Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-08-15

from one room to anotner. once under
screws it'll be all right. We don't want
a row. 1t won't do.
With that one of them put his arm
under my head. There was q quick
rustic of dress. The arm was pulled
suddenly away. I heard the click of
my revolver, felt JUS long hair sweep
ing my face, and knew she was stand
ing over me like another Judith.
"If you touch him again" she said,
"thereIl be blood on it. Stand off
My life for it, he won't go out of this
room till he's dead or 1 am p
"The womans stark mad" said the
mans voice. Come away. The
Board O. Health'n have to lay 'em both
out !"
She sprang after them and bolted the
door. Once more 1 felt her at my bed
side. ."Dear, dear, 1 wonder if he is
dead /" heard her say in her distress.
go, what can I do, what can do l'
Then there was parley through the
key-hole. 1t was my aunt's voice.
"Ju," she said, listen to me. In the
name of decency come down stairs and
don't make me send for an officer. You
ought to know that you can't bring the
dead to life by such conduct, and it's
disgraceful. The whole house is in
arms about it. !"
81 don't care for the house." replied
Ju.
"What do you mean to do ?" asked
my aunt.
''I mean to keep him from being
buried alive as long as [ can, if l die
for it."
"Didn't you hear what DIR. Cruden
said ?"
CDR. Cruden lied |"
"Well, open the door; I must come
in. You're delaying all the arrange
ments."
81 know 1 am. That's what 1 mean
to do"
"Won't you open the door?"
emo"
"Then I shall have to get an officer
and break it open. If you are con-
vinced that Adam is alive, why don't
you convince me?"
"I don't believe you can be con-
vinced," said Ju. "You all of you
want to hurry him to the grave. Why
don't you send for Doctor-Doctor-
Doctor Bir-" (She was trying to
read the name on card that she had
found in my desk 4; it was printed in
German text.)
"Doctor Birchell p my aunt sug-
gested. eff Doctor Birchell pro-
nounces him dead will you promise to
give up the room?''
"No," said Ju; "Ill never give
him up till I can see that he's dead
with my own eyes. But DR.. Birchell
won't say So"
"Well, at all events, if DR.. Birchell
comes, you'll open the door?"
eyes, I will"
When she had gone Ju drew from
her bosom Miss Featherstonaugh's let
ter and read it. She was shocked at
the news of my death, and declared it
was awfully annoying. She regretted
she had no suit of black in which to
attend the funeral, and for this reason
could not attend it. The bearer of the
letter was given to grief.
After reading the letter, Ju sprang
up with sudden impulse, pulled the
clothes from my neck and arms, dashed
cold water upon me, shook me with
desperate force, moaning and gasplng
and sobbing the while in the greatest
distress. What encouragement the
poor creature had in all this heaven
only knows. Her faith, her hope, and
her fidelity are inexplicable to me to
this day. While she was thus en-
deavoring to restore animation my
feelings were of that numbed, despair.
ing kind that no one can understand
who has not been launched into the
mid-ocean of hopeless horror. A sui.
len, faitnless wonder took possession Of
me.
Suddenly an arrowy pain shot
through me, and ia gave cry of Joy.
1t was such a cry as a mother might
give who pulls her offspring out of the
flames. felt the cool air on my face
and caught the scent of the busy street
as it came in my window. Intolerable
pangs were darting through my body.
Ny heart gave leap. I gasped. Hot
lava seemed to be pouring into my
veins. opened my eyes. My head
was on her breast. Her arms held me
lovingly. Her dark disheveled hail
was sweeping round me like protect.
ing drapery. I looked up out Of death
into the life and victory of her tender
face.
That woman had saved me.
About ten minutes later, DIR. Birchel
bounced into the room. He said this
would not have happened if he had
been called. will not weary you with
what occurred after, except to say this
I put myself in his hands, for he
promised to cure me if I would follow
his directions explicitly. And that you
may be sure did eagerly. "The first
thing, then, that you must do" sale
he, "is to get married. I don't care
who you marry, but you must marry
somebody, and somebody who is YOU
opposite in every respect"
But, my dear DOCTOR" remon
strated, "is it not the sublimity ol
meanness to fasten myself and my in
trinity to woman ?"
"No sentimental nonsense. I'll gel
rid of the infrmity if you will do as
tell you. Hang it your life's worth
something to the community, if it isn't
worth anything to yourself"
did as he told me, and Ju is now
my wife.