New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-23
clear away, and went It It with determine

ton.
1T must have been three nights later
when. as I was writing very late, had 9
strange warning sensation in my BACK 1n0
arm. then put away the work, took
shower bath, went to bed, and almost I'M
fell asleep.
'1he first conscious impression that re-
ceived after that was of 1nutf1ed bell strlk
ing, while seemed 90 be emerging slowly
from the glooms and fOrgetfulness OF the
grave. Presently cOmprehended that l.
was John, the waiter, knocking at my door
but it sounded TO me as it he were hammer
ing bronze gate with sledge. tried
to answer him, but could not utter a
word. / tried to open my eyes, to move
my arms, to struggle, to gasp-it was III
vain. l was locked up In deaths EN-
brace. All. if one could only explain il
words the horror of emotion without the
power to express it! Then l endeavored
TO collect my thoughts, which in the agony
of tear was hard enough. / remembered
the shower bath. 1t seemed hundred
years ago, recalled one by one the circum
stances OF the previous night and painfully
put them together in their sequence OF
action. l was conscious that was lying
partly on nv LETT side, that my Jaw had
fallen, and that nv right arm Was resting
Oh nv breast. But it seemed also that III y
heart was beating regularly, but with un
usually loud pulsations, and / said to my.
self, Nobody can tor moment suppose
am dead with that furious palpltanon gong
on 1t was some moments before my atten
ton was sufficiently arrested by this and
the ratiocinative process connected enough
to guess at the truth. which Was that the
pnlsating sounds were the ticking OF my
watch agains, the head board OF the bed,
where l had hung it. l tried to tore cast
the events that were about to take place
about ne, and to estimate my chances OF
recovery I projected the appearance OF
the room in my mind, building the picture
up in my brain by details, saying, there is
the window, there is tie mantel with my
revolver on II. and there is the escr.toire.'
Then heard the ,hunderous kRocks on the
door again, and voices as II IN consu!ca-
ton; then new sound that told me some
one was looking over the transom, and as
distinctly as if saw it knew that some
body had run down stairs, and that the
first shock in the sensations that were to
come had arrived, namely, alarm. AS
if to compensate the loss OF vision,
the sense Of hearing was greatly H.
creased. / heard my aunt's step on
the stairs, and could even detect the
rustic of her dress, and knew that she was
attired tor her morning ride. The door was
pushed open. There was scream, all man
ner of confused calculations and. orders and
a fall as if my aunt had tainted. When she
recovered she sent for the doctor and for
Ju, and then gave way to lamentations:
"Oh, this is awful! So sudden! Oh, dear!
what is to become of me, and poor Miss
FeatherstOnaugh, too! What a blow! NY
God! will that girl never come? Will no
body do anything! lis to be a funeral in.
stead of marriage! ! can't believe i'll
can't believe It'll!
II felt rough hand upon my face, and
the attempt made TO close my mouth. II
must have. been John, for he said Hes
been dead for several hours, ma'am. He's
After that my arm was with great diff
Guilty laid by my side, was placed on NY
back and the sheet pulled over my face. /
knew. also. by the sound that they were
the room. Alas! the appalling
ceremony had commenced! I was given. Up
without a question or hope. Where, OF,
where was Ju,
.'She came presently after al the others
had gone. John came with her. l heard
her glad voice, and there was a strange
balm in it. There he is said John.
There's no more work for him this eide OF
the graveyard She tore the sheet off my
face. and | felt that she was looking al lie
John was sauntering round the
room on tiptoe and carrying on the con-
versation. L s'pose I'll have to carry the
notices. said ne. now Jim's gone, and help
the undertakers. Whens it to be Did
the Old woman say 2
"Ju said nothing and he kept on.
And somebody's got to go over the
plot. There's work enough and nobody but
me fit to do it. What are you opening the
windeIs fOrp
because want some light said Ju.
You can go down stairs if you've got so
much to do. I'll stay here
well, you always did pick your com
pany,' replied the man; but somebody's
got to go over and break it to the Feather
and | thought it would be you
"The moment he was out of the room she
came and dropped upon her knees at the
head Of the bed and wound her arms about
ne, and, laying her face upon mine, could
fee! the wet lashes and the warm, whole
,Ome breath as che tried to coax me with
embraces back to life. But in vain. No
ibre of my body could answer with an as
surfing tremor to her fidelity.
John came up again in few moments
with an imperative message from his mis-
:ress. The girl was to close the room up
md come down. Her conduct was dis
graceful.
- is itl' said Ju, quietly. Tell her that
Pm going to stay here till DR.. Cruden says
les dead, and then I'll close the room
John made some kind of an ejaculation
md went away.
'.Dr. Cruden could not be found till af-
ernoon. He was sent up to look at the
body as mere formality and TO make out
certificate. He, at least, l felt could
make no mistake. He was accompanied to
he door by John, who left him there and
vent down again.
When the doctor came in he went over
% the window and sat down by Ju
"'Ah' said he, so the poor fellows gone.
expected this for some time'
''There was sudden movement of
hair. Ju must have got up quickly. for
he bed clothes were moved and heard her
ay: 'You expected it, and so did he. I'm
lot sure that he's dead. Are you9'
"'Then he must have placed chair for
Ter and rolled up his sleeves. Well soon
determine that he replied.
~ felt his hand upon my heart with the
and in9uisitive pressure of a
loctors fingers, felt the weight of his head
is his ear was pressed down hard to catch
he faintest murmur. The suspense and
Igony of that moment were beyond the
portrayal of language. knew that every
hing depended upon the infexibility, the
courage, and the fidelity of the girl, and l
Knew that the doctor had all those virtues
It the mercy of his decision. If intensity
# emotion could add but one throb to nv
leart as his hand rested upon it l was safe.
Ny whole soul was concentrated into that
fort as his hand was withdrawn.
bought he detected it, for his fingers
vent suddenly back as if for reinsurance.
His head was down upon my breast. could
lear him breathe. His mouth was close to
ny ear No, he was whispering. Its nv
urn now y He said it twice. The awful
IMPORT of the four words seemed to add
ONE new paralysis to my system. Mvna-
ure refused to believe in any revenge like
his. There were no faculties in a human
'eing to apprehend such cruelty. He asked