Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-08-15
- GUHDHALL, VERMONT, SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 1874
tiptoe, and carrying on the converse

tiptoe, and carrying on the conversa-
ton, r
The moment he was out of the room
Ju came and dropped upon her knees
at the head of the bed and wound her
arms about me, and, laying her face
upon mine, / could feel the wet lashes
and the warm, wholesome breath as she
tried to coax me with embraces back
to life. But in vain. No fibre of my
body could answer with an assuring
tremor to her fidelity.
DR.. Cruden could not be found till
afternoon.
When the doctor came in he went
over to,the window and sat down by
"Ah," said he, " SO the poor fell
lows gone. expected this for some
time p
There was sudden movement of a
chair. Ju must have got up quickly,
for the bed-clothes were moved and /
heard her say "You expected it, and
so did he. I'm not sure that he's dead.
Are you ?" - --v---.--,
"We1l soon determine that" he re-
piled.
L felt his hand upon my heart with
the unmistakable and inquisitive pres
sure of q doctors fingers, felt the
weight of his head as his ear was
pressed down hard to catch the faintest
murmur. My whole soul was concen-
trated into that effort as his hand was
withdrawn. thought he detected it,
for his fingers went suddenly back as if
for reinsurance. His head was down
upon my breast. I could hear him
breathe. His mouth was close to my
ear. No, he was whispering, " It's
my turn now p He said it twice. The
awful import of the four words seemed
to add some new paralysis to my sys-
tenn. My nature refused to believe in
any revenge like this. He asked her
to give him the little mirror from the
shaving case. 1 felt its cold surface
placed on my lips, and I knew this was
horrible, hollow mockery. Then I
heard him say, ''He's dead without
any doubt, and been dead for six hours.
1t was heart disease p
In that supreme instant hope died.
I had then arrived at the long-dreaded
crisis, and there was no longer any hu-
man help for me. Not friend to stand
by me. r.. IN
Ju got up as the decision was pro-
nounced. I felt that she and the doc
tor were silently looking each other in
the eyes.
Suddenly she emitted little cry, and
was down by my side. Her warm
fingers were in my hair. This lock on
my forehead was lifted.
"Does a man turn gray when he is
dead ?" she asked with vehemence,
and [ felt the turning of her body as
if she were looking him in the face
and pointing to the lock that she held
in her hand.
His answer was hesitating. Gould
she be detecting his duplicity in his
countenance And, believe me, the
man capable of monstrous crime was
not equal to this emergency.
He stumbled. He betrayed himself.
He replied, ooh, that was gray be.
fore !"
IF he had only carried his authority
a little further and told her it was 9
common occurrence.
" It was, was 1t ?" said the dear girl
She, who knew every lock in my head
was not to be deceived in that direc.
tion. She got up and held the door
open for him. I. ...
eco and make out your certificate,
DR.. Cruden. You may fool the world.
But here I stay. And if you or any oi
the doctors in New York bury Adam
Melton before I pronounce him dead
you will have to bury me with him. Dc
you understand that p ...H....
And the moment she was alone she
had my head in her arms, and was sob.
bing as if her heart weuld break. 81
don't know If you can hear me-" she
cried, with gasps and tears but |
won't desert you. They'll have to teal
me in pieces first. Do you hear? It's
me--Ju. want you to live. There's
nobody else cares bit. Perhaps, @
God, you are dead No, no, no, no,
did not mean that. IknoO better. @
heavens, how cold you are. Don't
mind me; I wouldn't do this if you
weren't in danger. TIL stay here till
you open your eyes. I'll bolt the doors
Net soul shall come in. Not even
she. She was to be your wife. Why
she sent word that she preferred not tc
see you -
And so on, in broken rhapsody oi
grief and endearment.
But she was as good as her word
Down stairs the solemn preparations
for the funeral were going on. It was
officially given out that I had died o.
heart disease. The announcements
were sent to the papers. The day o.
the funeral was fixed. Grape was or
dered, letters of coincidence were re
ceived. Nobody who has not beer
through my experience can know what
a thin partition there is between the
hopefulness of high health and the
everlasting darkness of the tomb. Grief
affection, love itself is but hurryine
and a putting away the instant you
heart ceases to beat.
1 knew now that everything depend
ed upon the bravery with which my
staunch friend would hold out against
the imperious conventional usages
And I confess that [ had little hope
that she would be able to resist tht
mistress of the house, backed as tha
mistress would be byscience and law
There were long gaps of time.
could not measure them. heard th1
: girl in the room, She appeared to b,
! searching for something. John brough
her up lunch. / heard him tell he
the coffin was down stairs and the mel
: waiting to come up. And 1 was aston
iShed To hear him rafar IN nv havin,