The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-12
A Singular Case of "Suspended Ami.
nation"

events told below, the main facts of the
narrative are given on undoubted au-
thority, and the story is believed to be
IN its essential particulars strictly true:
In a family of excellent social position,
residing not thousand miles from Bos-
ton the wedding of a young daughter
was but few days distant Notes of |
preparation precursory of the glad
event re-echoed in the family mansion;
busy fingers put the finishing touches
on the bridal outfit; the tongues of the |
Women-folks ratified with plans for
future consummation; the drawing
room mirrors reflected no faces I'M
wreathed with smiles. Great frolic the |
young people made over the coming
marriage, and merrier, happier house
hold would have been hard to find.
On the night in question jollity was I'M
usually rife. This was the evening
when the preliminary rehearsal for the
ceremony was taking place, and in the
parlorS the to-be bride and bridesmaids
were practicing their parts in the inn
portant programme for the day, dis
turbed only by the door-bell's jingle
now and then as some new present for
the bride reached the house. 1t was a
gay and boisterous company, and scarce
a corner of the ample mansion was
there unreached by the voices, now
chattering, now laughing, of the merry
party in the parlors. Yes, the cheer
full sounds, though half subdued, found
their way even into the upper room
where sat the dear grandmother of the
eXpectant bride, brisk in spite of her
eighty or ninety years, and reminding
her of such a time of Joy in her own
youth, now so long gone by, brought to
her face smiles which fingered in peace
full serenity. And her son, man well
along in life, seated for companionship
by her side, heard them too, and was
happy at the hearing.
An interval of silence came by chance
in the conversation which had been 90
ing on between the mother and son;
both were listening to the revelry below
A moment later the son looked up, and
his lips parted to again address his
mother. As he did so, the words died
away unuttered and he sprang to his
feet. A strange, fixed stare was in the
eyes of his mother; her head dropped
upon her breast; below the cap which
covered the gray HAIR the mouth, from
the dropping of the jaw, was open wide,
yet gave forth neither voice nor breath;
her wan hands were clenched; she had
fallen back in her chair. He spoke to
| her; there was no answer; only the
| CLASSY eyes and the motionless mouth.
He placed his hands upon her face and
limbs; they were cold and rigid; her
pulse gave no responsive throb to the
pressure of his thumb; in vain he list
ened for the beating of her heart. The
old lady was dead And outside the
December wind whistled and up from
below stole the laughter and gayety of
the rollickers practicing for the mar
riage. In the midst of life we are in
death" She was dead, and what was
to be done? What was to become of
the wedding which the next day but
one was to see? Could bride issue in
-->"rr; "sa ea"n,nnts from house in
which her own kin lay robed for burial?
Horrible! and yet how cruel to turn
the gladness of the household into
mourning, and get ready for the bride
on her wedding morning a veil of black
instead of white! Such must have been
the thoughts of the son as he stood be-
fore his dead mother. And there was
no abatement in the mirth and frolick-
ing in the parlor. How awful to damp
en- the spirits of the buoyant company
with news of the death! What shock
for the light-hearted bride Could he
not keep the sad fact from her, from
them all, until the morrow, at least?
Was it possible? He would try. Yet,
determined as he was not to spoil the
happiness of the evening, the Offices of
death must be performed, and these he
could not do alone. He went down.
stairs as though nothing had happened
and, summoning his wife unnoticed
from the parlor, broke the news to her
and, regained with her the room up
stairs. To have sent for assistance in
laying out the corpse would have been
| to alarm the household. Man and wife
laid her out as quietly as possible them
selves. BY the time the remains were
disrobed, washed and covered with a
sheet, the company downstairs had
dispersed. The bride had gone to her
chamber unconscious of her grand
mothers death. 1t would be time
enough to tell her in the morning, poor
thing. A board was then got and on
it was placed the old lady. The win
dows were thrown open that the chill
night air might assist in preserving the
remains. The door was locked upon
the corpse alone in the cold and dark
ness, and the tired workers sought rest.
There was an awful stiffness through
the house, but the bride was asleep, un-
conscious of the grief and disappoint-
ment which was to be hers in the morn
ing. None but the two helpmates knew
that the stiffness was the awful hush of
death.
The sun the next day streamed early
in through the open window of the
apartment where the dead woman Law,
and the sheet which concealed her pal
lid form moved gently at intervals with
the wind that came in with the sun
beams. The husband and wife were in
the room with the corpse; they had
hurried to get up to perfect the arrange
ments for the funeral. In low tones they
were discussing what must be done. |
The undertaken and the minister must
be notified, the time for the interment
set, the mourning dresses ordered-and |