reach home and prove myself
living man before it was too late.
Weak as was, arose and dressed my.
self, and, giving my address to the land
lord, left the hotel for the depot, but I
reached 1t only in time to find the train
, gone. Another hour or 80 must pass.
They were ages to me- She should not
read that letter while lived. \.
At last I was off-fairly on my way. In
the dark OF the evening alighted OF the
depot and hurried homeward.
There should find my servants, and,
| probably, the lawyer, who would find II
his duty to secure everything for the fu-
ture heiress.
They would not, hoped, read the will
so soon. Yet 1t was customary. II this
had been done, how should I act, how
speskp Only little space lay between the
depot and my home. The railroad en-
croachments had been my mothers great
est troubles in the last years Of her life.
Now this fact enabled me, i'll as I was, to
reach the house without delay. 1t was
dark, and met no one.
In moment knew why. They had
assembled in the parlor to hear my will
read-for, through the Venetian shutters
long bars of light fell across the porch,
and looking In, unseen myself, saw Kate
Norman, with a letter in her hand, glide
through the opposite door The will had
been read. Before l could interpose she
would have read the. letter also.
What should I do-return as had
como, change my name dwell where no
ono knew me? 1t seemed that this were
better than to return to the gaping town
folks nine days wonder. Worst Of all to
meet Katel
turned from the window and hurried
away, but was still very, very weak and
soon my strength gave way. 1t was just
as / reached the churchyard. The road
was bare, with no resting place upon it,
but within the gates the soft grass tempt
ed me, and the willow branches seemed to
nod a welcome.
l cast myself down in the long grass
The crickets chirped all about me. A bird
somewhere gave shrek now and then.
l felt my blood on fire. 1 could not
stop thinking. l could not give tired ma
ture her way. was weary and worn be-
yond all description.
heard the church clock strike 8. 1t
startled me to think an hour had flown
when the same clock struck 10. l lifted
up my head to listen and saw figure
gliding up the path-a woman's figure.
1t came straight on and cast itself on
the grave by which l s;.t--the grave be-
meath which the beggar lay whom they
had taken for myself-cast itself upon 1t,
sobbing wildly.
The shadows hid me. gazcd unseen
upon the mourner. Who was it? Some
one who had mistaken the spot, no doubt.
She lifted up her head. In the moonlight
I saw her face. 1t was Kate. Had pity
brought her therep Could pity make q
woman weep SOP I drew nearer. She
spoke. 1t was my name she uttered.
ooh, CasE IT" she cried, "shall never
hear your dear voice? Can l never tell
you how loved you? Oh, Casper, Cas-
peril
Silence, with the cricket's chirp amid it,
and the bird s scream. Dawn broke upon
my soul. Then l stood beside her, hold
ing Aer close and fast.
"Do not fear, do not tremble,'' / cried
ut is u living Casper who comes to you
and no ghost. Oh, Kate, Kate, you gave |
tender words to the clay you Thought
mine! Will you bless me with them liv-
ingp'
She hid her face in my bosom and would
not look up-would only cling to me with
her soft, white hands and sob.
And there we stood alone together amid
the graves, content to stand there, her
hand in mine, her cheek upon my bosom,
until the blessed evening time heightened
itself into eternity.
But at last She told me this, that of all
men was To her tAe best, and when l,
wonderingly, asked hlr how I might dare
dream that this could be, she raae only
the wonan's answer, because l love
you"
In the moonlight, on that happy night, !
we went forth from the old graveyard into
the world of HE hard in hand, as we
have gone together ever sinoe.--IIondOn
Sun.