Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-09-16

turn his head was more calm, but Z
deep melancholy took possession OF
him and left him no more. He left
Bertha's room remain as it was at
the time Of her death, the bed still
unm ldc, the harp in corner.
When Bertha's birthday arrived he
dressed himself with care which he
had never shown since her death. He
filled the room with flowers, ami
when evening came he locked him
self 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 revived he
had become crazy, and it was neces-
; sary 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 filed the room
with flowers. and toward evening
locked himself in. dressed as for a
marriage; then he played the same
tune upon his flute.
Again the next day they found him
unconscious upon the foor.
But when they wished to lead him
away he coolly announced that il
they did not allow him to remain in
the house where his wife had died he
would kill himself. AS his reason
did not appear to tie shaken by this
accident they yielded.
This is what happened:
I'm tho fret cnap 40,
he had prayed, the cords Of the harp
vibrated and of their own accord had
accompanied the flute.
When he stopped the sound of the
harp also died away
On the second anniversary, think
ing that he had been the victim Of
an illusion, he played again; again
the harp played its 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 a deep swoon. +
But he ended by becoming ac-
customed 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, sunken in their sockets an!
peared alive and shone with a super.
natural brilliancy; Just enough life to;
feel and to suffer was retained in his
cody.
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
played the flute and that Berthas
shadow played the harp; that in
reality death was but the beginning
Of another life; that while he felt
himself dying he also felt his intima-
cy with the wife he had loved so we'll
grow steadily, and that during this
mysterious harmony 1t seemed to him
that he saw Bertha at her harp; that
he was happy, desired nothing more,
and requested nothing, either from
Heaven or from men.
1t was the third anniversary of
Bertha's birthday. Rudolph once
more filled the rooms with flowers.
and wore bouquet in his button
hole. He had covered the bed with
roses
Then at sunset he took his flute
and played Bertha's tune.
The friend was hidden behind a
curtain; he trembled when he heard
the sounds Of the harp mixing with
those of the flute. Rudolph kneeled
and prayed.
Then the harp played alone; the
cords could be seen vibrating with
out any hand touching them. 1t
played celestial music, such as no one
heard before nor will ever hear again.
Then it played again Bertha's tune,
and when it was ended all the cords
broke at once and Rudolph fell upon
tho floor.
For some moments the friend re.
manned as motionless as Rudolph;
when he stepped forward to raise
him Rudolph was dead From tho
French.
Cyclones Versus Earthquakes.