Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1893-04-22
HOW I DIED.

pain as only strongmen, suddenly broken
upon the wheel, may know. Every bone
in my body. every nerve, every minute
gland of corporal tissues had been like
electric wires and cells surcharged with
ethereal agony. At last there had come
4 benumbcd feeling that thrilled like the
vibration of harp strings suddenly stilled.
could hear the hum of voices like the
far off drone of bees, and the sound
seemed soothing me into a strange peace.
| 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 voice. seemingly borne beyond
the confines of space and gathering force
us it approached the boundaries of aurlc-
ular demonstration until it doomed like
the deep bass of the sea, uttered these
words:
The poor fellow is going fast. Give
his spirit chance TO free itself"
DO you believe in that old woman
rot?' asked another, and from the re-
gion of enchanted drowsiness where l
seemed to hnger caught myself listen
ing for the third voice, which seemed
10 know would speak next. And l didn't
listen III vain. for even while struggled
with the unseen forces that were hurry
ing me away !, woman's voice, clear and
strong and sweet as the notes of a bell
that was forever ringing in my ear, said:
I'VE believe in Gods mercy, and We
believe that this poor pain racled body is
about to throw open the door by which
the spirit goes free; if closed window
hinder its going, we will throw every
window in the old hospital as wide as
the sky"
And give the rest of the poor devils
in the ward chance to catch 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 recedlng
sound, l suddenly ceased to think, to
hear, TO feel, to be. And yet l was. l
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 foateG
through the awful stiffness OF the room.
1t had no form nor sound and yet some
thing within NE perceived it. as the Ian
guild senses perceive the fragrance OF
newly mown hay upon serene June
morning.
\ continuous pageant OF the most Sc
raphic vision rafurlcd in endless progress
sion before me. SAW the green hills OF
my chiidhooj's home lift themselves like
emerald bubbles in IL haze of enchanted
air. saw the sapphire of the sea set in
a rim of violet dawns and daffotiil moons.
| saw the stretch Of desert sands like
drifts OF snow within the compass OF u
lonely land And in the midst of their
bewilderiny vision l suddenly saw a
cleaning slab within windowless room.
where something long ard white and
still was lying. Drops of ice We're form
ing on the edges of the slab. and Il death
cold s5rean. WIS purlinS acres its shin
ing surface. Something that was not a
voice. and which made itself manifest to
me through other channels than the ear,
spoke lightly Of the grave wherein |
soon should liz.
we vii, bury him tonight. it seemed
to say. there Will be no friends to in
terfere. and there are too many dying
these few days past to keep 'stiffs' over
d half day.
But the Inv grants even u stiff its
rights. responded the womanly voice l
had learned TO know. I'VE have no
right to bury him with such indecent
haste.
Right or no right. law or no law,
he'll have to get out 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 tilalnent,
fine as tie gossamer shred by which the
spider binds together the ether and the
rose. seemed an electric wire charged
with messages from III unseen world
could hear The rise AMI fall of angelic
choruses. Exc the dip OF songful seas,
and clear and sweet and distinct, above
them all. | heard the woman'S voice |
learned from CIT the cold embrace Of
death 10 notc.
He Shall uot be buried tonight, nor
yet tomorrow. if that flush continues on
Lis f.ye
*: lat fiush are you talking about?'
responded the doctor. bringing the light
he carried nearer the face that lay upon
the marble slab. where the ice drops
were forrli.ls. crystal b. crystal, like the
beads one threads upon a growing strand.
WHY. the flush we both have noticed
since We stood here. knew by the in
tent gaze w bestowed upon what gen
orally dcin;;n.,s but IL passing glance that
you discovered it when | I'D, and de-
nand that tle body be removed to the
ward until we investigate the case.
That flash is only the reflection OF
your red dress" laughed the doctor.
on are WASHING tllne. Saul tile
nurse Il shall call Il stretcher to carry
this living llam out Of the morSue. Aft
erward we may resume our converse.
ton"
You shall do nothing of the sort" re-
piled the doctor, placing his hand as he
spoke upon the outstretched arm of the
nurse with compelling force. You have
made I. fool of yourself over this fellow
from the first. Not hanger on Ill the
ward but ,;i!at noticed your interest in
his handsome face. You are bound to ine
by ties you cannot break. and rather than
see yoa undc,: tie cnchantlneat OF this
fellow again simply will smother the
feeble paise of life that fingers in his
veins and make /; surety of his death.
..You may bea villain but you are not
a coward. DR.. Ware" replied the woman,
whose hand lie still held. TO refuse to
rive this man the chance to live would
be the most despicable act of your life,
and, so help me God, will denounce
YOU az; IA murderer before the first justice