The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-08-09
Silent to the End.

" luC Guus
CHICAGO, July ga strange life
story, with a remarkable climax, ended
to-day, when James Hutchins, well.to-
do resident of this city, was buried from
his house on Sherman avenue. Mr..
Hutchins' death occurred just as the
night was closing on Saturday. The
deathbed scene in his comfortable 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, DIR. Parsons
told him he had only a few hours to live.
Mrs. Hutchins was crying, and the dying
man, with open eyes, watched her. With
sudden impulse Of love that had
survived the years of cruel treatment,
Mrs. HutchinU threw her arms around
her dying husbands neck, kissed him
fondly, and begged him to speak to her
once; to break, before he died, the
silence of dozen years. There was
struggle apparent in his countenance.
! His lips opened as if to speak, but only
an inarticulate sound came from them.
His face grew set and stern again. he
slightly repulsed her, and was taken with
spasm of coughing. he asked the
doctor for a drink of water. Mrs.
Hutchins made no further attempts at
reconciliation, and in half an hour her
husband died.
The story of Mrs. Hutchins's peculiar
treatment has been q subject for the talk
and wonder of the neighbors. They were
married thirty years ago in. England.
He was q handsome foot soldier of the
British army, apd 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 Barrof, and as fellow work.
men they became strong friends, and
Barroa, who was unmarried, used to visit
Hutchins at his house. One evening
Barrof dropped in before Hutchins had
returned from his work. He sat down
and presently Hutchins came in.
"Hello, BarrofI, how are you?" said
he.
"Howd'ye do, Jim," said Barrof, and
the conversation proceeded socially for
an hour or two, when Barroff, went home.
As soon as the door closed behind him
|. Hutchins charged his wife With in6delity..
he broke into frightful passion. he
would hear no reply or explanation, and
ended the acene by locking himself up in
another room. Mrs. Hutchins could not
understand it. Their married life. had
been happy until this time and had been
blessed by 8 fine boy. She got supper,
dried her tears, knocked on her husbands
door and told him supper was ready. he
ate his meal without word, and in a
sullen silence smoked his pipe until bed
time. 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 break
fast and went to work, mute as post.
This life went on for days and weeks and
years, he never saying word to her.
Sometimes he wrote his requests on a
piece of paper. Sometimes she called in
neighbor's child and talked to him
through the child. He always spoke
pleasantly on these occasions, but frowned
and became stern if she yentured TO ad.
dress him directly. BE made her an
allowance of twenty FIVE dollars a month
for the household expenses and her own
clothes.
Hutchins was provident, thrifty man,
and accumulated money, bough ght houses
and lots, and made loans. he %as fifty
six years old when he died, and during
recent years he had not worked. His
wife, through their boy, asked for more
money than $25 month. Hutchins
grew violent and threw $1O bill at her.
She never asked him for money again.
Mrs. Hutchins, the neighbors say, used
to cry great deal, and two or three
times her husband was seen to weep
| violently when he thought he was not
observed. But of late years both have
gone on in matter.of.fact way. Their
son married and went West three or four
years ago. Their solitary life went on
as before until week ago when Hutch
ins was taken i'll. DR.. Parsons said he
had the typhoid fever. Mrs. Hutchins
cared for him, gave him medicine and
performed all the Offices of the sick
chamber. He never spoke to her and
adopted her attentions in the same silence
that he had observed for twelve years.
Mrs. Hutchins had no idea of what
property was left or what money was
loaned. The only business she did was
once in awhile to collect rent for her
husband and give receipts signed by
him.