The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-11-26

WltH neF ueau.
AS the sad truth was forced upon her
she sank upon her knees by the bedside.
her head resting upon the cold lifeless
hand of her husband which was clasped
between her own. For few minutes
she lost sight of everything save the
sense of utter dcsolation which filed
her heart. AT last through the open
window was borne to her ears the
rumbling of q cart down the deserted
street. and the call of the dead bearers:
bring out your deadn'
The sound reused all her dormant
energies, and a wild hope sprang up
in her heart that life Nigh, not be quite
extinct in her husband. Springing to
her feet she rang the bell for. Katie,
who responded to her summons.
"Do not let them in. she cried. ex-
citedly. Tell them he is not dead.
l know he is still alive and they shall,
not take him. / can revive him if they
will only give me time
Katie looked from the cold, rgio
body of the husband to the white,
agonized face OF the wife. and feared
that grief had driven her mistress
insane, but she obeyed the request and
the death cart passed on its rounds.
Mrs zimmerman had by this time be-
come thoroughly possessed of the idea
that life still fingered in the apparently
dead body of her husband, and the
thought OF having him taken away for
burial was too terrible to contemplate.
If She could only gain time she felt sure
she could revive him, though why she
should so strongly hold to such belief
she could not have explained; but hope
she did. and proceeded to renew all
her efforts which had previously proved
in vain.
Withthe energy Of despair she worked
on, and again the dead bearers entered
the room.
1--WE must take the body now. Mad
am, the man said who appeared to be
in authority. I'VE can only hope to stay
the epidemic by the prompt removal of
the dead and thorough disinfection of
the houses"
But he is not dead" sir. she persist
ed, "See!" holding q hand mirror over
his lips, there is little moisture"
The man looked closely and shook
his head.
"Your hopes deceive YOU" he said,
kindly; she is surely dead and we must
take his body"
With wild cry of agony she fell on
her knees, beseeching them with tears
to give her just one half hour more.
The men gently put her aside, trying
to reason with her on the necessity of
their own course, but she only pleaded
the more earnestly. At last. finding
reasoning in vain, they attempted to
lay hands upon the body. but thrust.ng
them aside she threw herself down be-
side her husband, and clasping him in
her arms declared with an agonizing
vchcmence that awed the men:
"If you take him you shall bury me
with him. Twill not let him GO
AS the men stepped back she renew
ed her pleadings.
Give me only one half hour. II
there are no signs of life then / will
ask no more. v
Reluctantly the men yielded, and
left her alone once more to her hope
less task.
This time she saturated tlanncls
with hot mustard water, and enveloped
both body and limbs; then common cine
with the purple nails she rubbed each
finger vigorously downward to start the
congealed blood. Every few minutes sht
put drop of brandy in his mouth
and raising his head applied strong
hartshorn to his nostrils. Fivc--ten
fifteen twenty minutes passed. Only
ten m nutes more of that precious halt
hour which meant life or death to her.
She redoubled her efforts, Another
five minutes passed-still no change,
the face seemed even more death-like
the icy limbs more rigid. She raised
his head upon her arm and administer
ed more brandy, then applied the bottle
OF hartShorn to his nostrils. She glanc.
ed anxiously at the clock only two
, minutes more. and far down the street
came the rumble of the death cart. an(
like death knell rang out the solemn
f cry, Bring out your dead" Sh,
: raised her pallid face to Heaven will
an agonized cry.
80, my God! my God! Save him!
: cannot give him up"
The head resting on her arm fel
backwaSis the bottle shook in hel
trembling Sand, and a quantity of TIL,
hartshorn was spilled on the deadl,
' face; portion of the fiery liquid pene
trated the nostrils. There was sud
den sharp. convulsve movement of th,
dead mans limbs, a cry of pain, and a
the dead bearers entered tho room Ii,
q sprang to sitting posture, gasping fo
n breath.
\ The wife turned to them face trans
4 figured with joy. Sect she cried cx
ultantly, stretching out her hand to
= ward her husband. ~ have conquere
death!'' and fell unconscious across tn
: bed"
a The reaction in the sick mans cas-
was complete; u speedy convalescenc
= followed and week later. with his de
:. voted wife, he was safe among th
4 New Hampshire hills saved by a low
| 81, o.,
arnold.