Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09

"Nly friends began to perceive that there was that
In the letter-some mysterious drug that had saturated
the paper, which smet like verbena-which had over
come my senses when first l read the lines. On that
occasion had fallen in faint which had lasted long
time Then had reread the letter as told you and
second attack, much enduring, had ensued Pos
sbly, in my delrium, the letter always before my
heated fancy, l had got out of bed and handled it
again Then the long darkness had come-unconscous-
ness-coma-and what the doctors had called death.
"And this illness, these symptoms, had been pre-
csely those which had marked my wifes fatal illness
"She also had no doubt handled and read Escavado's
letter many, many times!
any God! My God! You perceive the idea that kept
flashing in my brain just like those lightning flames
piercing the bosom of the night?
beating heart-buried SO that Escavado might claim
heron the other side of the tomb! Yes believed in
that frghtful that he equal to it; that his
mad love had been capable of that wild attempt to
make Katrina his
aWhat! He had taken her from the tomb? She
possibly still living?
eating force, answer was not difficult to find My
family built, two centuries ago. the Church OF s. Suze
within half mile of where we are; and in its crypt arc
dead which is privilege yet remaining to u.s.
Katrina had been placed there.
TRUSHED out into the Storm which drenched me in
moment to the skim and ran all the way to the chapel
It's two doors were locked clambered up buttress
smashed window with stone and dropped into the
interior. I stumbled bindy to the door that opened
upon the crypt steps. Fool! l had brought no light
and the vault would be in darkness. But when got
the door open l perceived thin CLEAN upstreaming
which from two tall tapers burning by tomb that
holds the relics of saint and martyr S. Sue. The
profound quiet of the crypt its frgd air. those solemn
taper and the presence of those human ashes molder
ing under the stones, Gained me, gave me more COM
mand over my nerves. | stopped, then fell upon my
knees; but in vain tried to pray. rose took of
the tapers and approached the tomb of Katrina.'
The narrator stopped. His voice, OF rburdened with
pain collapsed suddenly.
After long pause d'Or1nonde, profoundly agitated
ventured, 3And your wife was not there Marquis?"
"She not there. The cage that had held her was
empty its tenant gone. Escavado had taken her away
that act and she she had fled with him. Perhaps she
was afraid of him. Possibly that terrible love of his
which had dared so much broke down her will despite
herself | wonder-I wonder
"And did you find them, Marquis?' interrupted the
author fearful that he might lose the end of the story
"Ah, all it would take long time, Messieurs to tell
YOU all about that | spent decad, two decads
lifetime long was it that my search lasted? lean
not say. I was fool for looked for them in cities
but after time | realized that Escavado had taken
Katrina to obscure place where she would
be recognized. All! that long and bitter seeking But
ran them earth in Heligoland in of the Tristan
fishing villages there. They saw me and got away.
raced them over Europe; and came up with them in
may still be living my pearl that has lost its lustrous
beauty. But Escavado- All, ah! Wait until you see
his face grow of the darkness here and then you
will see what did to Escavado Every night it has APP
peared to am not afraid of t-diabe' not in the
least And you will between the two of it. the
two staring. desparng eyes hole with blush fringe
which was just where shot him, Messieurs.7
The Marquis chuckled wheezily. The lantern went
out at last, its wick glowing and casting up thin
column of acrd smoke.
"PardieM things terrible as war, NUT
tered the author.
Count Raoul Dagobert, who had missed no word,
opened the door of the barn and stepped The weep
ing of the earth stiled; for the north wind
binding the soil with ice, and whistling through the
charred walls of the chateau, and the trail of the
German army the rear guard of the conquerors whose
path marked with desolaton and the deep of
mortar batteries.