Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-02-22
CHAPTER xXXvI.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
Years have passed away since we related
Amine's suffcrings and cruel death; and
now once more we bring Philip Wander
decken on the scene. And during this
time, where has he beenS A lunatic-at
one time frantic, chained, coerced with
blows; at others, mild and peaceable.
Reason occasionally appeared to burst out
again, as the sun on a cloudy day, and
then it was again obscured. For many
years there was one who watched him
carefully, and lived in hope to witness his
return to u sane mind; he watched in sor-
row and remorse-he died without his de-
sires being gratif1ed. This was Father
Mathias
The cottage at Terneuse had long fallen
into ruins; for many years it waited the
return of its owners, and at last the heirs
at law claimed and recovered the SUBJ
stance of Philip Vanderdecken. Even the
fate of Anime had passed from the recol-
lection of most people; although her por-
trait over burning Goals, with her crime
, announced beneath it, still hangs-as is
the custom in the church of the inquisi.
ton = attracting, from it's expressive
beauty, the attention of tho most careless
passersby.
But many, many years have rolled away
Philips hair is white-his once power.
full frame is broken down-and he appears
much older than he really is. He is now
sane; but his vigor is gone. Weary of life,
all he wishes for is to execute his mission
and then to welcome death.
The relic has never been taken from
him: he has been discharged from the lu.
natic asylum, and has been provided with
the means of returning to his country
Alas! he has now no country-no home
nothing in the world to induce him to re-
main in it. All he asks is-to do bis duty
and to die.
The ship was ready to sail for Europe
and Philip Vanderdecken went on board
hardly caring whittier he went. To re
turn to Terneuse was not his object; h.
could not bear the idea Of visiting tn,
scene of 80 much happiness and so much
misery. Amine's form was engrayen OF
his heart, and he looked forward with i'm
patience to the time when he should b.
summoned to join her in the land Of spirits
He had awakened as from dream, aft
er SO many years of alteration of intellect
He was no longer the sincere Catholic tina
he had been; for he never thought of re
ligion without his Amine's cruel fate be
ing brought to his recollection Still h,
chung on to the relio-he believed in tha
and that only. 1t was his god-hi
creed-his everything-the passport fol
himself and for his father into the mex
world-the means whereby he should joir
his Amine-and for hours would he re
main holding in his hand that object *
Withdrawing upon it-rsoalling ever,
| important event in his life, from the dealt
| Of his poor mother, and his first sight o
Amino, to the last dreadful scene. 1t wa
to him journal Of his existence, and o,
1t were fixed all his hopes for the future.
"Whenl oh when is it to be accomplish
cd, " was the constant subject of his rev
cries. blessed indeed will be the do,
whom leave this world Of hate, and seel
that other in which the weary are a
rest. !"
The vessel on board of which Phil,
was embarked as a passenger was tho Nos
ira Sonora da Monte, a brig Of 800 tons
bound for Lisbon. The captain was a,
old Portuguese, full of superstition, an,
fond of arraok-s fondness rather unusua
with the people of his nation. They sailet
from Goa, and Philip was standing abaft
and sadly contemplating the spire Of tn
cathedral, in which he had last parte,
with his wife, when his elbow was touch
ed, and he turned round.
Fellow passenger againT' said q wei
known voice-it was that Of the pilo
Schriften.
There was no alteration in the man.
appearance; he showed no marks of de
Ginning years, his one eye glarsd as kesnl,
az ever.
Philip started, not only at the sight o
the man, but at the "reminiscences whicl
his unexpected appearance brought to hi
mind. 1t was but for second, and h
was again calm and pensive.
"You here again, SchriftenS" observe,
Philip. II trust your appearance forebode
the accomplishment of my task"
| Perhaps 1t does" replied the pilot
we both are weary"
Philip made no reply; he did not ever
ask Sohriften In what manner he had es
capped from the fort; he was Indifferent
about 1t. for he thought that the man hat
a charmed life.
Many are the vessels that have beer
wrecked, Philip Vanderdecken, and man,
the souls summoned to their account b,
meeting with your fathers ship while yol
nave been SO long shut up" observed tn,
pilot
May our next meeting with him b,
more fortunate-may 1t be the lastl, re-
piled Philip.
NO, moi rather may he fulfill his doom
and sail till the day of judgmentl,' replied
the pilot, with emphasis.
Vile caitihl have forebodinR that
you will not have your detestable wish
Away!-leave me! or you shall find, that
although this head is blanohod by misery,
this arm has still some power"
Schriften scowled as he walked away;
he appeared to have some fear of Philip,
although 1t was not equal to his hate. he
now resumed his former attempts OF stir.
ring up the ships company against Phil.
Up, declaring that he was Jonah, who
would occasion the loss of the ship, and
that he was connected with the Flying
Dutchman. PhiliI very soon observed
that he was avoided; and he rssorted to
counter statements, equally injurious I
Schriften, whom he declared to be a de
mon. The appearance of Schriften was s
much against him, while that of Philip
on the contrary, was so prepossessing, tha