The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-04-11


When Bertha's birthday arrived he
dressed himself with care which he
had never shown since her death. He
filed the room with flowers. and when
evening came he locked himself In the
room and played upon the flute the
tune they had so often played together.
The next day they found him stiff
upon the floor. When he had revived
he had become crazy. and IL was
necessary TO make him travel again.
AT the end OF year he came back 10
his house; his mind appeared rational
enough. only he was sad and silent.
Once more his wife's birthday came;
once more he filled the room with
flowers. and towards evening locked
himself In. dressed as for marriage
then he played the same tune upon his
flute
Again the next day found him un-
conscious upon the floor.
But when they wished 10 lead him
away he coolly announced that II they
did not allow him 10 remain in tho
house where his wife had died he would
Kill himself. AS his reason did not APP
pear 10 be shaken by this accident they
yielded.
This is what had happened;
On the first anniversary, a soon as
be had prayed, the cords OF the harp
vibrated and OF their own accord had
accompanied the flute
When he stopped the sound OF tho
harp also died away.
On the second anniversary. thinking
that he had been the victim OF nm illu-
sion. he played again; again the harp
played It's part; he ceased playing and
the harp ceased playing; he placed his
hand Upon the cords and could feel
their last vibration
On both occasions he had fallen.
stricken with terror, and had passed
the night in deep swoon.
But he ended by becoming accustomed
To this violent emotion. in which he
found an acute pleasure.
All his evenings and the greater part
OF his nights were passed thus His
cheeks became hollow; his eyes alone
surGen in their sockets appeared alive
and shone with "A supernatural brill
fancy; just enough life 10 feel end TO
suffer was retained In his body.
A friend. whom through chance or
fate he had retained became alarmed
and wished TO know what Rudolph did
In the room. He replied that he play
ed the flute and that Bertha's shadow
played tho harp; that in reality death
was but the beginning Of another life;
that while he felt himself dying he also
felt his intimacy with the wife he had
loved so well grow steadily, and that
during this mysterious harmony IL
seemed 20 him that he saw Bertha at
her harp; that he was happy. desired
nothing more, and requested nothing,
either from heaven or from men.
Ii was the third anniversary OF
Bertha's birthday. Rudolph once more
filled the rooms with flowers, and wore
boquet In his buttonhole. lie had
covered the bed with roses
Then at sunset he took his flute and
played Berthas tune.
The friend was hidden behind n
curtain; he trembled when he heard
the sounds Of the harp mixing with
those of the flute. Rudolph kneelcd
and prayed.
Then the harp played alone the
cords could be seen vibrating without
any hand touching them. IL played
celestial music, such AZ no one heard
before nor will ever hear again. Then
IL played again Bertha's tune. and
when IL was ended all the cords broke
at once and Rudolph fell upon the
] floor.
/ For some moments the friend re-
! manned "a motionless as Rudolph
when he stepped forward 10 raise hin
Rudolph was dead, From the French
4 OF Alphonse karr.