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


glimmer of distant light, to feebly ir-
radiate for me the awful fact that 1
was there yet. rt.l- ~ry-
DR.. Birchell, our family physician,
used to laugh at me much over my fears
of evil. One day he said, "Your dis
ease is the most harmless thing in the
wcrld. There's only one danger, and
that is that your friends will bury you
before your time.7 Now, that I confess
is not comfortable; but, my dear fell
low, neither is it probable.
DIR. Birchell went away and left us.
One morning in October my aunt was
taken suddenly i'll, and a neighboring
doctor was called in. He was a young
man, remarkably handsome, and very
skillful, and won the respect and con-
fidence of the family at once. Finding
him an intellectual student very much
after my own mind, rather warm
friendship grew up between us, and he
became a constant visitor at the house.
Now comes the most remarkable part
of my narrative. This DIR. Cruden-
that was his name-fell desperately in
love with Ju. He had no hesitation in
telling me of it, and in assuring me that
the girl had infamed him with pas
sion that it was beyond his power to
control. He even made q clean breast
of it to my aunt, and she, looking upon
it as rather romantic and every way
desirable match for her housekeeper,
placed no obstacle in the way. very
frequently Joined them, and the doctor
and would go off into into a discus
sion far beyond the depth of Ju, who
sat there sewing and beaming in her
quiet, healthy way. It was at such a
time that I introduced the subject of
catalepsy, and Cruden, seeing that Ju
was intensely interested, gave an ac-
count of several cases of trance in which
mere suspension of function had been
mistaken for death. / remarked that
there was hereditary tendency in my
family to this disease, and I expected
to have it myself some day. Turning
to her carelessly, I added, elf ever
they should find me dead in my bed,
Ju, don't you let them bury me till DR..
Cruden gives the word, will you?"
1 recall now the look and tone with
which that girl, resting her industrious
fingers in her lap, replied as her eyes
met mine, "No, will not p She had
given O seriousness and an import to
her answer that my assumed careless
ness did not warrant.
DIR. Cruden's attachment to Ju, I
will not deny it, annoyed me. Ju was
doubtless fattered by his attentions,
but he acknowledged to me that she
gave him very little encouragement.
One night sauntered into the dining
room and found her alone with her
work. I sat down familiarly and began
to talk about him. praised him at
some length in a careless strain, when
she interrupted me by asking in the
blunt, direct way of woman, DO you
like him ?"
81 admire him." replied. "He is
a very clever man and must one of these
days be q wealthy and influential one
"He has asked me to marry him.
she said quietly.
every we'll, Ju; if you like him no.
body can say word against it,"
"No ?" she responded interrogatively
and, as I thoug hit, ,plaintively. "Would
you advise me to marry him ?"
felt that it was the appeal of a
faithful, inexperienced creature to my
honesty. I hesitated moment and
then answered.: "No, I would not ;
for with all his cleverness I don't be-
l1eve he would make you happy, Ju, and
I have no reason to wish anything but
happiness for one who has earned so
much of my gratitude. AS said this
DR.. Cruden entered the room. [ be-
lieve that he heard the whole of the
conversation. He saluted me as usual,
but looked at me hard. The girl was
cool and self-possessed and went on
with her work; and I shortly afterwards
left them together.
It must have been three nights
later, when, as I was writing very late,
I had strange warning sensation in
my back and arm. I then put away the
work, took shower-bath, went to bed,
and almost Immediately fell asleep.
The first conscious impression that
I received after that was of muffled
bell striking, while / seemed to be
emerging slowly from the glooms and
forgetfulness of the grave. Presently
comprehended that it was John, the
waiter, knocking at my door, but il
sounded to me as if he were hammerine
a bronze gate with sledge. tried
to answer him, but could not utter q
word. tried to open my eyes, to
move my arms, to struggle, to gasp-it
was in vain. I was locked up in death s
embrace. All, if one could only ex-
plain in words the horror of emotion
without the power to express it'll Their
I endeavored to collect my thoughts,
which in the agony of fear was hard
enough. I heard my aunt's step or
the stairs, and could even detect the
rustic of her dress, and knew that she
was attired for her morning ride. The
door was pushed open. There was &
scream, all manner of confused eiacula
tions and orders, and fall as if my
aunt had tainted. When she recovered
she sent for the doctor, and for Ju, anG
then gave way to lamentations: "Oh
this is awful So suddenl Oh, dear
what is to become of me, and pool
Miss Featherstonaugh, too? What {
blowl It's to be funeral instead of {
marriaael"
7 felt a rough hand laid upon my
face, and the attempt made to close my
mouth. 1t must have been John, foI
he said, "He's been dead severa
hours, ma'am. He's stone-cold."
After that my arm was with grea
} difficulty laid by my side. Twas placed
on my back, and the sheet pulled nj
over my face. I knew, also, by th'
sound that they were darkening tn,
room. Where, oh, where was Ju2