Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-12-03

A few days ago we chronicled the death
of Miss Athaliah Gilbert, of South Cotton
wood. At the time of the announcement
there were reports current that some
events out of the ordinary were connected
with her decease, but at that time there
were no means of ascertalning the partic-
ulars. Yesterday, however, Mr.. Jane
Gilbert, the young ladys father. and sew
eral other Cottonwood people were in the
city, and from them reporter learned
the facts which follow. All the names
mentioned are those of responsible and
we'll known citizens, and, unreal as the
narration sounds. there can be no doubt
of its authenticity.
TIE young lady was sixteen years old at
the time of her death. and appears to have
been possessed of one of those warm. low
able, bright, and even tempered DISPOSE
tions which endear the owner to every one
with when she comes in contact. Though
80 young, she took a busy part in all
duties, and In Improvement associations
and the Sunday school, her name always
had prominent place. Some three or
four years ago she formed an intimacy
with youth named Cunliffe, the son of a
nelghbor, and despite the tender years of
both. they became strongly attached to
each other, and provoked no end of COM
ment at their old-fashloned devotion and
steadfast affection for one another. The
state of affairs continued until the girl
was fifteen years old, when the association
was rudely broken by the death of young
Cunliffe. He lost his life from the kick
of a wild horse about year ago. When
the intelligence was brought to Miss Gill
bert her father says it gave her shock
from which she never recovered. She
almost sank beneath the blow, and at his
funeral her .paroxysms Of grief were SO
violent that it was feared her reason
would depart. In time, however, she re-
sumed her accustomed duties; but 1t was
evident that the blow she had sustained
had sunk deep into her life. She seldom
reused herself from deep lethargY of
sadness, aud day by day her color and
strength and che freshness of youth SEEM
cd to be. ebbing away. A few months ago
she alarmed her sister by telling her that
''John' had visited her chamber and had
told her that she. must prepare to come to
him. She manifested no fear; but, accord
ing to her sister, bad told him that she
could not leave her parents. but he had
only said again that she must come. Once
again, later. she told her sister that he had
come to her with the same message, and
she had now evidently given up desiring
to remain, as she told her sister how she
wished to be dressed at her burial, and
whom she wished to dress her. Soon after
that, young Cunliffe's father came to Mr..
Gilbert sorely disturbed, and told him
that one "a rning as he was lying down
his son had come to him and stood at the
foot of his bed. His father had asked
him what it was that be desired, and he
replied: II came to see you. father. l
am staying at Gilbert's, and l am going
back there now. / have been there ever
since I left you. Where else should be?''
Mr.. Gilbert attempted to reason the old
gentleman cut Of his notion, but he insis-
ted that it was no dream or vision, but
that his son bad actually visited and spok-
en- to him, and that in broad daylight. In
the mean time Miss Gilbert continued to
maintain that her last day was approach
ing and no amount of persuasion seemed
to shake her belief. One week ago last
evening, she and her parents were attend
ing birthday party at a neighbours. Miss
Gilbert was sitting at the lunch table
chatting with some companions, when,
without word OF warning, she fell to the
floor motlonless. Her father and mother
raised her, and both said her heart had
ceased to beat. Their cries and lamenta-
lions and their frenzied attempts to arouse
her, they state, rallied her for few mo-
ments, and she was hurriedly conveyed
home, where she expired shortly after
ward, leaving her friends almost stupefed
with grief. Her funeral was one of the
largest convocatlons of mourners ever
seen in that locality.-Salt Lake Herald.
November 3D.