The Osceola times., 1878-11-23

moved both waited for renewal of the
cry, in the hope of arriving at some ra-
tional explanation of it.
Again it came but now like low,
tremulous sob. / am not a superstitious
man, gentleman, but confess that sat
there shiveriDg with species of horror
that was utterly new to me. What could
it be? Not living woman, surely,
slone ard suffering in an inacces .ible
fastness where we were certain nothing
human dwelt. And then what misery
was it that gave itself such uncanny
expression. Not fear, nor bodily pain,
but something terrible, something name
less to us. While we were debating
these questions in smothered tones, the
cry came once again. This time in words
we understood:
"'Helpl Oh, God help'
Z" At this ineligible appeal to our
manhood, our superstitious weakness at
once disappeared. Selling torch from
our smoldering fire, we made our way
hastily toward pile of rocks few hum
dred yards distant, whence the sound
seemed to have proceeded. Scrambling
up the height, We came suddenly upon a
strange and mournful scene Before us
stood small and wretched looking hut,
evidently constructed by hands unused
to such labor, upgiazed, and without n
chimney. There was dim light within,
and through the open door we saw the
body of a man, apparently lifeless, lying
prone upon the earthen floor. Beside
him, with arms flying wildly over her
/ baoI tna1t th, Hnnra pf a uronon owl.
| IDENTIFY the one whose cries had alarmed
us. 1t needed but a glance to assure us
that some strange tragedy had taken
place, and without moments hesitation
we entered the hut.
"The woman raised her eyes rs We
approached, but gave no further heed to
us. Apparently her great sorrow had
driven her distracted She was young
creature, hardly twenty, should judge,
and, despite the signs OF hardship and
sorrow visible on her features, very beau
tiIpl. Her form was slight and even at.
tenuated, but in its shabby diess pre-
served traces OF former refinement.
Her companion, a young man OF
| about her own age, attired in a wood
msu's suit, had evidently succumbed to
hardship or disease, and was either in
sensible or dead. His pinched and gnastly
countenance must have been once very
handsome, but now it looked old and
worn as that OF man of sixty. Hehsd
apparently fallen in the present position,
and the girl mad been unable to raise
him.
"My friend, the Doctor" continued
the worthy Professor, "surely, uncouth
and cynical a. he commonly appears, has
as kind a heart as ever beat in mans
breast fattery, my dear fellow, for
it must be confessed that you have faults
that more than counterbalsnce your one
good trait. Well. gentlemen, he bent
over the poor creature, and in voice "a
gentle as woman's, endeavored to arouse
the girl from her legarthy.
"'Who are you p said he, and what
has happened?
"'He is dead-desd 7 she muttered,
boarsely.
"'Perhsps it is not as bad as that he
reoined. Tell us all about it. We are
friends, my dear, and medical men, and
may be able TO assist you
"'ne died this morning. before my
|
God of starvation. And never knew
he WAS depriving himself ior my sake.
On, my husband why did you not let
me die with your And she threw her
self across the body, sobbing as if her
p)or heart would break. There were
Iesrs in the Doctors eyes as he locke d
at me," added the Professor, with a
tremor in his voice, and the rascal has
always sworn that my own were not dry.
That, however, is aside from the subject.
Though we knew nothing of these
two poor children--for they were but
lttle more-we felt that we had CHANGED
upon strange, sad story OF love, pride
and suffering, such rs isiaiely tcld, even
in this unhappy world.
" Tue Doctor stopped down and felt at
the heart OF the PROSTATE man.
"'He is dead, he whispered, notion
iug me to initiate his example.
"'Yes, Dead | replied, after exam.
lining the corpse.
Z" How we made the truth known to
the poor wife do not remember. Ii
would seem thai she had preserved some
faint remnant OF hope until our assist
ance destroyed it utterly. With low
,roan, she tell suddenly at our feet insen-
sibe. Although we were at loss what
course to pursue, we felt it no more than
our duty to remain in the hut for the
night, and on the morning to make the
best arrangements Tor the poor girl'scom-
fort that were possible.
Fortunately, the Doctor mad his
medicine case IN his pocket. Admiuis,
tering powerful sleeping potion to her,
he placed her in happy unconsciousness
of the events that were TO follow. We
then proceeded to more careful exam.
ination Of the man.
"Without vanity, | can say that both
the Doctor and myself have received
some feS testimolisiS ~ to our scieDtinc
ability - IN ,he w.lIl. Y1u viii prob
ably believe that We are capable ,fdecid'
ing upon a very simple case Of death by
s,sivaiionf' He paused, aud locked
gravely nrou ID. "Very good remem-
Der, then. that ! assert upon ny proies-
siunai reputation that the man was stone
dead.
"Yes," aided the Doctor, who had
hitherto remained silent, the life mus,
have been extinct mo than five bouis
when we found him"
"Weil." continued the Professor, with
increasing gravity, having satisfied
ourselves upon this point, we covered
the corpse decently and sat down to wait
for morning. though n no mood fol
conversation, the startiag experience o.
the evening kept us both awsk. for sev.
eral hours. Bat AT length, completely
overcome by wesIiHess sad excitement,