The state herald., 1897-02-26

There. also. I read this paragraph:
THE body found In the woods at -
has been identified by the garments
and some personal peculiarities as that
OF Mr.. Casper Athwold wealthy citi-
zen, who has been missing many days.
His funeral takes place this morn
ing"
dropped the paper In amazement.
My own name-the record OF my death.
Then | burst into bitter laugh.
understood 1t. The beggar whom l had
clothed had died upon the road. He
1t 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
letter written to Kate Norman flashed
upon me. must reach home and prove
late.
Weak as | was, | arose and dressed
myself. and giving my address to the
landlord, left the hotel for the depot;
, but / reached 1t only In time to fnd
the train gone. Another hour or so
must pass. They were ages to me.
She would not read that letter while l
lived.
At last was off-fairly on my way
| In the dark Of the evening | alighted
at the depot and hurried homeward.
There should find my servants, and.
probably, the lawyer, who would find 1t
his duty to secure everything for the
future heiress.
They would not, hoped. read the
will 80 soon-yet It was customary. II
this had been DONE how should act?
How speak? Only a little space lay
between the depot and my home. The
railroad encroachments had been my
mothers greatest troubles in the last
| years of her life. Now this fact en-
abled me, III as was. to reach the
house without delay. 1t was dark.
and / met no one.
In a moment knew why They had
assembled in the parlor to hear my Will
read-for, through the Venetian shut
ters long bars Of light fell across the
porch: and looking in. unseen myself.
| l saw Kate Norman, with a letter In her
hand, glide through the opposite door.
| The will had been read. Before
could interpose she would have read
the letter also.
What should do?-return as had
come?-change my name?-dwell
where no one knew me? 1t seemed
that this were better than to return to
the gaping towns-folk's nine days
wonder. Worst OF all to meet Kate.
l turned from the window and hur-
ried away-but | was still weak. very
weak. and soon my strength gave way.
II was Just as reached the churchysrd.
The road was bare. with no resting
place upon It, but within the gates the
soft grass tempted 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 a shrek now and
then.
felt my blood on fire: I could not
stop thinking; could not give tired
nature her way. I was weary and
worn beyond all description.
l heard the church clock strike nine.
It startled me to think an hour had
flown when the same clock struck ten.
lifted up my head to listen, and saw
= figure gliding up the path-a wom-
ans figure.
II came straight on and cast itself
on the grave by which sat-the grave
beneath which the beggar lay whom
they had taken for myself-cast itself
upon 1t, sobblng wildly.
| The shadows hid me. gazed un-
seen upon the mourner. Who was it,
Some one who had mistaken the spot.
no doubt. She lifted up her head.
In the moonlight | saw her face. It
was Kate. Had pity brought her
there? Could pity make woman
weep so? drew nearer, She spoke:
It was my name she uttered.
"oh. Casper" she cried. shall | new
er hear your dear voice2 Can never
tell you how loved you? oh. Casper,
Cnsperr'
Silence. with the crIeket's chirp
amidst IT, and the birds scream. dawn
broke upon my soul. Then stood be-
side her, holding her close and fast.
do not fear. do not tremble." cried.
1T is n 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 living?"
She hid her face In my bosom. and
1 would not look up-would only cling
to me with her soft. white hands and
| sob.
And there we stood alone together
amidst the graves. ! content to stand
there, her hand In mine. her cheek up
on my bosom. until the blessed even
ing-time heightened Itself into eternity.
But at last she told mo this. that OF
all men was TO her the best: and
when ! wondcrlngly asked her how I
might dare dream that this could be.
she made only the womans answer.
because love you"
In tho moonlight. on that happy
night. we went forth from tho old
graveyard into the world OF life. hand
In hand. as We have gone together ever
since.-London Sun.