The Red Cloud chief., 1882-09-22

A. . hsrd's wing sprrai % dee:
6he turned her weary srms 60 Death.
And the light Of her eyes to me.
II c. Banner. IN Cenfsry Ma0ostsG
-
the MANIAC CHEMIST.
Years had passed since I had seen the
metropolis OF America-New York.
reached the city the morning Of the 23d
Of May. 1856. and arriving 1t the house
Of my friend. Richard Carver, l found q
piece Of Grape tied to the knocker.
"Who Is deadr' was my mental
question. as; hesitating not, I opened
the door and entered the parior, where
found MI. Carver and his wife sobbin2
~ though their hearts were breaking.
Mine was . silent greeting, and I soon
learned the cause OF my friends distress
-Carlotta. their only child. lay shrouded
for the tomb In the room over my head.
She had died the evening preceding
my arrival, Of . strange disease, after
IN illness Of . few short hours. Alive
in the morning-lsughing 1t the break
fast table; but at night dead her sin.
less soul in the haven OF eternal rest.
With slow steps l accompanied the
gricf-stricken father up stairs, and we
stood by the coffin which contained the
form OF his beloved CarlOtta. She
looked very beautiful. even in the sleep
OF death-hcr face wore q smile rs II
given In response TO the beckOnings of
angels. Her golden hair lay upon her
white-robed breast, crossed by her
snow-white hands. / laid my hand
upon the beautiful ~trcsscs, inwardly
wishing that ] might become the posses
o of one.
At that moment Mr.. Carver. rs IL
divining my thoughts, stopped. severed
n Of the locks Of the lovely dead, and
placed IL in my hand.
MARX" he said. II am about TO ask
OF you . favor" here he brushed the
tears from his eyes. "Some n must
watch tonight. and I wish that you per-
form that duty-you were q friend to
poor Carlotta."
/ told him l accepted the trust. He
thanked me. and covering the cold
face again. we re..oined his a20nized
wife below. Time passed gIoomily
enough till nightfall. when. taking sew
eral books and q lamp. I made nv way
to the chamber OF death. After look
ing upon the face of Carlotta, I set the
lamp upon the table and seated myself
near il.
/ o o found that the books / had
brought along were uninteresting-I
had taken them Mt random frum the
parlor~ table-and that they would not
keep me awake. l laid them aside,
and picking up the lamp. began search
ing the room for others. On the top
most shelf Of . clothes-press I encount-
cred q volume entitled =. Philosophy of
Life. Death and Immortality" and
with It resumed my seal. Upon the
ffy-leaf Of the book / saw in delicate let
tors the name Of her who was so near me
and 90 still. and I resolved to read the
book for her sake. Soon I was deeply
interested. and page after page my eyes
By-and-by I heard footsteps in :hr
hall. and l knew my sorrowing friends
were seeking their room for the pur.
pose Of retiring. At last read the
last sentence Of the old volume, closed
It. and fell back In the rocking chair in
sort OF doxe. ! was only in q semi.
unconscious state, for I heard the rattle
of vehicles over the stony streets, and
the loud voices Of those going home-
ward from the theaters. Before closing
my eyes i had turned the light low, and
objects in the room were thereby rem.
dered somewhat indistinct.
cannot say how long I remained in
my lethargic Sleep when / heard steps
ascending the stairs. The footsteps
were those OF some one Invested OF |
shoes. Iroused myself and listened.
The steps approached.
20. It's only Mr.. or Mrs. Carver
coming 70 take . longing look Al Car.
lotta." ! unused. They think I sleep. |
and move easily % IS not to disturb
ma"
Presently the door opened and the
person entered the room. By the dim
light / saw the outlines Of . man. He |
vent over 10 the coffin and began to lift
Carlotta from Il.
Tho body was partially lifted from
the cof1n. when I turned the light up
end e flashed upon the intruder. The
dead fell from his arms and he stood
erect He was not Nj. Carver. but .
stranger to my sight h was nearly
- tail 50 I, and his arms told me that
he had the strength Of the Ncmean
Hon. His hair was brushed bc Ind his
ears and his eyes-oh, those dark.
flashing orbs-told me that I faced .
madman. / tremb)ed Is the truth
flashed upon my brain. was alone
and unarmed with the deed and the in
sane. and IN al probability I would
have to fight the latter for tho former.
In vain / tried 70 look those ewes
down-they cont.nued to elare into
mine. Then I thought I might calm
the mailman by words
This b . beautiful night my friend"
! began. trying TO carry his thoughts
away from the deed.
Yes; the stars shine like her eyes
"a ence." and be pointed TO poor Car
Iv,s STA loss how to ,roceed. rhe
next moment he strode forward and
cxiod:
"Dst she i dead. They killed her.
hocanne they hated her. She shall 81
- t1oaGA. for I'll that / possess
4qui4 list can bring The dead 20 life.
H. Hqn66 va INT 10 No from TIE ,,
4ide hnd be5ond the Srave; The
nngobHthose Who hurled Satan over
- ba1t1e0eab a Heaven-broueAt Il
- tAousand years go I viii r-
Itoc0 n1o 30 ny Cax1ottA, and thea tAe
IAGe1s q Heaven nor Tie 1ends a
49, conn0t tear her lrum M Idefy
II aGain tuned 70 Tie ooGn and lata
y ha1ds upoa ~ dad !
~lAefh9 husy Aer," I satd. suo0yt,
III eeQ1A SIAen 10 Vim oome a19 j