Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-11-13

sion? Not fear, nor bodily pain, but
something terrible, something name
less to u.s. While we were debating
these questions in smothered tones, the
cry came once again. This time in
words we understood: .ns
"Help! Oh! God! help"
cat this ineligible appeal to our
manhood, our superstitious weakness at
once disappeared. p Selling a torch
from our smouldering fire, we made
our way hastily toward a pile of rocks
few hundred yards distant, whence
the sound seemed to have proceeded.
Scrambling up the height, we came
suddenly upon a strange and mounful
scene. Before us stood small wretched-
looking hut, evidently constructed by
hands unused to such labor, unglazed,
and without chimney. There was a
dim light within, and through the open
door we saw the body of a man, ap-
parently lifeless, lying prone upon the
earthen 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 tragedy had taken place, and
| without a moments hesitation we en-
tered the but.
s'The woman raised her eyes as we
approached, but gave no further heed
to us. Apparently her great sorrow
had driven her mad despite the sor-
row visible on her features, she was
very beautiful. Her form was slight
and even attenuated, but in It's shabby
dress preserved traces of former refine
ment
"Her companion, a young man OF
about her own age, attlred IN wood
mans suit, had evidently succumbed
to hardship or disease, and was either
insensible or dead. His pinched and
CHASTITY countenance must have been
once very handsome, but now it looked
old and worn as that of man of 60. He
mad apparently fallen in the present po-
sitlon, and the girl had been unable to
raise him.
"My friend, the Doctor" continued
the worthy Professor. "surely, uncouth
and cynical as he commonly appears,
has as kind heat as ever beat in a
mans breast-no fatterv, my dear fell
have faults that more than counterbal-
ance your one good trait Well, gentle
men, he bent over the poor creature,
and IN a voice as gentle as a woman's
endeavored to arouse the girl from her
lethargy
"Who are you9" said he, 'and what
has happened?"
Gle is oead-deadw she muttered
hoarsely.
"'Perhaps it is not as bad as that"
he rejoined. Tell us all about it. We
| are friends. my dear, and medical men,
and may be able to assist you
He died this morning, before my
very eyes, she moaned, died, oh, my
God of starvation. And | never knew
he was depriving himself for my sake.
Oh my husband, why did you not let
me die with you? And she threw her
self across the body, sobbing as if her
poor heart would break: There were
tears in the Doctors eyes as he looked
at me-" added the Professor, with a
tremor in his voice, "and the rascal has
always sworn that my own We're not dry.
| That, however, is aside from the sub
ject.
Though we knew nothing Of these
two poor children-fOr they were but
little mOre-We felt that we had CHANGED
upon strange, sad story of love, pride,
and suffering, such as is rarely told, even
in this unhappy world.
'The Doctor stopped down and felt
at the heart of the PROSTATE man.
"'He is dead he whispered, motion
ing me to initiate his example.
eyes, Dead" replied, after exam
lining the corpse.
Glow We made the truth known to
the poor wife | did not rem ember. It
would seem that she had preserved
some faint remnant Of hope until our
assistance destroyed it utterly. With a
low groan she fell suddenly at our feet,
insensible. Although we were at a 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 for the poor girls
comfort that were possible.
aFortun ately the Doctor had his med
ical case in his pocket. Administering
a powerful sleeping portion to her, he
placed her IN happy Inconsistencies of
the events that were to follow. We then
proceeded to a more careful examina-
ton of the man.
Without vanity can say that both
the Doctor and myself have received
some few testimonials as to our scien-
tifc ability from the world. You will
probably believe that We are capable of
deciding upon very simple case of
death by starvation?" He paused, and
looked gravely around. Every good;
remember, then, that [ assert upon my
professional reputation that the man
was stone dead"
Yes" added the doctor, who lad
hitherto remained silent, ''the life must
have been extinct more than five hours
when we found him. y 1s..-.rt3t
"Well," 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 IN no
mood for conversation the STARTLING OK