The Wilmingtonian., 1886-10-30
Love Conquern Death.
BY JENNIE p. ARNOLD.

the mouth of the Gauges and Brahmaputra
1t has marched forth with giant strides to
the four quarters of the habitsble globe,
leaving desolation and sorrow in its track.
The first worldwide epidemic started in
Jessora, India, in 1877 and having slain over
100000 victims in that country alone, it
marched slowly through China, Persia and
Arabia, through Russia, Prussia and Ger
many, gaining new territory each year, until
in 1881 it crossed to England and overleap.
ing the sea appeared June, 1882, in Montreal
and Quebec. Before the end OF that summer
it was claiming its victims by hundreds in
all the principal cities of the Eastern and
Middle States.
During the prevalence of the epidemic in
Boston occurred the incidents am about to
relate, all of which are well-known to per-
sons now living, the only change being in
the names of the principal actors, the cir
cumstances being personally known to me.
James zimmerman was the junior partner in
well known Boston dry goods firm. He
was twenty-eight, with wife but no chill
dren. Each of his partners had families of
three children, and when, in the first few
weeks of the epidemic, all who possessed
sufficient means fled from the ,plague-strick-
en- city, he felt it was but doing his duty to
urge his partners to leave with their families
while he remained for week or two to at
tend TO the closing up of business.
He tried to induce his wife to accompany
them. or go to her own home away among
the New Hampshire hills, but she persistent
ly refused to CO.
"When you eau go, James, am ready"
was her firm answer to all his persuasions
"but not until then" So they remained
week or more after their friends had left
The death-rate increased rapidly, and on
the tenth day the cholera flag wavei its
dread signal from the house opposite James
Ammerman's home.
"Pack everything necessary for our jour-
ney," he said to his wife the morning after
the flag appeared. II will close up business
to-day, and tomorrow morning we will take
the first train for New Hampshire.
All of Mrs. Ammerman's servants, except
her chamber girl, had fled at the first ap-
proach of the dread disease, but faithful
Kate Sullivan was bound to her mistress by
strong ties of affection and would only leave
when the family did.
can sure it's meself," she said, ''as will
stay with ye until ye're out o the city
sure"
By night everything was packed, the uphol-
stored furniture covered and all in readiness
for the journey in the early morning.
Mr.. zimmerman returned at 6 O'Clock as
usual, but the quick eye of his wife detect
ed a change in his appearance.
81 have not been feeling well all day." he
admitted in answer to her anxious question
ing. "Someway feel weak and stupid and
little chilly. cts nothing serious" he
added, reassuringly. 'I'll lie down for a
while and presume shall soon feel better. "
Mrs. zimmerman hastened him to bed,
made hot applications and administered
warm stimulants, but the chillness increased
and soon sharp, agonizing cramps seized
him.
Katie was hastily dispatched for the fam
lily physician, who was soon by the sick
mans bedside. He made his examination
with grave face, but one that betrayed no
emotion of hope or fear to the anxious wife.
"Is it cholera r'she asked at last, pronoun-
ing the dread word with shudder and wait
ing in an agony of suspense for the doctors
reply.
1T may be only cholerine,' was the guard.
ed answer, as DR.. Tyler dealt out his medi.
cine. solve him this every half hour and
will call again in an hour or two."
When he made his next visit at 10 O'Clock
there remained no longer doubt of the ma,
ture Of the disease.
The wife needed only the evidence of hel
own senses to convince her that the dreaded
foe had entered her household.
All through the long hours of that sac
night she watched beside her husband, fight
ing the advance of the destroyer with ever.
means at her command Katie, in her faith
full devotion, standing ready to second he
every wish.
But notwithstanding their united effort
the work of death went steadily on. AS tn
morning began dawn his hands grew ic
hardly perceptible at times, his breath short
confined and incomplete, the respirations in
creasing to over thirty minute.
Occasionally, when she could raise him 70
an instant from his semi-unconscious condi
tion, he answered her inquiries in voice s
weak aud hoarse that she hardly recogninze
it.
The icy chill spread gradually over face
body and limbs, and when DR.. Tyler cam
at 7 o'clock he found his hollow cheeks
deeply suuken aud closed eyes, giving n
evidence of consciousness save a groan O
pain from time to time as the sharp spasm
seized him. The doctors quick eyes detec
ed the signs of speedy dissolution and gentl
broke the dread intelligence to the anxiou
wife.
"But will never give him up until deaf
is really here" she said resolutely, thoug
her heart grew heavy with the terrible fea
that all her efforts would be useless.
With renewed energy she chatfed the ict
cold limbs, applied anew hot water bottl,
to sides and feet, but all in vain the liml
grew colder, the features, the whole boo
more collapsed and the eyes more sunker
the weak pulse crept slowly up the arm
the vitals the heart beats grew fainter ar