Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-02-19

telirium which had come upon me and
had me taken care Of. 1t was two weeks
since the day last In my memory. read
that in the paper. There, also, 1 read
this paragraph;
"The body found In the woods at -
has been identified by the garments and
some personal peculiarities as that OF Cas-
per Athwold, a wealthy citizen, who has
been missing many days. His funeral
takes place this morning"
dropped the paper in amazement. My
own name-the record Of my death Then
burst into a bitter laugh. understood
1t. The beggar whom had clothed had
aied upon the road He II was who was
that day to be buried under my name.
At first 1t seemed merely cruel joke.
Then the memory of my will and the let
ter written to Kate Norman flashed upon
me- 1 must reach home and prove myself
living man before it was too late.
Weak as 1 was, arose and dressed my
SELF and, giving my address to the land
lord left the hotel for the depot, but 1
reached 1t only in time to find the train
gone. Another hour or so must pass.
They were ages to me. She should not
read that letter while lived.
At last was off-fairly on my way. In
the dark of the evening alighted at the
depot and hurried homeward.
There 1 should find my servants, and,
probably, the lawyer, who would find it
his duty to secure everything for the flu
ture hcircss.
They would not, 1 hoped, read the will
so soon. Yet it was customary. If this
had been done, how should l act, how
speak? Only a 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 1 was, to
reach the house without delay. 1t was
dark, and l mot no one.
In moment l 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 l saw Kate
Norman, with letter in her hand, glide
through the opposite door The will had
been read. Before 1 could interpose she
would have read the letter also.
What should l do-return as l had
come, change my name, dwell where no
one knew ne? 1t seemed that this were
better than to return to the gaping town
folks nine days wonder Worst of all to
meet Katel
l turned from the window and hurried
away, but was still very, very weak and
soon my strength gave way. 1t was just
as l 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 welcome.
l cast myself down in the long grass.
The crickets chirped all about me. A bird
somewhere gave shrek now and then
1 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.
l heard the church clock strike 9. II
startled me to think an hour had flown
when the same clock struck 10. lifted
up my head to listen and saw figure
gliding up the path-a woman's figure.
1t came straight on and cast itself or
the grave by which l sat-the grave be
meath which the bcggar lay whom they
had taken for myself-cast itself upon it
sobbing wildly.
The shadows hid me. l gazed unseer
upon the lpourner. Who was itF Som,
one who had mistaken the spot, no doubt
She lifted UP her head In the moonlight
l saw her face 1t was Kate. Had pity
brought her there? Could pity make {
woman weep soy l drew nearer. She
spoke 1t was my name she uttered.
"Oh, Casper" she cried, "shall l never
hear your dear voice? Can l never tel
you how loved you? oh, Casper, Cas-
per-"
Silence with the cricket's chirp amid it
and the bird : scream. Dawn broke upor
my soul Then | stood beside her, hold
ing her close and fast
do not fear, do not tremble," l cried
at is n living Casper who comes to you
and no ghost. Oh, Kate Kate, you gav'
tender words to the clay you though
mne VIII you bless me with them liv
ingY'
She hid her face in my bosom and would
not look up-would only cling to me will
her soft, white hands and sob.
And there we stood alone together amiC
the graves, l content to stand there, he
hand in mine, her check upon my bosom
until the blessed evening time heightened
itself into eternity.
But at last she told me this, that of al
men l was to her the BEST and when l
wonderingly, asked her how l might dar
dream that this could be, she made onl
the womans answer because l Low
you.
In the moonlight, on that happy night
we went forth from the old graveyard int
the world of life, hand in hand, as W
have gone together ever since -Londol
Sun.