The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-08-04
Dead on he Cars.
A Counties. Die, upon Railway Train
"A Frantle nu.haha.

"A Frantic Husband,
I have the saddest story to tell you,
my dear Gi06e, that my pen has ever
traced. You may have seen the brief
statement Of the iact In other papers,
but we were in the midst Of the sad
scene, and 1t is terribly ViTi1yet. Start
ing for trip to Chicago and st. Louis,
our party we're in the guyest of spirits,
which not even the pouring rain we
found ut Omaha could dampen, for our
transfer train was very comfortable.
At Spoon Lake, on the Missonri's
eastern shore, our Pullman cars were
waiting for US. There was little con.
fusion md delay in securing our sec
tions then hats and water.proofs were
dOiTed and consigned to our African
porter, and we settled ourselves for
quiet chats till The dining car bringing
our supper should be attached. In
and out among our seats, with child
hoods innocent courage, there fitted \
baby girl, whose sweet face tempted us
all 70 pet her. The words she fried to
say were sometimes English, oftener
French, and her nurse evidently be-
longed to Ia belle France. They were
OIL their way thither, but, she said,
"pauvre Madame was very i'll in the
compartment" pointing to the one
little state.room in the car.
We saw tall gentleman passing back
and forth with All anxious look, but We
little guessed how nenr the shadow Of
death was hovering. At Galesburg we
saw the invalid as we passed through
tue car, and the palid ince shocked us
all-with the pin6hed drawn look about
tue mouth, aud the hnli.shnt eyes 50
fixed and CLASSY. 1t was pitiful to hear
the husbands anguished calls; TO see
how utterly unconscious she lay, and
to feel that she was fast drifting
out into that unknown sea that flows all
round the world" A physician was
with us, and no effort 2as spared to
keep the luttering life, which In health
must have been so brilliant. The face
was exquisite in its chiseling, the dainty
hands were strangely peelect, and on
tue pale fingers gems glittered and
flashed costly raiment lay In heaps
about her, aud evidently her years had
been passed in rare luxury. 1t was
hard 10 stand beside her now and
watch the life fade, to touch the fore.
head and find It damp with the chill,
prophetic moisture, and to feel that
with the roar and rattle OF the train
about us we must know. that death
stood in our midst.
The car was very full. In ono corner
a group were busy with cards; in
another section men with bronzed faces
we're talking OF Texas stock little
children ran about in merry play, and
the darling so soon to be motherlesb
nestled in the arms Of her sobbing
nurse, with grieved, wondering look
that was very pitiful. l think We shall
none OF us ever forget themoment when
the physicians verdict was given, and
we whispered it from one to another.
The lady was Catholic. No priest
was OH the train, aud the poor husbands
frantic prayers rs he held tho crncitix
alott or pressed 1t to the paling lips,
we're touching beyond all words. The
servants kneit beside their master, kiss.
ing the lifeless hands, while We stood
near hushed and awe.stricken; aud
when tile last antteringsigh had passed,
no mothers hand could have teenmore
tender than tho stranger touch that
closed the eyes anil folded the hands in
tlnal rest. With streaming tears on his
black cheeks, our porter came and went,
doing MI that could be done. The
conductor was unwearied, and the gen
tlemen on the triin attended to all the
sad details that were necessary. We
ara apt to think OF " railroad men as
bluff specimens Of American manhood
keen, shrewd and ayaricious-but we
who were on that train, and who re-
mainded till the party started for New
York the following day, will never for
get the gentle kindness OF the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy officials. Mr..
DOYLE, tie General Passenger Agent,
and Mr.. Strong, the Superintendent,
put aside all other business and de.
voted time and thought TO the stricken
group, as il they lad been Of their
Kindred. Fatigue was tinheeded, every
detail was arranged with the tenderest
forethought, and the poor Count was
relieved Of all care, while the stunning
force OF the sudden blowleft him almost
distracted,-Oor. Boston Globe.