Year: 1877


ter. knew the instant L looked at her
that Hester was dead; 1 knew that she
had reached peace. She was just as
cold and as rigid few moments before
she died as she is now. 1 should like
you to see her, Mark; she was so beauti-
full in life."


"And she is beautiful in DEATH" was
Marks first thought, as his eyes rested
on the dead girl, who, to crafty the
half-crazy mothers wish had habited
herself in wedding-garb. Mark had
been studying medicine in the London
hospitals, and, like too many in his pro-
fession, he had come to regard the hui
man body, practically and simply, as
curious piece of mechanism animated by
vital principle. But he could not some
how look at the form before him in the
same cold, abstract manner. He could
only gaze on it as vision of beauty such
as he had never looked on before. There
was not the faintest shade of deaths
livid hue on the pure white face there
was neither sharpening or sinking of the
classical features /; there was none of that
peculiar expression round the pretty
lips, and in the fall of the eyelids upon
the cheek, which is the signet that the
conqueror Death sets upon his victims I;
and yet it did not look life-like either.
In the face and hands there was marble
rgidness, and the tints were transparent
like parian.


Hester Kyrle was borne to her grave,
and Mark Wymar returned home (; but,
when the day had gone by and
dusk was gathering in, he wended his
way to friends house, and that friend
was a surgeon of high standing in his
profession.


Barker, do you know sane man
when you see him ?" he asked.


The surgeon opened his eyes in sur
prise.


"Just put your finger on my pulse,
and look at me. Am 1 all right Z"


&c / should think you are gone mad. J"


81 have come on an errand which
fear you will think insane; and want
you to assure yourself that am cOnpOs
mentis before speak it"


"Well, say that l anect need of
your sanity


"There was young girl buried to-
day, and 1 believe she has been buried
alive. have come to beg of you to help
me to discover the true case"


"What |"


Mark reiterated his words. Enough
that persuasions prevailed.


The sexton was heavily bribed, and
they then descended into the vault.
When the coffin was unclosed, Hester lay
in it with no change in her appearance.
The surgeon touched the brow and the
hands, then he held small pocket-mir-
ror before her mouth.


The glass was undimmed.


He shook his head; the case was hope
less.


Zone moment" cried Mark. "Put
your hand under the arm and see if there
is the same chill there as on the brow.


With difficulty the direction was car
ried out. The same chilliness was not
there; to decide the point the silken
bodice was cut away in order to feel the
heart.


There was no pulsation. "Try under
the arm again" pleaded Mark earnestly.


The surgeon pushed his hand slowly
along; then he paused. and visibly
startled, exclaiming eagerly:


"There is warmth here BY Heavens,
she is not dead p


"Now, see here" said Mark. He
lifted her right hand, Strengthening the
elbow, and pointing the fingers in the
opposite direction. After which he
withdrew his hold of the arm, and it re-
manned precisely in the same position.


"Hurrah, Mark It's nothing, after
all, but cataleptic fit. Let us take
her home at once"


Hester Kyrle recovered consciousness
after deal of suffering but the utmost
skill and devotion were requisite to cure
her. When at last her cheek bloomed
again with the roses of health, and
strength came to her frame, she gave
her life right willingly into the keeping
of its preserver, and Mark Wymer won
his bride from the very jaws of death.