The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-02-22

stars, when the heavy tramp OF the
meu with the litter was heard with
out.
"He has shown no symptoms oi
returning consciousness, | supposeY'
l said to Fleet.
CONSEQUENCES / should think
not, when he was dead even before
Jones had lifted him from the earth"
When the body was laid out-ln
spite Of the horror that came over
me by its pressnce-I looked at it.
| knew that he was dead; as dead
as you or | will be when we have
slept be.eath the sod thousand
years. And yet, l could not divest
myself Of the idea that there was a
latent expression Of consciousness
about the face. 1 saw it through the
CONCEALED blood upon Lis temple
even after I had touched his brow
with my fingers, and found it colder
than the marble slab upon the table
close at hand. No wonder they
should tell me l was white and sick
Men have been as pale with far less
cause.
They sent me home with u young
fellow named Compton. He and l,
and some others, were to sit up the
next night. I had not slept one wink
when the day dawned again; but l
was glad to walk about beneath the
light OF the sun, and be able to talk
of that fearful accident with my
fellow-townsmen, though in so
strange and subdued u voice. When
the evening came, l went back to
the widowed house again. The
horror of the thing seemed as fresh
upon them all as on the evening
before; and strong men sat in the
shadow of this great calamity, with
eyes on which the mist had gath
cred ever and anon, and talked-if
at all-in hushed whispers to each
other.
1t was the old-fashioned way, and
we were sitting in the room with the
corpse. 1t was considerably past
midnight when l took a book from
the little table, on which a pot of
coffee had been placed, and began
to read. Soon after this three of
the men proposed a walk but as
Charley Fleet and Compton were to
remain, said nothing. was still
reading, as wide awake and as free
from fear as l ever was in my life,
when the same shudder | have spo-
ken of twice before ran over me
from head to foot, and froze the
blood in my veins. The book
dropped from my hands. | looked
up and saw Fleet and Compton
both asleep In their chairs. l strovt
to call them, but my tongue refused
to utter sound. And again thu
voice | had heard upon the portic'
came to mo in low but distlnc
tones Hurry to the dispensar.
or it will be too late; Mary is there
My spirit can no longer strive will
her; it is departing from EARTH
turned my head, with fearful sor
of attraction, toward ths body. Th'
sheet was turned down and the fact
exposed to view. The ghastlines'
of death was still there, but the face
looked Mt me.
"My God, Compton, look, lool
at that" He sprans to his feet il
an instant.
Chow did it happen? Where are
they all? His wife must have beer
here while we were dozing,'
knew that had never been furthel
from sleep; but his voice re-assure(
me, though he said he had hcar'
nothing, and | rose hastily.
"Quick to the dispensary!" II
followed me in amazement to tn
little room in the rear of the hous
where Fenton Atwick had kept
supply of medicines, which he oftcl
distributed gratis to the hands of
factory, five miles down the river
hastily pushed the door open an
beheld Mrs. Atwick standing by
desk.
As sprang forward she fell, fac
downward, on the floor. We LITE
her to sofa, but she was dead.
A phial of prussic acid was ope
on the desk.