The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-14
HER TWO FUNERALS.


day, which happened to one of the inmate,
in one of the large public institutions O
the city, who died a short time ago, a7C
whose large funeral attracted surprise anC
comment as it passed through one of tht
most fashionable thoroughfares on its waJ
to the cemetery. This is the story:
Years ago, during the last cholera cpl
demic, the subject Of this sketch, then 6
young woman in the prime of life, was
seized with violent attack Of the disor
der. 1t was supposed that she would re-
cover, but she collapsed suddenly and was
laid out for dead
She had no relations and she was depend
ent upon the people with whom she had
| lived for home. She occupied a position
lower than that of mental, for she gave
her services in exchange for food and shell
ter. AS she did not assert her individual
ity, no sort of respect was shown to her by
those who accepted her services, and who,
in order to make her aware of their geaer-
osity, continually reminded her of her in
! competency.
1t was o'clock in the morning when the
woman died. The Jealous young physician
who gave his time and talents to the poor
in the interest of his profession came in
just after she had expired. He examined
her with great care and attention. He had
not expected her to die. Indeed, there
seemed no good reason for her death.
Have you any brandyi" he asked at
! length of the woman of the house, who
stood by.
NO" said the woman.
The doctor took flask from his pocket
and poured some brandy into cup.
"Moisten her lips with this" he said,
"and try to get her to swallow a little il
| you can. She may revive. II don't
think she is dead" he continued, with the
| truthfulness of one who had not discovered
| human nature to be entirely contemptibe
| and who reposed confidence in his kind
'At 8 o'clock 1 will return. If there is no
| change in her condition will then give
you certificate of death"
He hurried away. He belonged to the
noblest of all professions and his zeal was
at white heat. He was making his reputa-
ton.
When he had gone the woman looked at
the brandy and then at the woman on the
bed, whom she had helped to kill by her
hard exactions. "What is the use of vast
ing the brandy2' she thought.
Nevertheless she put some on the lips of
the dead woman.
Then she went and told her husband, who
was not yet up.
"She was good servant" said the man.
though she had vile temper You will
have to do yoSr own work now" he fin
ished.
After he had dressed himself he went to
look at the woman. "She is dead" he de-
clared, and then he drank the brandy
81 suppose" he said to his wife while
they were having breakfast, ''tnat had
better get a coffin. They give them away
at the station. 1t is useless to keep the
woman until tomorrow. Sawbones doesn't
know"
He is too young to know much" re-
piled the woman, with the contempt that
all women feel for the opinions of young
and inexperienced professional men.
So it came about that in the course of a
few hours the woman was not only consid-
cred dead, but she was put in a long pine
cotfin-a hideous sort of box made especial
ly for distribution among the poor in that
dreadful time-and shortly afterward the
box was placed in a cart and driven out to
that part of the town where the friendless
and the wretched were buried free .of
charge.
when Sawbones comes" said the man
to his wife after the cart had ratified down
the street, SAY the woman did not rally.
Then he viii give you certificate and there
will be no trouble"
Promptly at o'clock the young man ar
rived. The woman of the house sat in the
door.
''She is no better?" asked the doctor.
NO" said the woman. "she did not rally;
she is dead"
Did you give her the brandy?"
Il moistened her lips with it, but she
couldn't swallow" answered the woman.
The young disciple of Esculapius looked
thoughtfully down the hot narrow street.
Had he been older his face would have
looked haggard, for he was utterly tired
out The woman still sat immovabIy in
the doorway.
''She seemed strong woman" said the
doctor refectively, land she was young"
death takes the strong as well as the
weak" said the woman.
The doctor took out his little book, lean
ing against the side of the house in sheer
WEAKNESS IS he wrote Then he tore out
a leaf and handed it to the woman.
She was a good servant" said the guard
ian of the threshold magnanimoUsly
Have you made arrangements TO bury
herr" asked the young man.
My husband is out now" replied the
woman evasively.
You need not be at any expense" said
the doctor kindly, who was extravagantly
wasting his sympathy on the wrong sort /
Of people; IF you will apply at this address /
you can get what is necessary. He held out |
another slip of paper and then hurried |
away.
The woman looked at the certificate Of !
death and then at the address and then |
after the departing doctor. Maybe he is /
older than he looks" she said. IF he had /
asked 10 see the woman l don't believe /
could have kept him out"
Meantime the cart rafting over the I'M /
even road had revived the woman who |
was thought 70 be dead. She Immediately |
realized her frightful situation. She was |
in her coffin, and they were taking her 20 |
the cemetery. Terror stricken, she began 1
10 make some violent efforts TO be heard, |
but the cart ratified over the cobblestone
road which led out from the city. Could /
she make herself heard before they reached |
the grave; She felt unable 70 scream. and |
she realized that IL was useless 70 expend 4
the little strength she had now She would ]
reserve this effort for the time when they
were taking the coffin TO the grave; but
how long must she wait before they
reached the cemejeryi Meantime she
might lose her senses again The air was
sitting
Horrori Mercyl Despair She could
feel herself SUCCESSFULLY swOoning ana then /
coming TO her senses scain How couId /