Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-02-24

IuuS dFOIu my gaze.
'Oh, no, no, mol" she moaned, wild
ly, not Fabio!-no, it cannot be
; Fabio is dead-dead! And you! 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-
ful wonder. She attempted to arise
from her crouching position; I ap-
preached, and assisted her to do so
with ceremonious politeness. She
trembled violently at my touch, and
slowly staggering to her feet, she
pushed back her hair from her fore
head and regarded me fxedly 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
repulsive object, and broke into a low
wailing sound like that of one in
bitter physical pain. I laughed scorn-
fully.
We'll, do you know me at last?'
] cried. "'Tis true I have somewhat
altered. This hair Of mine was black,
if you remember-it is white enough
now, blanched by the horrors of a.
living death such as you cannot i'm
agine, but which," and 1 spoke more
slowly and impressively, you may
possibly experience ere long. Yet in
spite of this change l think you know
me! That is we'll. [ 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, mol" she muttered, again,
incoherently-'i cannot be! 1t must
be false-it is some vile plot-it can
not be true! True! Oh Heaven! it
would be too cruel too horrible!"
| strobe UP to her. 1 drew her hands
away from her eyes and grasped them
tightly in my own.
Hear mel" I said, in clear, de-
cisive tones. II have kept silence, God
knows, with long patience, but now
now l can speak. Yes! you thought
me dead-you had every reason to
think so, you had every proof to be-
lieve so. How happy my supposed
death made you! What a relief it
was to you!-what an obstruction re-
moved from your path! Butt was
buried alive!" She uttered faint
Shrek of terror, and looking wildly
about her, strove to wrench her hands
from my clasp. l held them more
closely. ''Ay, think of it, wife of
mine!-you to whom luxury has been
second nature, think of this poor body
Strengthened in a helpless swoon,
packed and pressed into yonder coffin
and nailed UP fast, shut out from the
blessed light and air, as one would
nave thought, foreveri Who could
have dreamed that life still fingered
in me-life strong enough to split
asunder the boards that inclosed me,
and leave them shattered, as you see
them now!"
She shuddered and glanced with
aversion toward the broken coffin, and
again tried to loosen her hands from
mine. She looked at me with burn
ing anger in her face
Let me go!" she painted. Mailman!
liar!-let me go!"
1 released her instantly and stood
erect, regarding her fxedly.
I am no madman," I said, COM
posedly; ''and you know as well as
| do that l speak the truth. When I
escaped from that coffin found myself
prisoner in this very vault-this
house of my persisted ancestry, where
II old legends could be believed the
very bones that are stored up here
would start and Tecoil from your
presence as pollution to the dead,
whose creed was honor"
The sound of her sobbing breath
ceased suddenly; she fixed her eyes
On mine; they glittered defiantly.
For one long awful night" 1 re-
sumed, Il suffered here. I might
have staryed-or persisted of thirst. /
thought no agony could surpass what
endured! But l was mistaken: there
was sharper torment in store for
me. l discovered a way of escape:
with grateful tears 1 thanked God for
my rescue, for liberty, for life; Oh,
what fool was I! How could II
dream that my death was so desired!
how could know that 1 had better
far have died than have returned to
such a home!"
Her lips moved, but she uttered no
word; she shiveIed as though with
intense cold. l drew nearer to her.
Perhaps you doubt my story?"
She made no answer. A rapid i'm
pulse of fury possessed me.
Speak" l cried, fiercely, cor by
the God above us I will make you,
Speak, and l drew the dagger 1 car
rled from my vest. Speak the truth
for once-'twill be difficult to you who
love lies-but this time l must be
answered! Tell me, do you know me?
Do you or do you not believe that l
am indeed your husband-your living
husband, Fabio Romani?"
She gasped for breath. The sight
of my Infatuated tigure-the glitter of
the naked steel before her eyes-the
suddenness of my action, tie horror
of her position, all terrified her into
speech. She flung herself down be-
lore me in an attitude of abject en-
treaty. She found her voice at last.
Mercy! mercy" she cried. ooh,
God! you will not kill me? Anything
anything but death; l am too young