Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-22
Written for the EAGLE.
GRANDMA S ROMANCE
LOU T. MILES.

The loud ringing of a bell called me from
melancholy meditation, one gloomy morn
ing in April. had been sitting fer some
time in my room dreaming of days gone by
when 1 had been happy child, gay Made.
and happy bride.
But those days were gone to come back t.
me never more. 1 thought Of a bright-eyeG
boy who had played about my knee in those
remembered days, whose prattle and laugh
were to me my world. Outside of the pleas
ant hours l passed with my beautiful boy my
time was occupied by keeping my husband:
accounts. go back now to the last time
went to his desk.
1t had been my custom to go to the desk
at about ten in the morning. On this partic-
ular morning | had gone to the desk as usual,
taking care TO see that baby was comfortable
before left him. As entered the office
room l noticed nothing ont of place or dis
arranged in any way. l had only sat few
moments at the desk when I felt or heard q
strange awful ncise, horrid burning in my
head; and | remembered no more.
Three weeks from that day awoke to find
that | was deaf and dumb and that my baby
and my husband were missing. | was able
to walk about TIE room and pick Up here
and there broken toy or some little
trinket which had been my darling's.
My nurse and physician wrote on Z slate AID
told me had had u narrow escape from death,
that | had been shot in the head, and that il
was quite probable that / would never hear
nor speak again. My first question was to
ask where the baby was, and my husband.
saw the doctor and nurse exchange glsnces
and by the movement of their lips | could
tell they were consulting each other. ! would
have given the world had | possessed it to
have spoken to them or to have heard their
conversation. But speech and hearing were
denied me and | wrote on the little slate;
Tell me where my darlings sre or | shall 60
mad" l felt myself grow weak and dizzy as
the doctor handed me the slate and | trern-
bled so | could hardly hold it as | read;
"Your husband is dead. your baby is in
Heaven" My sight failed, l felt nothing
but keen pain at MY heart and | knew no
more.
When awoke they told me it had been
six months since | had even recognized q
friend. Yet, strange to say, l remembered
very distinctly the day had fell in dead
swoon on hearing of my great misfortune.
| grew strong and began TO walk about the
place ss l had long ago. But my heart
seemed to be frozen. Nothing thrilled or
cheered me, l was totally insensible to the
beauties of my home and It's surroundings.
Wandered aimlessly about, thinking of moth
ing but my boy and papa One day 1t sud-
denly dawned upon my mind that they had
meyer told me anything concerning the death
of my husband or baby. walked into the
house and into the room. where my old nurse
sat in the corner by the tireside. wrote on
my little tablet and asked her 20 tell me the
whole thing concerning the death Of my hus-
band and child She frs. looked as though
she was trying to frame some excuse, but
wrote emphaticslly; \ GU must tell me now"
and handed her my tablets and pencil. She
wrote; Your husband shot you and then
shot himself, your baby We suppose is dead,
but he was stolen first: ] can tell you nothing
more" As read the terrible words nv
blood seemed 10 freeze, then grow hot with
rage. Who had dared 10 be SO cruel as to
steal my baby? Why was it my husband
sought my life and his owns | would no
louge, live an aimless life. but would spend
my time in the future il searching for my
babe. Isigned 20 the nurse to Leave the room,
l wished to De alone. Nervouslv | paced
the floor, pressing my hands 10 my bewildered
brain and trying 20 haven't some plsn by
which l might go to work to find my baby.
l sent for Dr.. Smith and told him nv inten-
tons. He handed NE an old paper and
showed me the notice of The des.h of q little
child;
''DIED-On the fifteenth of April, 1880, Byrl
Leslie, aged l. months
The notice of the death Of my own little
darling, but did not believe il.
Something seemed to tell me tina: that no.