Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-11-13
Devoted to the Interests of the People.


request that you come over and render
some assistance to my wife,"
What could do? l am not courageous
at the best of times, and / confess there
was strange dread of something-I knew
not what. l suppose hesitated so long
in answering that he expected refusal.
"Indeed, Madame, you will confer a
great favor upon strangers by coming.
My wife really needs some assistance from
one of her own sex, and we have DO ac-
quaintances in the city"
Wait one moment, sir, and / will be
down"
Here then was chance to satisfy allmy
woman's curiosity. | entered my dress
ing room, turned down my light, and fling
ing a light shawl about my shoulders, hur-
ried down stairs. He was waiting for me-
Without word followed him into the
opposite house. Up the long, dark fight
of steps to the second floor. Through the
brilliantly lighted room to the alcove.
She lay on the bed-her jetty wealth of
hair in coiling, trailing tendrils-covering
the pillow and the white robe-resting
upon the floor. A deathly white face, that
was beautiful in its marble purity. The
dark eyes were closed, but the lids were
so white and transparent that the eye be-
meath was defined in shadow. The lashes,
black as ink, lay like fringe upon her
cheek. But the expression of the coun-
tenance; the utter misery-the mortal
agony written in the pallid, beautiful face,
God keep me from ever again seeing
The voice of the man at my side
aroused me from my contemplation.
"This is my wife-Mrs. Randolph
my name is George Randolph. AS l said
before we are strangers here"
turned my eyes from the face on the
bed and looked at him.
The first mental question was:
"Why did ever think this man hand
some ?" The features were good, and at
were softened, but now close beside him
there was a harsh, cruel look about the lips
cold glitter in the eyes, and altogether
bad, reckless expression of person. He
smiled as he noted my keen glance, and
displayed the whitest of teeth.
az hope you are not afraid to remain ?'
ooh, no." answered, "but what can I
do? What is the matter with herr"
"She has been i'll for some time-quick
consumption. She has been much worse
lOl buC pnSt WCOhJ duu wing Au, tliAAh,
will bring a change"
"Have you had a physician for herr"
"No. She did not desire one"
This sounded rather strange, and added
to the mystery in my mind.
Is there no person in the house but
your wife and yourself?"
"No, we rent the house furnished, and
our servant left yesterday. But pardon
me. If you have family which requires
your presence I will not ask you to re-
main. I see that you are an elderly lady
and I would prefer some one like you, but
if YOU cannot remain must manage with
Minnie alone"
"I did not speak from that cause, sir. l
have no claims upon me. | am widow
and have had daughters of my own. I
willingly offer myself to assist your wife,
if I can be of service"
"Ithank you" Heplaced a chair beside
the alcove for me, and cosld do nothing
but passively occupy it. l turned my at
tention again to the figure on the bed.
She seemed to be breathing quietly, but
the look of agony was still the same.
I must have been sitting there over an
hour, when I noticed her large eyes slowly
open and fix themselves upon me. lean
ed forward and looked at her. Her lips
moved only. / bent lower. Only one
word came: "Motherp and, making an
effort, she tried to reach out her arms to
me.
Mr. Randolph came softly to my side
and spoke:
Minnie, are you better?"
She shook her head, again made the eff
fort to reach out her arms, and with the
effort gray shadow fell upon her face
The light died out of the eyes, and with
low moan the waxen lids closed forever!
There was no passionate grief in the
long drawn sigh of the husband. Itsound-
ed to me more like relief, and the first
words spoken by him were
"Well, she has gone. How long does it
take for a body to cool?"
I looked at him in horror the tears
dimming my eyes as l thought of the
young life gone out Of existence-so lone
ly, so forlorn-were almost frozen back by
such question.
"It is necessary for me.to be in Phila-
delphia tomorrow. / must have the body
removed as soon as possible! believe
there is some foolish prejudice against
putting body in the coffin while warm,
but I have no time to waste with non-
sense. suppose you can assist me in
placing it there?"
Was this man or a fend? All sense
of decency was outraged in the beastly
expression of sentiment and with every
feeling of indignation aroused, I asked
him if he supposed me capable of counte-
nancing any such proceeding.
"Surely," said /, you cannot put aside
the body of the woman who has been
your wife as you would the carcass of a
brute y"
He smiled, and stepping to my side,
caught me by the arm, Kissing in my ear ::
"To-morrow-do not trifle with me
she has known what it is to tritie with my
will-do as / desire, or tao0 bodies will have
to be disposed of instead of one!"
"Villain you poisoned her then, as |
Yes, and there is enough left for you p
What could I do? I was weak
woman. In that house-all alone with
the human fiend and the dead. / could
only comply.
Walking to tke side of the looking glass,
which described as occupying the end of
the room, he touched the frame. Slowly
it moved, until it opened like door, show
ing dark closet at its back. For mo-
ment he disappeared in the darkness, then
came forth, carrying-O my God what ?
A coffin
I braced myself against the side of the
alcove, as I watched the horrid thing,
placed upon two chairs directly in front
of me. Then I seemed sinking down
| down. thought myself rapidly fainting
But as my eyes were closing, they rested
| ,,y.a,, 4bn ell y,Iofo of tho onf3r r1bt tob