The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-20


time. the trial proceeded. Two days and a
half were consumed in the hearing of the
testimony. The weather was very warm,
Jennie had been worse, anu Johns allie
ton had assumed u most viruleDt form.
and the heat seemed TO aggravate the
poison. He was III the courtroom only n
snort time, when his excitement became SO
intense that it became necessary to keep
him away until he should be called to tes-
tIfy. In the meantime his arm and leg had
SO swollen that he could not assist himself
in any way, and while eliciting forbear-
ance and pity. his very presence was al
most nauseating. He was almost carried
10 the witness-stand, and his wild, excited
demeanor gave evidence that the strain was
about as much as his strong nature could
bear. After his evidence was finished at
the close of the second day. did not see
him until after the case was concluded the
following morning. being SO exhausted my
self when night came, and, having some
writing 10 do, / only sent To make inquiries
regarding his condition, which was any
thing but encouraging. He had offered q
large sum to any one who would take care
of him and Jenny, but had failed to get
the arguments of counsel, and the charge of
the Judge TO the jury. which were To take
place on the following day. On my arrival
at the courthouse the next morning John
was not present, ana dispatched u mos
senger TO make inquiries concerning HIM.
81
like presentiment of some impending ca
lamity. l know not why. Court was In
session, the messenger did not return. and
no one was present who could tell any thing
about him, but that was not SO strange
when We remember that he was stranger
there to all. save his opponents.
The arguments of the lawyers pro and
con were heard, the charge to the jury de-
livered by the Judge, then came the
suspense of awaiting q verdict. About
hn Atn4
for, my client John. and my Thank
God for that was as sincere and
heartfelt as though nv own life had
depended on 1t. l seized my hat and
FASTENED to his lodgings to acqualnt him
with the good news Although the sun
only of the relief and JOY the tidings would
bring him. He occupied q small back
parlor on the ground floor. which was en-
tered from "a porch covered with a thick
quickly from the bright sunlight into the
dsrKened room 1t was some time before my
eyes became accustomed to the dim light
and fully took IN all the surroundings.
Such sight met my eyes. such an odOr my
Dostrilsi No words can adequately describ be
that scene or my feelings and sensa tions
during the few minutes l was In that
room. 1t rises before me now, after a
lapse of years, like some awful
dream. He was lying on his back, on q
lounge near the door, writing in pain,
the poisoned arm was stretched straight
up and resting against the wall: his glass
eye glared at me. The first breath took
nearly stified me. He raised his head,
looked at me. comprehended who / was.
He knew it was over; everything be suf-
fered, everything he felt. every thing he
thought-waIted my answer. He held his
breath. l believe his heart ceased beating
and his blood flowing. | never saw such
intensity. 1t was Pronuth1us chained. 1t
was the doomed between the springing of
the drop and the tightening of the rope. 1t
was awful,
1.-The jury decided the case in your IA
vor, john said /. His head dropped back.
his chest heaved and he was alive again.
Nov thank Cod Thank God for that"
he said in shrillest falsetto, in a paroxysm
of Joy, and clapped his well hand against
that terribly swollen member and then
screeched ont az the top of his voice with
pain; and then, Amt il good. Amt it
good All for Jennie At the mention or her
name the most appalling look came over
that was near to him. but from the dimness
Of the light had not noticed before. and
turning back the white spread revealed
the placid. pallid face of his wife. Dead!
dead deadp he exclaimed III the widest,
most heartrending lamentations. He
shook with convulsive agony. and
the tears ran down his furrowed
cheeks in torrents, and then he broke
out again, My companion for thirty years
-dead-just when she could live-all for
humiliation-ell for her.-and when we
have won. She has gone to jamie. and
am alone! Oh. God! oh. God how much
moref Give me Jennie; give me jamie! /
want to die If they can't como to me. let
me go to them And then as though the
black bat of death were lowering over him.
and heard HIM, smote ut him, and he grit
ted his teeth, and bowled with pain. L
know he said. this seems unmanly like
boy TO cry ont this way, but my arm is
being torn out by the roots and could
see his whole body writhe from the in
tensity of the agony, and then as though
pain had diverted his mind for moment
JOY was on his face again with the tears
The jury says the land Is mine! God
bless that Jury for its Justice. Isn't it gOod
But here | am rejoicing. when Jennie Is
there dead He had only turned his eyes
when the change came. She died i'm the
night III her room, when | was not there.
Oh, Jennie, forgive me! it Is horrible to die
alone and he covered his face with his
hand and wept aloud. He spoke again in
a moment. Why can't die while she is
here; the jury was inst, but is God justi
You give me back my land. but leave me
alone while everything l hold near and
dear Is gOne.-gOne.-gone. You give me
rack me with pain. You make me help
less and so loathsome that no one Will
stay by me but the flies. My courage is
gone. can endure no more. Oh jennie!
Oh. God! Oh death! come to me-
II could not endure that scene of horror.
My brain reeled. and l believe l should
have fallen. but ran from the room, with
the sobs and lamentations Of the old man
ringing in my ears. 1t was some time be-
fore i cOuld in any way realize what had
passed through, and even to this day q
shudder passes over me when l think of
the aw1ul experiences of those few min.
utes
in conflict, each seeking to assert itself
emotions in conflict and sensation in con-
fiict with emotions. Such q boiling, seeth-
ing lnaelstrOm of emotion IL enough to
break the strongest heart, but to this add
all the agonies that flesh could suffer- and
what have wet He suffered more than
the martyrs suffered. for they were
resigned, their minds were at rest, they
had the inspiration of herOism. Their
suffering was mostly physical. But with
this cid man the climax of JOY had possess
sion ODs moment, grief the next. and pain
the next-well might be AJAX How long, As
soon as / recovered partially from the
shock began to look for succor. This was
next To impossible to find. Finally. after
Brother-in-law Henry and endeavor to
make him realize mis- transgressioD. and
that his otfense might be condoned by what
he could do for them. In this finally sue
ceeded.
the old man died tho next day but one
in fearful agony. and they were both taken
tn their old home and buried in he same
grave, by the side of jamie. His prayer
had been answered.
''Has human life more of comedy or of
tragedy"