Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-10-22

a ring for my future wife. We expected
the engagement to be long one; but the
rector of this parish died suddenly, and
my great uncle, in whose gift the living
was, presented me to it. The reetor's
death took place in February. / read
myself in on Easter Sunday; and on the
first of June we were married. Isuppose
that every newly married husband and
wife think themselves the happiest peo-
pie in the world; but I honestly believe
that we really were 50. We had not only |
each other, but we had everything else
that we could possibly desire-a larger
income than we needed, work that was
thoroughly congenial to both of us, few
real friends, any number of pleasant ae-
ouaintances, and an utter freedom from
all anxiety.
''This unalloyed happiness lasted for
six months, when my VIC $ health fall
ed in mysterious manner. She began
to be subject to strange fits of languor,
physical depression, and drowsiness,
which gradually became longer and more
frequent. / had advice at once; but the
doctors seemed completely at sea. The
organs, they said, were perfectly sound;
and though the action of the heart was
not quite so strong as it ought to be, there
was absolutely nothing to account for
the symptoms. At last she took to her
bed; and she had not been in bed a
week, when one evening left her, ap-
parently much the same rs usual, and
went into my study to spend couple OF
hours over my next Sunday mornings
sermon. / had been down stairs only
about three quarters of an hour, when
my wife's sister, who had been sitting
with her during my absence, burst into
the room and threw herself upon me, ex-
claiming: 80 James! she's dead! Our
darling Kate's dead!"
"You can imagine the shock she gave
me; but it never occurred to me to I'M
agine that what she said was really true.
thought nothing but that the strain OF
anxiety had been too much for the poor
girl, and that she had temporarily lost
her reason. did my best to calm her;
and soon succeeded, for she began to talk
so lucidly, that Twas compelled not only
to listen but to heed. She said that she
and one of the servants had been watch
ing by my wife, who was apparently
sleeping peacefully, when they had botf
been startled by peculiar change in hel
countenance. They listened for the
sound of her breathing; but heard moth
ing. They had then held hand-mirrol
to her mouth but it remained uncloud
ed. They had felt for the pulsation o
q her heart; but it had ceased to beat, ant
' her body was deathly cold. The servan
had gone to tell one of the men to saddl
! a horse and ride hard for the neares
7 doctor; while she had come to me to tie
the terrible news and bid me be calm
Calm was out of the question. l tor
myself away and rushed up stairs. The
# were idiots-they were demented; br
&c still there was haunting fear which
4 must dispel for myself. And yet l WI
= so sure that my wife could not be dea'
;. that summoned sufficient presence
Of mind to open the door gently and wa
,p softly to the bed. leaned over it, ar
f. said, not loudly, but distin city: Kat
IN darling, are you asleepP
y. But before l had spoken the Ia
n word, was convinced. l had Sc
. death often, and was sure that l knew
r. too we'll not to recognize it a glance
h new shrieked instead of whisperin
q but there was no answer, and fu
nd myself full length upon the bed in vol
~ less agony. must have become alm'
od or entirely unconscious; for l neN
OF. knew of the doctors presence III
70. room until l felt his hand upon my AZ
al He said: My dear Mr.. Fitzpatrick,
TTo must try and bear it like man an
m Christian for your wife is dead; she
I a been dead more than an hour
,;r "How I felt, cannot tell you.
a prostrate with grief; and prostrate l
w. manned for three days. The necess
" preparations for the funeral were m
in by my wife's brother, and l really
-. unaware of what had been done.
ma the evening of the third day l he
: is stealthy footsteps ascending the sta
- and felt rather than knew that t
ILL., were the footsteps of the men who
bor come to close up the coffin. l heard
I;os door open; then for few m'~77tes IL
.,,o was a silence; ard then / heard OF
d. and lighter footsteps descending,
lowed by tap at the study door
49, 49, said: Come in;' and when the
- opened, I saw that it was an old h
~ of my wife's, who had come to see
: wv, ~ living, and found her dead. IF
;, " - please, sir she said, giving my wife
- Ca old familiar name, they cannot ge
80 80 rings off Miss Kate's finger; and
want to know what they must do
~, Il had been apathetic; but in
~. ment was enraged, and shouted !
them onr in tones which made the
W ' woman beat terrified retreat. L
,oaS ''l completely unnerved by what SCENT
80 49, outrage upon the remains that we
~ dear and sacred to me; but | coulC
: move to make more effectual pr
and / soon sank into the lethargy
said ,uh;oh had hpen aroused The
par passed, as the preceding nights
ouSih passed, sleeplessly and wearily.
"a l,,,,o and cot in tho studv until