Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-01-16
WAS II LIGHTNING?
A Scientist Attempts to Revenge
the Death Of His Wife.

Her husband bent over her, tenderly
seeking to relieve her pain, Unwear-
eddy he famed her flushed cheek, and
from time to time fed her parched lips
with small pieces Of ice. The room, in
spite OF the disorder incident to critical
disease, gave evidence OF refined taste
and comparative wealth. In the mo.
ments of case, when the sufferer ceased
her moaning, with gentle, soothing
tones the husband plead with his wife
to throw of the feverish flush and de-
lirium, as ii recovery was dependent on
her own poor will, whose throne was
evidently very sorely shaken, if not
completely overthrow by the terrible
fever. H reminded her of their past
struggles that at last had won for them
a competency and 8 home. They were
just ready to live, he said, and he plead
that she must not die.
While he was soothing and pleading
with his wife, the physician entered the
room. After a careful examination of
the patient, he spoke with a hopeful
tone that he had not used in the pre-
ceding days; "A few hours of careful
nursing and the crisis will be past
and with these words he left the hus.
band to the hours of the night watch.
With the morning light came again
The welcome step Of the physician, and
as be saw the quiet sleep into which
his patient had fallen, the look Of care
passed from his face and with a wills
per, while graSping the outstretched
hand Of the watcher, he gave greeting
Of Joy in the assurance of recovery,
and said Tender watching and quiet
sleep are all that are needed now
''She shall have them, if human love
can accomplish it, was the reply of
the watcher, who face was lighted with
unspoken gladnesS.
II was the Sabbath morning, and the
city in it, quiet seemed to promise q
day of healing to the sick one, The
early morning hours passed slowly,
with lingering GOODNESS Fastening the
sufferer back from the gates Of death
to the glad home-life of mipistering
love. The breathing grew more and
more regular, and from time to time q
gentle sigh Of satisfied resting escaped
her lips, The watcher leaned back in
his chair and with a dreamy look OF
love resting on the sleeping face, evil
IDENTIFY found comfort from past fear
and sorrow, in dreams Of future peace
and increased Joy.
But suddenly his dreams Were rude.
~ broken and the sleeper thrown into
the delirium Of the reawakened fever.
From the cathedral opposite came the
clashing Of the bells, not the regular
melody Of pleasing chords, but the
clash and clsngor, harsh and discord-
ant, as il the ringers were possessed
with The beathenish idea Of frightening
away BY their rude noise any lingering
demons. They sent no appeal 70 come
70 the house Of the Lord, such as in
gentle regular swing might q, Z lulla.
by soothe 10 q deeper sleep, but wild,
clashing sounds that startled from
sleep into teverir!ght, With the con.
tlnued pealing 1.-THE bells the delirium
increased. 4 hurried message brought
the physician back tothe bedside Of the
patient a single glance at her condi.
ton filed him with alarm. After a
moment Of thought and attention to
the delirium, he said, "thet noise OF the
bells must be stopped
Hurrying away he sent in word to
those in charge Of the cathedral and en-.
deavored 70 secure the needed quiet.
To bis surprise his appeal was rudely
and positively refused. In vain he re-
monstrated and plead. stating that q
life depended on the cessation Of the
noise. At last be gave up the effort
II returned TO the sick room. He
found the sufferer rapidly growing
worse. After Q vain attempt 10 calm
his patient, in response TO the agonized
appeal OF the husband, he went hur-
Tedly to the city authorities. Here.
also, biz effort failed and he returned
with q sinking heart.
Through the hours OF the ,ultry day
he manfully struggled to save his
patient, and soothe the agony OF the
loving watcher. With every outburs,
VI the clashing bell, the fever.stricken
Il would spring up and. clinging to
her husband. beg to be saved, with
wild delirium Of fear intensified By the
fever-clouded brain. There could be
but one end TO such a struggle, and at
.ventide itcame, as with a cry Of agony
her spirit passed through the noise
stricken air into the peace and quiet Of
The land where there is no fever to
smite the body andno barbarity of man
10 refuse the appeal for the suffering
and dying. In that death chamber sobs
Of agony broke from the quivering
frame Of the bereaved man. Alarmed
for the life Of the %agonized man, the
physician piled remedies and with
soothing words sought 10 keep that
strong mans heart from breaking.
Touched, also, in his professional pride,
be cursed the bells and those who had
refused his appeals. But for those
bells, he said, ''you might now be re-
ioicing in the rapid recovery Of your
wife
The sobs died away, and the now
fearless eye Of the bereaved man grew
dilated and wild, He slowly repeated
the curse that had fallen from the lips
Of the physician, and added: God do
SO 10 me. and more, also. if | do not
aveDge my loss He rose from the
bed, on which he had thrown himself
in the outburst Of his grief, and, gently
smoothing the tossed and tangled hair
from the brow Of the dead. said quietly:
my poor murdered wifer' Turning
10 the physician, be said: mo more
tears, doctor; an avenger must have
clear vision" The physician was
startled, but, as he looked up, he saw
only q pale, quiet, patient face. He
did not see that with the tears of that
roor. tired. tired man bad passed away
bis reason. Kind words of grateful
thanks seemed to come freely and
naturally from the lips that had taken
On . smile Of patient resignation.
AL through the sad hours Of the
fupsrsl the physician ministered "a to
= tfosbsr, and when, sftsr the return