The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-05-10


full Of the possibilities Of the keenest
enjoyment Of life, languished ia the
vile bondage Of slavery. The thought
burned in his mind like living Ere, and
he experienced the depth Of despair.
Yet to become possessed of the ring
were easy now that she could make no
resistance. To enter the vault, to lift
the lid from the casket and slip the
ring from her hand would be the work
of few moments. Then he would be
free-frec as his master-foreyer after.
Alec,s hair Strengthened and stood
endwise upon his head, the dew of ter
ror burst forth and trickled down his
face, his knees trembIed, aud his gorge
rose in s. very collapse and ecstasy of
fear. He could notl And yet-and yet.
Without his own voiition, not know
ing whittier he was going, Alec found
himself wandering in the neighbor-
hood of the big tombs that loomed
white aud shining in the watery light
of young moon. The moss-hung ee-
dars east their trembling shadows
across it, and the entrance was in fit
full darkness. Leaning against the big
bronze gates, he peered into the dusky
recess from which food of cool, moist
air, heavy with the scent Of fading
flowers, greeted him. The gates yield
ing, swayed noiselessiy sjar, and as one
in trance the slave passed in. Asone
/ in a trance he paused beside the flower
strewn casket and with set lips and
staring eyes began TO turn the silver
screws that held the heavy lid i'm place.
4 For several moments be labOred as
swiftly and silently as soft, gray
shadow, the lid was raised and the
coveted treasure lay sparkling with
! mocking brilliance on the waxen
hand. Almost swooning with terror
and superstitious dread, with staring
eyes and mumbling lips, as though
frozen TO the very heart with terror,
he took the dead hand in his aud IS
sayed to slip the ring therefrom. Here
an awful difficulty confronted him, the
finger, slightly swollen, held the jewel
immovably in place. 1t would not
yield. In a frenzy Of fear his hand
sought his pocket, small knife. was
pulled forth, and before he himself
/. fully realized the awful sacrilege of the
act, he had severed the finger adorned
with the ring completely from the
waxen handl
A slight wind sprung up, rustling the
cedars and stirring the shadows east
within the tomb. The bronze gates
stirred thereby fell together with a soft
click. In very panic Of terror the
man fied-never pausing to replace the
eofiin lid or close the gates. Flying in
the very abandon Of fear, he reached
his cabin and lay crcuehing for many
hours IN the far;hest corner, his body
in the last throes OF endurance, his
| mind tottering almost 10 It's fall.
The judge sat alone in his library.
All but he had sought their ROOMS to
ind what repose a new and poignant
grief admitted, but he desired no rest.
His lamp burned dimly on the table,
the fire fell low in the CRATE, and wa
terry CLEANS, the first harbingers of the
new day, fIickered through the un-
drawn window drapery. His body was
weary, his heart sore, and this new Wis
itation seemed almost too much of s0r-
row for his heart to bear. In the still
est hour, just before the dawn, the
Judge was disturbed by soft tapping.
Again and again, but still it failed to
rouse him from his lethargy of woe,
Tnen voice, softly plaintive, insistent,
reached his ear and penetrated his con-
seiousness:
"Fatherl Oh, falherr'
The Judge flew to the window and
threw wide the sash, and the sight that
met his view almost paralyzed his heart
with mingled emotions, for before him
on the grass stood Evelina, the daugh.
ter for whose death he was even then
bowed in grief, returned from the very
tomb to lift from his heart the awful
load of sorrow her untimely death hac
caused.
"Oh, father, let me enter, am chill
ed, chilledr' and, with quick move
ment, she stood within the room. Will
trembling hands the judge raked th'
remnants of the fire together and heap
ed fuel thereon. A bright blaze sprung
Up and warmed the strange couple be
fore it into new life. The judge press
ed wine upon his child, and with tear
aud laughter begged her to assure hin
that it was indeed herself, so miracu
T lousy returned, restored to his arm
from the very tomb.
at is indeed Evelina. But why die
; you place me in the tomb, dear? Di'
r YOU believe that / was really dead?''
, "You seemed dead. indeed, poo
child, and your mothers heart is well
nigh broken"
r "But we win mend ii again. Come
' let US go 10 her.
, Rather will summon her, that "
! may both hear the wonderful story c
how YOU came back to life"
II do not think that / ever quit
: ted life, father. 1t could not be. Ga
there" she said, with gesture towar
: the tomb, 'my consciousness at frs
Y was of ch ill wind blowing upon me
2 and a sensation of eold-awful, death
: like. Then it seemed that some on
' took my hand, and a sensation of pai
n thrilled me through. l awoke fully
f and, sitting up, could not realize m
n surroundings. ] was in the tomb; M
y grave clothes were my bridal costume
a but could not understand. Then / n
i membered had been i'll, perhaps ha
A died; / was dead, yet conscious of m
n position-alone at night in the vaui
a Then / thought that although disen
e bodied spirit would visit my HON
Ir and see you and my mother, perhaI
e making you understand that ! wishe
/ you to be resigned"
i The fire and the wine had warme
the girls life current to renewed actor
! and down the shimmering folds of tn
d satin gown a thin red thread was no
h flowing. With Mortified glance ht
4 father caught her hand, exclaimin;