Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-07-24
THE NATIONS DEAD.
Continued from rir., Page

with slightly gaspIng reepirations.
Mrs. Grant, calm but with intense
agitation bravely suppressed, took
seat close by the bedside. She leaned
slightly upon the cot, resting upon her
right elbow, and gaZed with tear
blinded eyes into the generals face.
She found there, however, no
token OF recognition from the sick
man, who was peacefully
and painlessly passing into another life.
Mrs. Gar .oris came behind her mother,
and, leaning overher shoulder, so
witnessed the clo.e Of the life In which
she had constituted strong element
OF pride. Directly behind Mrs, Grant
and Mrs. Sartoris, and little distance
removed, stood Doctors Douglas,
Shrady and Sands, spectators Of the
closing life their Efforts and counsel
had so long prolonged.
On the opposite side of the bed from
his mother and directly before her
stool Jesse Grant and u. 5 Grant,
Jr and near the corner of the cot on
the same side as Jesse and near him
was Mr.. Aida Watson. Gen. Grants
stenographer and confidential secre-
tary. At the foot OF the bed and gs2'
ing directly down into the generals
face was Mrs. Col. Fred Grant, Mrs.
u. : Grant, Jr and Mira Jesse Grant,
while somewhat removed from the
family circle, Henry, the nurse, and
Harrison Terrell the generals body
servant, were respectively watching
the closing life OF the patient, their
master. DR.. Newman had repaired to
the hotel to breakfast, and was not
present. The generals little grand.
children, Z. ). Grant, Jr., and Nellie,
were
SLEEPISG THE SLEEP or CHILDHOOD
ia the nursery room above. Otherwise
the entire family and household were
gathered at the bedside of the dying
man. The members of the group had
been summoned not moment sooner
than was prudent. The doctor motto.
ed on entering the room and pressing
10 the bedside, that already the pur-
phi IN tide, which Is one of Natures
signs OF final dissolution, had settled
ben eath the hugor-nails. The hand
that DR.. Douglas lifted was fast grow
ing colder than ii had been through
the night. The pulse had huttered be-
yond the point where the doctor could
distinguish il from the pulse beats in
his own finger-tips. The respiration
was very rapid. and was q succession
o. shallow painting, but happily
THE APPROACHING END
was becoming clear of the rafting
fnllness Of the throat and lungs, and
tt e respirations grew quicker and
more rapid. At the close they also be-
came less lsbored and almost noise
less. This fact was In its results
comfort to the watchers by the bed
side, TO whom WAS spared the scene of
an agonialng or other than peaceful
death. The wife almost constantly
strosed the face, forehead and hands
of the dying general, and at times, as
the passionate longing to prevent the
event 80 near would rise within her,
Mrs Grant pressed both his hands
aud leaning forward tendtrly kissed
the face OF the dying man.
Col. Fred Grant sat eilently but
with evident feeling, though mis- bear.
ing was that OF soldierly son at the
death-bed of hero father. u. S
Grant, Jr., was deeply moved, tut
Jesse Grant bore the scene steadily,
and the ladies, while watching with
wet cheeks, were silent, es betitted
II II IluNll1 Or IHE SIENE
that WAS closing before them, The
morning had passed to five minutes
beyond o'clock, and there was not
one OF the strained and waiting watch
ers but who could mark the nearness
OF the llfe'tlde to Its final ebbing. DIR.
Douglas noted the nearness of the gu.
preme moment and quietly APP.
preached the bedside and Dent over ii,
and yuhiln hn did M ~
the gray-haired doctor seemed
closely with that of the
family. Dr. Shrady also drew near.
and the eyes of the general were
closing. His breathing grew more
hushed as the last functions of the
heart and lungs fastened the closing
OF the ex.presldentis life. A peaceful
expression seemed to be deepening in
the firm and strong-lined face and it
was reflected "a closing com fort in
the sad hearts that beat quickly under
the stress OF loving suspense. A
minute more passed and was closing.
A. the general drew deeper breath,
there was an exhalation like that OF
one relieved Of long and anxious ten
sion. The members of the group
were impelled each step nearer the
bed and each waited to note the next
respiration, but 1t did not come,
THEN II NEVER CAME.
There was absolute stiffness in the
room and hush of expectant suspense
No sound broke the stiffness save the
singing OF the birds in the pines out.
side the cottage and the measure d
throbbing of the engine that all night
had waited by the little mountain de.
pot down the slope.
1T Ia all over" quietly spoke DIR.
Douglas, and then came heavily to
each witness the realization that Gen.
Grant was dead. Then the doctors
withdrew. The nurse closed the eye
lids and composed the dead general 3
head, after which each OF the family
group
PRESSED AT THE BEDSIDE
one after the other and touched his
lips upon the quiet face 80 lately still.
DR.. Shrady passed out upon the piazza,
and as he did so met DIR. Newman
Fastening up the steps
HE is dead, - rem arked DR.. Shrady
quietly. The fact OF having heen