The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-08-15

 THE MAN WHO ROSE AGAIN"
  ...... by...." JOSEPH ROCKING Copyright, 1909, by George IL Doran Company

 her, while only a narrow valley lay between them. All sorts of strange questions haunted her. and especially was she anxious when her father cording to his promise. Every hour of the day she had expected him, and when, after the storm had passed, John Castlemaine drove away to dine at neighboring house, a feeling of utter loneliness fell upon her.
 But he had come now, and she hurried towards him. When she entered the room, she saw him only dimly. He was standing in a part of the room where dark shadows fell. She went towards him timidly, her heart beating wildly. She no longer thought of Leicester now; this man filled the whole horizon of her life. When she was within few feet of him, she stopped. Her heart be- came as heavy as lead. Why did he not come to meet her? Why did he stand there in the shadow. without moving a step towards her. after he had been away all the day?
 You are come at last" she said.
 .sYes. Will you come and sit by me?''
 Almost fearfully she did as she was bidden. The sofa on which they sat was so much in the darkness that she could not see his face plainly; only the dim outline of his form was visible. He acted in a most un- lover-like fashion. He did not even offer to take her hand. She almost feared to sit by his side.
 Aren't you-you very 1ate?' she stammered. '1s anything the mat ter?" She hardly knew what she was saying. and the silence had be- come oppressive.
 "Yes." he replied. something is the matter"
 "You-you are not i'll. are you?"
 "I don't know-oh. no, certainly not-not in the way you think"
 ''why did you not come earlier this morning, as you promised?" she asked. It was not a bit what she meant to say. but she had lost con- trol over herself.
 i've been very busy-that is. I've been finding out something"
 What ?'
 "I've been making inquiries about Leicester"
 About whom?"
 About Leicester. I've discovered something
 Her heart ceased to beat. What did he mean by speaking to her like this: What could he have discov- cred about Leicester? Besides, his voice was strange. She no longer heard the low fluid tones of. an Ori- ental. but the voice of the past.
 ''what?" she asked. "I've discovered that Leicester Is not dead"
 'what?"
 'I've discovered that Leicester is not dead. That is why I've been away all the day. It has put every thing that is-in new light" She sat as moveless as a statue. His voice sounded far away It was very strange, too, and yet it was very familiar.
 ''Not dead?"
 NO. There can be no doubt about it. He died, but he has risen again."
 A strange feeling possessed her heart. She was not sure whether it was an overmastering joy, or a terrible fear. Perhaps it was both. But the news was also a great shock, and the room seemed to swim around her.
 "But, but" she stammered pres ently, "how do you explain-the- How do explain the coroner's inquest, and all that was associated with it? will tell you. It is darker than I thought. Will you light the lamp?"
 | Like one in a dream she did as she was bidden. Her hand trem- bled so that she could scarcely hold the match to the wick of the lamp but she succeeded at length, and the mellow light filled the room. l There" she said. and she tried tc laugh, "I have managed to do it But tell me you are testing with me-"
 NO. am not testing. Look al me-
 She turned to him as he spoke, but | she was powerless to speak a word. | Did I not speak the truth? Ha: not Leicester come to life again? ?"
 She looked at him like one spell. bound. There, standing before her was Leicester. The huge blacf beard and moustache were shaver off; he no longer wore the fez whicf had helped to give him an Easterr appearance. His face was paler he was stouter than the Leicester O.