The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-05-29
THE wREATHED SUBJECT.
A ST. Louis Republican Tale of the DI,
secting Table.

secting Table.
In a 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
its crevices with mould, and green moss
now and then is seen on its cornices or
grows close on the walls.
It is old enough to have had histo-
ry, and people say it is the brooding
haunt of memories that are better lost
than kept alive. Be that as it may, it
is the scene of little incident in life,
which was told to me, and relate it
here. Those connected with it have
passed away, but others beside myself
will recOllect the doctors story.
The old college near by was in the
| hey-day of its fame before the war, and
students from all parts of the state were
in attendance. By soma 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, ex-
cluding daylight, the heavy atmosphere
| seemed instinct with ghostlY preseuces.
Coming into the house from the keen
air outside, chill would strike to the
heart, like the breath of Texas north
er. An inspiration of constraint, of
fear and dread, was all about the place.
Imagine, then, my feelings, said
the narrator, when, long after mid
night, 1 crept cautiously into the old
house alone. had made arrangements
to have subject brought me for my
next days study. But a fevsrish un-
CT ]
could not resist carried me there long
before any one else was stirring. l
knew my commissaries had done their
work long before, and in the silent fig
urr, on the table, and lined through the
muslin draperies, I perceived that for
which I came in search. My nerves
we're always strong, and I had passion
for science. / had no fear of the dead,
and yet 1 trembled preceptibly as
stood that night beside the voiceless
clay had come to view.
What was it fear? or that subtle
sympathy which, despite all reasonable
causes, at times pervades the heart and
mind? I can't describe the sensation
but felt as if was approaching some
event of controlling force and power on
my life. But whatever the feeling was,
SIlOOh III Oll, anu GllIuluB up bllC Su0s
the table. My hand shook
a little as exposed the face of the dead
to view.
It was young girl, apparently about |
seventeen years of age 1T was sad
face, beautiful and calm, and smile,
like the shadow of holy memories, lin |
gered on the lips. A garland of white
flowers wreathed her brow like bride. |
Il &c hoTv l,o%
crowned the head, was stirred by |
breath of air. 1 started and turned. |
It seemed to me on the unreasoning in |
slant, that on that silent, viewless
breath of air, life was returning to the |
inanimate frame.
What if it should be so came |
clo er and looked eagerly into the face |
"a calm, still face, with yellow lashes |
vailing the palely-tinted under-lids,
and a waxen bloom like a roseate |
shadow on cheek and lip; soon as ]
looked the features changed-a shadow
swept the ce-indistinct-such as
q CLINT of sunlight filings on
ice or steel.
It was life. l was certain of it now.
Quick as thought lifted the figure and
carried it to sofa in az adjoining room,
and, disrobing the arm, stuck my lance
leep into a vein. The blood came dark
and clotted, a drop at a time, then
,wifter and in q ruddier stream. My
Drain was on fire, and my blood leaped
ike a courser in my veins but my
land was steady, and my senses did
lot desert me. Through her set teeth
poured a draught of ammonia, and
ife began to futter back into the pas
i've frame the mouth twitched /; the
heeks flushed and paled alternately
he eye-lids quivered and the blue eyes
'pened wide.
"I have been dreaming" she MUIR
nured, YEARLY.
eyes. replied; pleasant dreams,
trust"
Very PLEASANT thought of clouds
nd shadowd tinged with lainbow-hues; ;
nd gentle murmuring streams, and
nd gardens full of beams"
Take this and dream again, said;
nd almost as 1 spoke she sank back in
Ieep And then the doctor relapsed J
ito silence too.
"Well, doctor, what next ?" I asked
agerly.
F'Well, I called a carriage and took l
er to my boarding-hOuse-had her
lade comfortable" he replied, CURLY. 4
"She wasn't dead then, after all ?"
Ono"
"But she had been buried?" we
sked. /
eyes, in a trance. That is all you I
eed to know and the doctor ended '
is story. L