The state herald., 1897-04-16
while I spoke found a little dark

with my pick and shovel in hand,
which | had caught up as we passed
by the clubhouse where / had kepl
them. 1t was terrible work, but in less
time than / had ever used spade be-
fore the newlymade grave was opened,
the coffin rifled of its precious contents,
which Rex and carried to our home,
wrapped up in huge shawl which /
had brought for the purpose.
Eth, my! But It was the uncanniest
nights work that ever | did since the
hour | was born. We laid the body on
my bed, and we chafed the cold, white
hands, and listened In vain at the
pulseless heart. But l saw no sign of
life. She was as beautiful as u figure
of alabaster and as lifcless, for aught
| could see, but Rex declared that she
was not dead.
SO. as II was necessary that |
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
and calling upon her TO open her love
ly eyes to see her lover by her But
had no hope that anything but some
fearful trouble would come OF it, and
maryelinB and terrified IA to what
might be the end Of the business, |
hastened away to the work that await
ed me.
But they were right, and, like a
stupid old man, | was wrong; for
when | returned the trance-like sleep
was broken, and the soul had awak-
ened within that apparently lifcless
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 to
realize the horror of all that had hap
pened.
An! that was a brave girl. and n
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 | must cut II short,
for the night is coming on. To be
brief, then. She had never told Rex
half, or indeed n tenth-part OF what
she suffered with those wicked rela-
tions OF hers, especially the cousin who
wanted to marry her.
AT last their persecution reached a
point when she could bear no more,
and she discovered plot by which she
wne IN hn hnrripI nwau tn Itnt,.
known TO any one, and she knew well
that she would never see Rex again
in this world II 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 communl-
cation with the outer world cut OF
Even her maid was in the pay Of her
relatives. as she knew, but the girl
seemed to love her personally, and,
driven to the last extremity. she found
herself Obliged to make conadant OF
her, and TO trust her life to this girls
| discretion,
"She proved worthy, and gave her
entire assistance to her young mistress.
| They concocted the desperate plan,
which, by means Of some mysterious
Italian drug. they managed to carry
out, with such result as | have de-
scribed; and while 1 was listening to
a story more wonderful than any ro-
nance had ever read this same faith
full servant Joined us
"I found the door open she said
| to the Signorlnn, and hearing voices
knew all was well, and came directly
here
But II was easy 10 see from the
young lady's agitation that all wag not
we'll and | guessed that II some
change was not coming soon she was
in danger OF dying in earnest Cysr cx-
element and consequent exhaustion.
My mind was speedily made m. /
knew our minister 10 bee one good man
picked out OF ten thousand, and was
soon at his bedside telling him the
whole story while { helped him to
dress.
Never have | seen man more
dazed: but he soon took In the Hitua-
tion. and helped us out Of our pcrplex-
lty He went with me directly, aud a
special license was obtained at once by
Rex, so that next day the young couple
were married and driven By me lin the
minister's ono-horso 0aTriagel TO II dis
tant railway station
"Oi course. I need not say that Maria.
the maid. accompanied them. She had
proved herself Invaluable IN bringing
clothes TO her mistress and a box Of
valuable jewels,
"Thc next day thcFo was great hue
and cry over the disappearance OF
Maria. whom the Italians called n thief
and a monster OF lngrllitude; but they
mover suspected the real onse Of the
girls running away Al this happened
years ngo. alr; but hear from my
nephew now that his wife Is at length
30 strong and well that they are going
10 make their appearance before the
Italian cousin, and claim the Signor-
lna's great fortune, which that villain
had been enjoying ever since HIS re-
turn to Italy
New Photography IN ,oiorH.