Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-02-26
Death of a Bridegroom.

THE TERRIBLE APPLETON OF A CHILD.
BRIDE-ON THE NUPTIAL COUCH HEB
HUSBAND EXPIRES.
BRA1NERD, MIMI, February 21.-"John
is dead-dead in bed! Mother! Omy Godp'
These were the tragic words that echoed
throughout residence on the North Side
last evening.
AS the last words were pronounced the
door to the parlor was thrown open and in
rushed girl clad in the snow-white gar
ments of night. Her face was blanched
with fear, her black eyes shone with a
dread, haunted look. She staggered into
the room that was partly crowded with
wedding guests, staggered to her mother
and fell in faint at her feet.
Such was the sequel to marriage eere-
mony ana wedding feast.
For year and more John Rulmer and
Miss Lille Dean have been seen together on
the street of Brainerd. They were hand
some couple, ard when the announcement
was made that a wedding would soon take
place, everybody agreed that the union
would be most suitable. Last Wednesday
night. February Is, was named as the we'd
ding day, and many invitations were issued
to the friends of the young railroad clerk
and the belle of the North Side.
So the home of Widow Dean rang with
merriment last night. Nothing had been
spared to mark the event as a momentous
one. Proud of her daughter, happy with
her in the contemplated marriage, the
mother had done her utmost. First there
was the wedding oeremony-a solemn scene.
Then gaiety reigned supreme around the
wedding banquet, and finally dancing was
engaged in. The guests remained until a
late hour, but in the meantime, bride and
bridegroom had left the rooms. .
The dancing ended at last; one by one
the guests were departing, but several re-
manned talking with tie mother when-the
awful shrieks rang out and the bride, like
an apparitioD, rushed in.
The attentions of the guests were first
turned to the girl bride, and she was soon
resuscitated. Then realizing what had bap-
pensd che sprsng to the hallway, and taking
a lamp in her hand led the way to the bridal
chamber. 1t was a small room, lighted
only by lamp turned partly up.
The bride, with hair wildly streaming,
threw herself upon aninanimate form lying
on the bed. 1t was that of the bridegroom,
a man perhaps twenty five years of age, but
he made no response to her endearing calls
or to efforts begun by those now at hand to
bring him to life. Physicians we're sum-
moned, and in the meanwhile the bride lay
moaning by the dead husband. She knew
what they would say, for the cold lips told
their own story.
"Death from heart failure" was the doc
tors report, and, as her worst fears were
confirmed, the bride was led from the bri-
dial chamber-driven out by death.
To day, when night had comprised the
tragedy with its hours of solace, eorres-
pondent sought the home of the bride and
asked her story of the death. She began
with the marriage ceremony, pronounced
in the Congregational Church.
John" she said, twas not timid, but
jokingly spoke Of his steadiness of nerve,
asked the clergyman to feel his pulse if he
doubted it, but still have known he vas
not in the best of health. The ceremony
took PLACE about O'Clock, and We fingered
with our friends until they began to depart,
which was exactly II O'Clock, Then we
went upstairs"
"When at last we were alone, :" she con-
tinued, 1--WE prepared our night toilets and
retired. He kissed me and as his lips touch
ed mine a strange, awful sound escaped
from his lips which startled me. 1t was
like snothered cry from nightmare. |
was alarmed, and springing up endeavored
to raise him and then fled. You know tho
rest"