The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-11-27
,sET. Pa. WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 27, ls7s

again it came, but now like a
low tremulous sob am not su.
Iperstitious man, gentlemen, bat ]
confes that sat here shivering with
q species of horror that was utterly
new to me. Whas could it be ? Not
q living woman. surely alone and suf-
fering in an inaccessible fastness
where we were morally certain moth
ing human dwelt And then what
misery was it that gave itself such
uncanny expression? No fear nor
bodily pain, but something terrible;
something namelese to US. While
we were debating these questions in
smothered tones the cry came once
again. This time 10 words we un-
derstood:
Help! Oh! Godi Help 2
"At this intelligent appeal to our
manhood, our superstitious weakness
at once disappeared. Seizing a torch
from our smouldering FIRE, we made
our way hastily toward a pile OF
rocks few yards distant, whence
the sound seemed te have proceeded.
Scrambling up the height We came
suddenly upon a strange and mourn
full scene. Before as stood small
wretched looking lat, evidently con-
structed by hands unused to such
labor, unglazed and without Chin
ney. There was ssdim light within,
and through the open door we saw
the body of a man apparently lifeless
lying prone upon the floor. Beside
him. with arms flying wildly over her
head, knelt the figure of woman,
evidently the one whose cries had
alarmed us. 1t needed but glance
to assure US that some strange TRACE
dy bad taken place, and without q
moments hesitation we entered the
hut.
"Tbe woman raised her eyes as
we approached, but gave no further
heed to US. Apparently her great
sorrow had driven her distracted.
She was young creature, hardly
twenty, l should judge, and despite
the signs of hardship and sorrow Wis
ible on her features. very beautiful.
Her form was slight and even attic nu.
ated, but in its shabby dress preserved
traces of former refinement.
Her companion, q young man Of
about her own age, attired in q coarse
woodman's suit, had evidently sue
cumbed to hardship or disease, and
was either insensihle or dead His
pinched and ghastly conntenance
must have been once very handsome,
but now it looked old and worn as
that of man of sixty. He had ap-
parently fallen in his present position,
and the girl had been unable to raise
him.
my friend, the doc.or," continued
the worthy professor, surely uncouth
and cynical as be commonly appears,
has as kid a heart. as ever beat in a
mans breast-no flsttery, my dear fel-
low, but it must BE- confessed tha:
you have faults that more than coun-
terbalance your one good trait. Well,
gentlemen, he bent over the poor
creature, and in q scice as gentle as
womaa's endeavosed to arouse the
girl from her lethargy
Who are you p said be, and
what has happened "
Il, IzoI H.
hoarsely.
Perhaps il is not as bad as that,
be rejoined. Tell US about it. We
are friends, my dear, and medical
men, and may be able tc assist you
He died this morning, before my
very eyes, she moaned, died. oh, my
God of starvation. And l never
knew that he was depriving himself
for my sake. Oh, my husband, why
did you not let me die with you p
And she threw berself across the
body and sobbed as though her poor
heart would break. There were
tears in the doctors eyes as he look
ed at me- added the professor, with
tremor in his voce, and the rascal
has always sworn that my own were
not dry. That, however, is aside
from, the subject
"The doctor stopped down and
felt at the heart Of the PROSTATE
man.
He is dead be whispered, mo-
tioning me TO initiate his example.
"'Yes, dead l replied, after exam
ining the corpse.
How we made the truth known
to the poor wife | do not remember
1t would seen that che preserved
some faint remnant of hope until our
assurance destroyed it utterly With
low groan she fell suddenly at our
feet, insensible. Although at loss
to know what course to pursue, we
felt it no more than our duty to re-
main 10 tie hut for the night; and on
the morning to make the best arrange
ments for the poor girls comfort that
were possible.
Fortunately tie doctor had his
medical case in his pocket. Admin.
istering a powerful sleeping potion to
her, he placed her in happy uncon-
sciousness of the events that were to
follow. We then proceeded to q
more careful examination of the
man.
Without vanity l can say that
both the doctor and myself have re-
ceived some few testimonials as to
our scientific ability from the world.
You will probably believe that we
are capable Of deciding upon very
simple case Of death by starvation"
be paused and looked grav-ly around.
"Very, good, remember then, that l
assert. upon my professional reputa-
ton, that the man was stone dead"
Yes added the doctor, who had
hitherto remained silent, "the life
must have been extinct more than
FIVE hours when we found him."
"Well," continued the professor,
with increasing gravity, having sat-
isfed ourselves upon this point, we
covered the corpse decently, and sat
down to wait for morning. Though
in 10 mood for conversation, the
startling experience of the evening
kept us both awake for several hours.
But at length, completely overcome
with WEAKNESS and excitement, l fell
into light slumber-
almost Immediately, it seemed, 1
was awakened with shout. The