The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-05-10
HOW [ DIED.


ethereal agony. At last there had come
benumbed feeling that thrilled like the
vibration Of harp strings suddenly stiIled.
l could hear the hum Of voices like the
far of drone Of bees, and the sound
seemed soothing me into a strange peace.
l was aware that somebody passed a
light before my eyes, and after repeating
the action several times replaced the
night lamp on the stand without the
shade. knew also that somebody stepped
to the window and threw it wide open,
while a voice. seemingly borne beyond
the confines Of space and gathering force
as It approached the boundaries of auric-
/ ular demonstration until it doomed like
the deep bass Of the sea, uttered these
words:
"The poor fellow is going fast. Give
his spirit a chance to free itself
DO YOU believe in that old woman
I rots" asked another, and from the re-
/ gion Of enchanted drowsiness where l
seemed 70 linger / caught myself listen
ing for the third voice, which ] seemed
TO know would speak next. And didn't
I
with the unseen forces that were hurry
ing me away a woman's voice, clear and
strong and sweet as the notes of a bell
that was forever ringing in my ear, said:
We believe in Gods mercy, and we
believe that this poor pain racked body is
about to throw open the door by which
the spirit goes free; if a closed window
hinder its going, we VIII throw every
window in the old hospital as wide as
the sky"
And give the rest Of the poor devils
in the ward a chance to catch a mortal
chill, " responded the second voice. ''You
are as consistent as the rest Of your sex.
Miss Brady"
While yet the echo of the head doctors
voice beat the air in circles of receding
sound, l Suddenly ceased TO think, to
hear. 10 feel, to be And yet was.
/ knew by some newly developed sense
that lay mute and white upon the cot
which had supported my body so long,
and that the fragrance of a prayer foate1
1 through the awful stiffness of the room.
It had no form nor sound, and yet some
:
/ guild senses perceive the fragrance Of
newly mown hay upon a serene June
/ morning.
A continuous pageant of the most Sc
! raphic vision unfurled in endless progress
sion before me. L saw the green hills Of
my cllildhcod's home lift themselves like
emerald bubbles in a haze of enchanted
air. saw the sapphire Of the sea set in
4 a rim of violet dawrs and daffodil Moons.
! ! saw the stretch of desert sands like
drifts Of snow within the compass of a
I lonely land. And IN the midst of their
| bewildering vision l suddenly saw a
/ cleaning slab within a windOwless room.
where something long and white and
still was lying. Drops of were form
ing on the edges of the slab, and death
! cold stream was purling across its shin
ing surface. Something that was not
voice, and which made itself manifest to
me through other channels than the ear,
spoke lightly Of the grave wherein l
soon should lie.
We win bury him tonight, it seemed
to say. there VIII be no friends to In
terfere. and there are too many dying
these few days past to keep 'stiffs' over
half day"
But the law grants even a stiff its
rights" responded the womanly voice |
had learned 10 know, 1--WE have no
right to bury him with such indecent
haste"
Right OF no right, law or no law,
he'll have TO get ont Of this tonight" re-
piled the first voice.
The contention had no effect upon the
something within my ice bound frame
which still held its mysterious connec-
ton with sentient lie. That flament,
fine as the gOssamer shred by which the
spider binds together the ether and the
rose. seemed an electric wire charged
with messages from an unseen world.
could hear the rise and fall Of angelic
ehorEses, ike the dip Of songful seas,
and clear and sweet and distinct, above
them all, heard the womans voice
learned from out the cold embrace OF
death to nofe.
He shall not be buried TONIGHT, no.
yet tomorrow, if that flush continues on
his face"
What flush are you talking abouty'
responded the doctor, bringing the light
he carried nearer the face that lay upon
the marble slab. where the ice drops
were forming, crystal by crystal, like the
beads one threads upon a growing strand.
why, the flush we both have noticed
since we stood here. l knew by the in
tent gaze You bestowed upon what gen
orally demands but passing glance that
You discovered it when l did, and de
nland that the body be removed TO the
ward until we investigate the case"
That flush is only the reflection Of
your red dress" laughed the doctor.
You are wasting time" said the
nurse. Il shall call a stretcher to carry
this living man out of the morgue. Aft
erward we may resume our conyersa-
ton.
You shall do nothing Of the sort" !" re-
Piled the doctor. placing his hand as he
spoke upon the ontstretched arm of the
nurse with compelling force. You have
made fool Of yourself over this fellow
from the first. Not hanger on in the
ward bat what noticed your interest in
his handsome face. You are bound to me
By ties You cannot break, and rather than
zee You under the enchantment of this
fellow again / simply VIII smother the
feeble pulse Of life that fingers in his
veins and make a surety OF his death"
you may be villain, but you are not
a acoward. DR.. Ware, replied the woman,
whose hand he still held. TO refuse to
give this man the chance to live would
be the most despicable act of your life,
and, so help me God. viii denounce
you as murderer before the first justice
can find If you do not instantly sum-
mon assistance and remove this body
from this place"
Not 50 fast, my dear. Every mo-
ment's delay extngulshes more and more
the chance for life, and if the attendants
we shall summon find a dead man on
thesiab who VIII believe your hysterical
story N the face of my statement that no
sign Of life existeds Women nurses are
not II favor just at present with the