Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-03-06

had so moved Deswick were closed. an
the pale pink lips were just parted as
to speak her body was deathly cold
but she breathed. AS they gazed int
the face blemish to her beauty wa
seen in tiny scar, as wide and as lon,
as penknife blade, on her left temple
broadened line shade whittier than tn
white face. Some one, frightened at tn
vision, gently pushed back the vel, ant
others tried to move her away from th,
terrible scene; but with little gesture
she declined the aid, and knelt besid,
| the body of poor Tricatrac. It was bu
a glance; one of agony, apparently, fol
she swayed to and fro, a touch of face tC
face, and then the ladies interfered anG
forced her into another room, where she
sat passiOnless and griefless to all ap
pearanceS, a shadow incarnate.
AS the dead man had no known rela.
tives or acqQaintances, unless Mr.. Mel
son were classed among the latter, the
funeral took place from Mr.. Nelson's
house, attended only by those who had
Witness the closing tragedy of his life.
FFhrough the Intervention Of Mr. Des-
wick. no account was published Of the
events attendant upon the death scene,
and as far as possible, every incident
connected with the young woman was
suppressed for many and obvious rea
sons. She was puzzle to the best ply
sicians in the city, who, uniformed as
to her strange appearance. one and all
diagnosed her case as simply 2 wasting
away consequent upon loss of appetite
Any hint at supernatural causes Was
pooh poohed by the learned men Of pills
and plasters- But the girl, herself, was
a proof, semiliving if you choose, of
causes which the doctors would not ad
nit as existing or possible to exist
FROM the very minute she was removed
from the cold body of poor Tricatric she
did not exhibit sign of interest in any,
thing. She did not attend the funeral,
nor .ven desire to see the face of the
dead for the last time. Dumb and stolid,
she submitted to the attentions of the
ladies, and sat, with closed eyes, wher-
ever she was placed, or stood, like a
statue, at the window, watching the
skies. After three or four days of this
sort Of existence, the Nelson's began to
weary of their charge. The novelty of
the possession wore off: She began to
be burden. They wanted no dummy,
even though she were proof of materi-
alism that began, in their minds, to wear
the possibility of deception though
when that deception began, or whence
it was derived, they could not under
stand or even conjecture. Deswick, who
came daily to see her, submitted more
and more to a subtle fascination. Her
unearthly beauty; the mystery of her
coming; the strange prelongation of life
without food or drink; her loneliness
and mute misery won his heart, and one
glance of her wonderful eyes moved him
to passion Of love such as no human
being had ever excited in his breast
When, after a week, it became a serious
question as to what should be done with
the poor creature, Deswick rejoiced at
the opportunity which enabled him to
take her to his hame and leave her in
the company of his mother, who, hav-
ing seen her, took, like the SOD, great
fancy to the poor thing.
She manifested no emotion when car
ried awav,s gave no indication Of sur
prise when placed before the cheerful
fire ia the parlor grateo Deswick's cot
tage. And the mother. anxious to please,
-friad her 4.ast wissninS ways to break
the rounded stiffness of what she called
the "sweet, cold lips" The son gave
her the name of "angel." and guarded
her as If she were one, with jealousy
of watchfnlness that was painful. AS
for the object of all this solicitude, there
was in her no symptom Of feeling mani
fesed. no indication of humanity other
than motion and the slow turning of her
magnificent eyes, She seemed lost in s.
melancholy which kindness could not
dispel or love soften. Nothing surprised
or startled her. and The hours of the day
were passed by her in watching the
heavens or the fire light.
Upon poor Deswick's life fell blight.
He lost interest in his professional work,
and neglected it that he might attempt
to arouse this strange creature from her
apathy. He would sit by her side, hold
ing her cold hand in his and looking
hungrily at her wasting face; but neith-
er face nor hands gave indication of hu-
man emotion nor of consciousness of his
alteration. 1t was like studying beau
tiful lstatue-warmth, passion, hunger in
the one, in the other marble.
Milton" said his mother, the third
day after her coming, Milton, this
watching is killing YOU"
II know it, I" was his quiet response.
And you are in love with her."
II am. mother" Just as quietly
mo-" rising and forcing laugh !;
"only fascinated. Who can help it?''
80, my son! you are bewitched. This
creature is not a human thing. She
neither speaks, eats nor drinks. She is
dead to life in mind as in body. She is
fading away like shadow. Go away,
m son, from the city until she is really
dead, and save that peace of mind which
is going from you."
Don't m other! know what you say
is true. But-well! Icdnnot leave her.
Let my feelings kill me if they can. 1
am in love with her, whether she be an
gel or-or devil. Atthe worst the ques-
ton of suspense is only for few days.
lThen-whO can say what will happen
then ?'
During their conversation the "angel"
sat not five feet away, and gave no sign
that she heard the words or felt their
meaning.
The fifth day after her arrival at Mrs
Deswick's and the thirteenth since the
night when Mr.. TE.catrac introduced
her to life, Mrs. DesWick reported to her
son that their strange guest was unable
to leave her bed. 'fShe is going very
fast. think" said the good woman
"and though I dislike to say anything
about her to strangers. 1 believe / will
ask our new neighbor, Mr.. Coughlin,
to come in and sit by her in the after
noon"
Deswick drank his coffee, but ate
nothing. "Don't leave her alone, moth
er, whatever you do, he entreated, "and
send for me if there is any sudden
change" and went away.
The 'sangel" grew worse-that is to
say, weaker, but suffering no pain. The
new neighbor came in about two o'clock.
She was a handsome woman of forty
years of age, widow, and III deep
mourning. The black dress drew out
Mrs: Deswick's sympathy, and she told
her how sorry she was to see that she
had been afflicted.
II lost my husband ten years ago.
said Mrs. Coughlin, '.just after the war
| am from Alabama, and my husband
fought for-for the South. He died from
his wounds. Three years ago my daugh
ter, my dear, dear girl, only eighteen
and so loving, so handsome, died" Hel
eyes filled with tears, and she began tt
sob and moan, and to rock herself to anc
fro.
Don't, madam, don't! beg of you
to be calm," pleaded Mrs. Deswick. III
the next room, the woman my son loves