Los Angeles daily herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1873-1876, 1874-06-07
THE WREATHED SUBJECT.


In narrow little street, full of
hooks and angles, stands quaint
brick house, nooky and full of angles
too. 1t has survived many years, and
time has filled it's crevices with mold,
and green moss now and then is seen
on its cornices, or grows close on the
walls.
1t is old enough to have had.a his
tory, and people say it is the breeding
haunt of memories that are better lost
than kept alive. Be that as it may, it
is the scene of a little incident in life,
which was told to me, and [ relate it
here. Those connected with it have
passed away, but others besides N.Y.
self will recollect the Doctors story.
The old college near by was in the
hey-day of it's fame before the war,
and students from all parts of the
State wele in attendance. BY some
of these the old house we speak of was
rented for dissecting purposes, and
hither were brought the subjects they
desired to practice on. A gloomy
place it was, and with closed shutters
and doors, excluding daylight, the
heavy atmosphere seemed instinct
with ghostly presence. Coming into
the house from the keen air outside, a
chill would strike to the heart like the
breath of Texas norther. An inspir-
alton of constraint, of fear and dread,
was all about the place.
Imagine, then, my feelings" said
the narrator, "when, long after mid
night, crept cautiously into the old
house alone. / had made arrange
ments to have subject brought me
for my next days study. But fever
ish unrest pursued me, and an inclin-
alton l could not resist carried me
there long before any one else was
stirring. | knew my commissaries
had done their work long before, and
in the silent figure on the table, out
lined through the muslin draperies,
perceived that for which I came in
search. My nerves were always strong,
and had a passion for science. / had
no fear of the dead, and yet trem-
bled perceptibly as l stood that night
beside the voiceless clay had come to
view.
What was it-fear, or that subtle
sympathy which, despite all reason
able causes, at times pervades the
heart and mind ? can't describe the
sensation, but felt at times as if l
was approaching some event of con-
trolling force and power on my life.
But whatever the feeling was ] shook
it off, and turning up the gas ap-
preached the table. My hand shook
little as exposed the face of the dead
to view.
1t was young girl, apparently
about seventeen years of age. 1t was
sad face, beautiful and calm and a
smile, like the shadow of holy MEM
cries, fingered on the lips. A garland
of white flowers wreathed her brow
like bride. The golden floss of sunny
hair that crowned the head was
stirred by breath of air. I started
and turned pale. 1t seemed to me on
the unreasoning instant, that on that
silent, viewless breath of air life was
returning to the inanimate frame.
What if it should be so! I came
closer and looked eagerly into the
face-a calm, still face with yellow
lashes yelling the palely-tinted under
lids, and waxen bloom like a roseate
shadow on cheek and lip. Soon, as I
looked, the features changed-a shade
swept over the face-indistinct-su
as sometimes CLINT of sunlight filings
on ice or steel. 80
It was life. I was certain of it.
Quick as thought lifted the figure
and carried it to sofa in an adjoin-
ing room, and disrobing the arm,
stuck my lance deep into vein. The
blood came dark and clotted, a drop at
a time, then swifter and in a ruddier
OF in,
my blood leaped like courser in my
veins. But my hand was steady, and
my senses did not desert me. Through
her set teeth I poured draught Of
ammonia, and life began to fiutter
back into the passive frame. The
mouth twitched, the cheeks flushed
and paled alternately, the eyelids
quivered, and the blue eyes opened
wide. st--
81 have been dreaming" she muir
INJURED, YEARLY. ~s-
Yes" I replied, "pleasant dreams,
trust" -.s
avery pleasant. I thought of clouds
and shadows tinged with rainbow
hues, and gentle murmuring streams,
and gardens full of bloom.u
"Take this and dream again." l
said; and almost as spoke she sank
back in sleep. And then the doctor
relapsed into silence too.
"Well, doctor, what next" asked
eagerly.
Well, I called carriage and took
her to my clearinghouse her
made comfortable" he replied, CURLY.
"She wasn't dead, then, after all ?"
"No.n
"But she had been buried ?" we
asked. ..-
ayes, in a trance. That is all you
need to know" and the doctor ended
his story.