The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-01-06
PHENOMENA OF DEAD FACES.

1 - u ---- .IN 80 ~
There are remarkable stories told O
expression on the faces of the dead. W.
give two-most interesting ones as ex
amples.
This ane cdote comes from Western
city, and has been mentioned in one OF
two medical works. II is Of lady Ol
about thirty-eight years of age, a re.
markably beautiful woman, and the
mother Of four children, three sons and
a daughter. She had suffered much from
the unreasonable jealousy of her hus-
band, who, although he loved her much,
had one of those ungOvernably jealous
temperaments which Hannah More has
delineated in her character of DE Mont
fort, in the Playsof the Passions" She
was woman of remarkable propriety of
conduct and patient with his imfirmity ;
an excess of goodness not often found 10
the innocent, who are not fond of being
suspected, as general rule.
Her bsst friend and constant defender
was the sister of her husband and the
wife of the family physician. 1t was TO
her interference that the poor lady owed
what peace she enjoyed for the last few
years of her life. She was attacked by
heart disease and suffered greatly, but
was able to 60 out and drive about for
several months. During the progress Of
this illness her husband took up terri
BILE jealousy of the family physician, his
own brother-in-law, q fact which he did
not communicate to his sister, the physi-
clans wife. One day the poor invalid,
while driving, felt a paroxysm Of pain
coming on, and told her coachman to
drive to the house of the doctor. He did
80. She got out, went in, Aud finding
him with other patients in his Office, re-
ceived draught of digitalis, or some
other well-known remedy, at his hands,
and partially recovered. But having to
leave her Immediately to take care of
the other patients, he called his wife and
left her in charge of her sister-in-law,
telling her to take care of her and see
her to her carriage, as she was in pre-
carious condition. The two ladies talked
together for a half hour, when the suf.
ferer arose and declared her intention OF
going home. She had just got to the
door of her carriage when she fell dead
on the sidewalk. She was of course
brought back to the doctors Office, where,
after every effort to resuscitate her had
failed, her husband was sent for and her
limbs were composed in death.
When the jealous man arrived his fury
knew no bounds. He accused the dead
in opprobrious terms; he accused the
doctor of having ruined his domestic
peace he raved like mailman nay, he
even refused to have the remains brought
to his own house, and declared that his
wife might be buried in the street for all
he cared. This awful scene was ended
by the arrival of his eldest son, a young
man of remarkable character, decision
and energy. He took his father home
and locked him up, and caused the re-
mains of his mother to be also brought
home, and made arrangements for hel
burial.
On the second day after her death, al
she lay in her coffin, her children weep
ing around her, and her husband, pale
and haggard, the greatest sufferer of all
standing at her feet, the doctors wife, the
sister-in-law, arrived. 1t seems that she
had tainted from the shock of seeing hel
sister die, and had herself been carried
eff to her own room, so that she had mol
known of the dreadful scene i'm the doc
tors Office, nor of her brothers new ac
cess of fury 80 she began quite uncon'
sciously to tell him and the children o.
her last conversation with their mother
As she did so the poor jealous maniac
began to tremble and relent.
"Were you with her during that visit
to your husbands Officer" said he.
"Yes, every moment" said the loyal
woman.
They all looked at the dead woman q,
they did 80 the rigid mouth relaxed ant
the two rows of white teeth became visi
BILE the smile grew |; it was sarcastic and
mocking, but Il was smile the hus
band looked at II with eyes which started
from his head; the youngest boy fel
down in ft; the eldest son, still remark
able for his self-possession, put his hant
on the cold, pale brow.
care you alive, dear mamma 7" said he
The smile changed; it grew infinitely
tender and sweet, and the mouth closed
a. IL had opened, mysteriously.
He ran out Of the room exclaiming
"She ivesl 1 will 60 for the doctor"
During this time one witness remainet
chained, ss he afterward said, to his pos
of observation; Il was the second son,
boy of fifteen. The father had moved I.
pick up the youngest boy, who had fallel
in q at; the aunt was consoling tn
youngest child, q girl yet too young b
understand the dreadful scene, ye
destined 70 be haunted by IL for life |; n
that their accounts Of the phenomenon
were various and somewhat contradic
tory. But the second boy, Theodore, di'
not take his eyes from his mothers face
He and Augustine, the eldest, con6rme'
each Others statements TO the doctor, an,
Theodore said that as the smile died ava
slight shudder seemed to pass over th
face.
The doctor found her quite dead, an
after, of course, every precaution ha
teen taken AGAINST premature intermen,