Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-02-24

from me, btDLu DrlDIt AcI iliu pr
guised! As though some defacing
disease had swept over her at my
words and looks, 50 her bsluty sud-
denly vanished Het iae bscam
drawn and pinched and almost old
her lips turned blue her eyes grew
glazed, and strained themselves from
their sockets to stare at me; her very
hands looked Thin ana ghost-like as
she raised them upward with a
frantic appealing gesture; there was
sort Of gasping rattle in her throat
she drew herself away from me
with a conclusive gesture Of aversion,
and crouched on the floor as though
she sought 10 sink through it and
thus avoid my gaze.
"Oh, no, no. mol" she moaned, wild
~, not Fabio-no It cannot be-
Pablo IS doad-deld, And youl you
are mad! this Is some cruel jest OF
yours some trick to Brighten mel"
She broke off breathlessly, and her
large, terrified eyes wandered to
mine again with a reluctant and aw-
iul wonder. She attempted to arise
from her crouching position; | ap-
preached, and assisted her to do 50
with ccremOnious politeness. She
trcmbled violently at my touch and
slowly staggering to her feet, she
pushed back her hair. from her fore
head and regarded me Gxedly with a
searching anguished look, FIRST Of
doubt, then OF dread, and lastly of
convinced and hopeless certainty. for
she suddenly covered her eyes with
her hands as though to shut out some
repuisiye object, and broke into a low
wailing sound like that OF one in
bitter physical pain ! laughed scorn-
fully.
We'll, do you know me at last?"
cried It's true / have somewhat
ALTERED. This hair Of mine was black
if you remember n IS white enough
now, blanched by the horrors OF a
living death such as you cannot i'm
agine, but which" and | spoke more
slowly and impressiyely, you may
possibly experience ere long. Yet in
spite Of this change | think you know
met That is well | am glad your
memory serves you thus fart"
A low sound that was half a sob
and half a cry broke from her.
"Oh, no. MOI" she muttered, again
incoherently-'it cannot be! 1t must
he false It is some vile plot--it can
not be true True! oh, Heaven it
would be too cruel too horriblel"
/ STROBE up to her drew her hands
away from her eyes and grasped them
tightly in my own.
Hear met" / said, in clear, de-
cisive tones. 81 have kept silence, God
knows, with a long patience, but now
now | can speak, Yes! you thought
me dead-yOu had every reason to
think So you had every proof to be-
Geve SO How happy my supposed
death made you, What a relief 1t
was 10 you! what an obstruction re-
moved from your PATH Butt was
buried alive! She uttered faint
shrek of terror, and looking wildly
about her, stroye 10 wrench her hands
from my clasp. | held them more
closely "Ay think of IT, wife Of
mne'-yo to whom luxury has been
second nature, think Of this poor body
Strengthened in helpless swoon.
packed and pressed into yonder coffin
ana nailed up fast shut out from the
blessed light and air. as one would
have thought. forever Who could
have dreamed that life still fingered
iu me-Iiie strong enough to split
asuuder the boards that inclosed me.
and leave them shattered. as You see
them now"
She sbuldored ANA glancad with
aversion toward the broken coffin. and
aslin tried 20 loosen her hands from
mime She looked All me with % burn
0Nn anger in her face
Pet nae -o'' she painted "Mldm9u'
Wr,-.lel me got"
Z released her instantly and stood
ose.t rrgardus her dNedly.
l gm no majmw." / said. com
a0d.y and you know us well as
do th1t I sroak lhe truth When
psd 'rm that coffin ] fourd myself
prisoner IN this very vault .his
nousc uf my persisted ancestry. where
NJ old laon3s coud 81 believed. tile
Very bo0.s that g.c stored ND here
WOULD star. and re oil from your