Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-07-24
Welded Yet Strangers.

~ strange llio otOTY Win E6mhTRhUlS
climax ended in Chicago yesterday, when
James HutchiDs, G wel!-to do resident oi
that city, WAS buried. Mr.. Hutchins' death
occurred just as the night was closing on
Saturday. The death-5ed scene in his com i.
Portable home was an extraordinary one.
The dying man had not spoken word to
his wife in twelve years, and for that time
they had occupied separate rooms. He was
singular and obstinate man. d.. Parsons
told him he bad only few hours to live.
Mrs. HUI chins was crying, and the dying
man, with open eyee, watched her. With q
sudden impuse of love that had survived
the years of cruel treatment, Mrs. Hutchins
threw her arms around her husbands neck,
kissed him fondly, and begged him to speak
to her once, to break, before he died, the 81
lence of 8 doZan years. There was strug
gle apparent in his counteDance. His Liz 8
opened as if 10 speak, hut only an inaiticu-
late sound came from them. His face grew
set and stern again. He slightly ropulsed
her and was taken with spasm of cough.
ing He asked the doctor for drink of
water. Mrs. Hutcbius made no further at
tempts to reconciliation, and 10 half hour
her husband died
The story of Mira. Hutchins's peculiar
treat % ent has been subject for the talk and
wonder of the Deighbors. They were mar
ried thr years ago in England. He was
handsome foot soldier of,hs British army,
and she was friend of his mother. They
came to the town of Lake sixteen years ago,
and he got work with the Union Stock
Yards Company. He met Henry BarroT,
and as fellow workmen they became strong
friends, and Barro6, who was unmarried.
used to visit Hutchins many time at his
house. One evening Barroff dropped in be.
fore Hutchins had returned from his work.
He sat down and presently Hutchns came In.
"Hello, Barrof, how are you ?" said he.
How dye do, Jim" said Barrett and the
conversation proceeded socially for an hour
or two, when BarroR went home.
AS soon az the door closed behind him,
Hutchins charged his wife with infdeli:y.
He broke into a frightful passion. He would
hear 90 reply or explanation, and ended the
scene by locking himselfup in another room.
Mrs. Hutchins could not understand it.
Their married life had been happy until this
time, and had been blessed by fine boy.
She got supper, tried her tears, knocked on
her husbands door, and told him supper
was ready. He ale his meal without word,
bedtime She made one or two attempts to
say something without avail. he retired to
their bedroom, while she spent the night in
another room. In the morning it was the
same way. He ate his breakfast andS8ent TO
work es deaf as post This life went on fer
days and weeks, and years, be never saying
a word to her. Sometimes he wrote his re-
quests on piece of paper. Sometimes she
In nd fol od tn
him through tho child. He always spoke
pleasantly on these occasions, but @fcowned
and became stern II she ventured to address
him directly He made her an allowance
of S25 month for the household expenses
and her own clothes.
Hutchins was provident, thrifty man,
and accumulated money, bought houses and
lots, and made loans He was fifty y-siX
years old when be died, and during recent
years he had not worked. His wife, through
their boy, asked for more money than twen
ty FIVE dollars month. Hutchirs grew vi
olent and threw ten dollars at her. She
never asked him for money again, Mrs.
Hutchns, the neighbors say, used to cry
great deal, and two or three times her hus-
aand was seen to weep violently when be
thought he was not observed. But of late
years both have gone on IN matter of fact
wse, Their son married and went West
three or four years ago Their solitary life
went on as before until week ego, when
Hutchins was taken ILL., DR.. Parsons said
he had the typhoid fever. Mrs. Hatchins
cared for him, gave him medicine, and per
formed all the Offices OF the sick chamber.
he never spoke to her, and accepted her
attentions in the same silence that he had
observed for twelve years. Hrs. Hntchins
has no idea OF what property was left or
what money was loaned. The only bust.
ness she did was once in while to collect
rent for her husband and give recspts
signed by him.