The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-05-16

l. was at the scene Otstne catastrophe
in few minutes. And there, laid out
already with the grim formalities Of
l gazed upon the dead body of my friend
Atwick, whom / had heheld but few
hours before in the perfection of health
a mangled. bloody corpse, lying still upon
the pavement, with crowd of people
gathered. like ghostly statues. in the
twilight about it. Some of the men had
already constructed litter. I was re-
uuested, as I knew Mrs. Atwick, perhaps
better than any one u the village, to
hasten on before, and break the hideous
truth to her as gently as could, shrank
back appalled, Dcmurring and fearful,
l should positively have declined this
fearful duty of friendship, but for the
temporary absence of our rector, and the
necessity of speedy action in some one.
The statement of great writer that there
is somett.iIs Lot altogether unpleasant
to us in the misfortunes of our dearest
friends, is rank libel upon even medium
human nature. I should not have been
more distressed if Mary Atwick, the wo-
man to which [ was going on such an
Grand, had been my OWE sister, And
yet, my acquaintance with her was very
slight. She was anything but popular
woman, she had mingled but little with
the people of the village, and had thus
remained without friends, while Atwick
himself had been universal favorite. [
had visited his house on more social
terms than any one else, believe, and
though [ nad never found her varying
from cold and naughty reserve, [ had
every reason to believe that Atwick was
devotedly attached to her and his chill
dren. If, however, [ had known It to
be otherwise-if they had been to each
other objects of mutual Indifference. or
sometimes even of aversion, should |
not still have hesitated TO break the qui-
ct of household with tidings of such a
death to one of its members? Yet, I
was so stricken with a dumb sort OF
amazement that [ had realized nothing
of MY position, and had not thought of
what L was to say-even when L found
my hand upon the gate OF the yard in
closure. All at once, however, sense of
what | had come to do struck terror to
my soul, and the same shudder [ had
experienced in my Office thrilled me flom
head to foot. There was no lights about
the house as [ went up the gravel walk.
But thought some one had come on the
same errand, as L saw the figure Of
man going up the steps before me.
paused an instant On the threshold of the
portico, waiting for the figure, with its
back toward me, to lift the knocker to
strike for admission, when the door flew
open without sound, and the person
entering revealed to me, my God-the
blood stained features of Fenton Atwick
himselft
'How, howl 1 cried, shave you re-
covered sufficiently to get here before me
and alone ?''
1t moved toward the door of an inner
room, reckoning me with its mutilated,
bloody hand. And voice that [ should
have known, without the words, belong
ing to nothing moral, said slowly: 81
am here, in the spirit, before you, Jerry
my body follows on space. Over it I
have no further control. But that
thou doest do quickly, or poor Mary's
heart will be broken
l was still looking, when the figure
vanished, as | knew it would, and l was
again alone in the moonlight. Wander
ing, amazed, everything but frightened,
L paused moment in dumbfounded be-
wllderment. There was no stronger
emotion In heart or mind than bitter, bit
ter sorrow for the woman up stairs, as |
stepped back and gave long, loud rap
upon the door, A servant came to light
the lamp In the hall, and admitted me-
Mrs. Atwick came in moment. Her
face was whittier than the gown she wore
as she looked at me.
II was at my window, up stairs, when
[ saw you come in the gate, with DIR.
Atwick beside you, Tell me where he
has gone?''
| tried to speak to her but I could not.
My lips were still sealed. when all at
once she went down on her knees, CRYING
out that he was dead" She asked no
confirmation from me of the horrible
truth that had come upon her. [ never
saw creature go on she did in my
life, and | hope, in Gods mercy, that l
never may. When spoke to her at
last, she raiied out at me ''to begone.
and let her alone, for had murdered
him u [ think her mind had entirely
lost its balance / knocked at the door
of the next house, and babe the woman
to go to her, for could do nothing.
They had taken her up stairs when the
heavy tramp of the men with the litter
was heard without.
He has shown no symptoms Of re-
turning consciousness, l suppose % Il
said to Fleet.
"Consciousnessl should say not,
when he was dead even before Jones
lifted him from the EARTH" l was an
swered. When the body was laid cut
in spite Of the horror that came oyer me
in its presence looded at it. [ knew
that he was dead, as dead as you or l
will be when we have slept under the sod
for : thousand years, And yet | could
not diyest myself on the idea that there
was latent expression of consciousness