Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-04-15

$3.50 ~A0Ae NY CONN WITHIN twelve
hours OF my burial, and all may yet
% well. You will not fail me, dearest.
! read this extraordinary message
over more than once before 1 took in its
meaning. but as 1t flashed on me, saw
as wen as Rex how little time we had
70 lose. and forestalled his words.
Come on, in heavens name!
whispered. 1T must be close on to IL
O'CLOCK, and as safe as it will ever be
ior such work. Fortunately It's a
pltcn-Dlack night, and all the moon
tnere was has gone hours ago. Come
on!
While I spoke found little dark
.antern' and we were already descend
ing the stairs, and next moment we
were stealing through the churchyard,
Win my pick and shovel in hand,
wn'cn had caught up as we passed
Wy the clubhouse where I had kept
tnem. 1t was terrible work, but in less
.lme than had ever used spade be-
lore inc newly-made grave was opened,
tue conn rifled of its precious contents,
wn1cn Rex and carried to our home,
wrapped up in huge shawl which
nad brought for the purpose.
Eth. my! But it was the uncanniest
nights work that ever 1 did since the
hour was born! We laid the body on
my bed, and we chafed the cold, white
nanos, and listened in vain at the
pulseless heart. But saw no sign of
lie. She was as beautiful as a figure
OF alabaster and as lifeless, for aught
could see, but Rex declared that she
was not dead.
SO, as 1t was necessary that I
should restore the empty coffin and fill
IN the grave again, was Obliged to
leave, him there, on his knees beside
her, wildly kissing the poor cold hands
ana calling upon her to open her love-
~ eyes to see her lover by her. But
l mad no hope that anything but some
fearful trouble would come of it, and
marveling and terrified as to what
might be the end of the business, I
hastened away to the work that await
ed, me.
But they were right, and, like a
stupid old man, was wrong; for
when I returned the trance-like sleep
was broken, and the soul had awak-
ened within that apparently lifeless
form, and the lovers sat holding each
others hands, her head resting on his
shoulder, while he sought to calm the
fearful agitation which had taken pos.
session of her now that she began tc
realize the horror of all that had hap.
pened.
"Ah! that was brave girl, and 8
story-writer might fill volume with
her history and all she went through
In those few months from the time
of her first meeting with Rex till this
awful night. But I must cut it short
for the night is coming on. To be
brief, then. She had never told Rel
half, or indeed tenth-part of what
she suffered with those wicked rela.
lions of hers, especially the cousin who
; wanted to marry her.
"At last their persecution reached 8
point when she could bear no more
and she discovered plot by which she
was to be hurried away to Italy, un.
known to any one, and she knew vel
that she would never see Rex again
in this world if this plan should be car.
ried out. She was in despair.
"The Italian saw that she had dis.
covered the plot, and she was immedi.
ately locked in her room, all communi
cation with the outer world cut off
Even her maid was in the pay of hel
relatives, as she knew, but the cir
seemed to love her personally, and
driven to the last extremity, she found
herself obliged to make, confidant .o
her, and to trust her life to this girls
discretion.
"She proved worthy, and gave hel
entire assistance to her young mistress
They concocted the desperate plan
which, by means Of some mysteriou.
Italian drug, they managed to carry
out. with such result as I have de-
scribed; and while was listening tt
a story more wonderful than any TO
nance had ever read. this same faith
. full servant Joined us.
"I found the door open,' she sale
to the Signorina, and hearing voices
knew all was we'll, and came directly
here
"But it was easy to see from the
Young lady's agitation that all was moi
we'll. and guessed that if some
,, change was not coming soon she was
in danger of dying in earnest from ex.
citement and consequent exhaustion
> MY mind was speedily made up.
knew our minister to be one good mar
picked out of ten thousand, and I was
soon at his bedside, telling him the
whole story while helped him tt
dress.
"Never have I seen a man more
dazed: but he soon took in the situa'
ton. and helped us out of our perplex
ity. He went with me directly, and {
special license was obtained at once by
Rex, so that next day the young couple
were married and driven by me Tin the
minister's one-horse carriage) to dis