The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-06-13
STAYED THE DOCTORS HAND

STAYED The DOCTORS HAND
twas very sick. had laid for days
that seemed years upon the rack OF
such pain as only strong men, suddenly
broken upon the wheel, may know.
Every bone in my body, every nerve
every minute gland of corporeal tissues
had been like electric wires and cells
surcharged with ethereal agony. At
last there had come benumbed feeling
that thrilled like the vibration of harp
strings suddenly stilied. I could hear
the hum OF voices like the far-off drone
of bees, and the sound seemed soothing
me into strange peace.
I was aware that somebody passed q
light before my eyes, and after repea-
ing 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 as it approached the
boundaries of auricular 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 linger, I caught myself hist
ening for the third voice, which l
seemed to know would speak next.
And did not listen IN vain. for even
while 7 struggled with the unseen
forces that were hurrying me away
woman's voice, clear and strong and
sweet as the notes of bell that was
forever ringing in my ear, said:
eve 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 will throw
every wlndo';--;a ~ofd hospltafas
wide as the sky"
"And give the rest Of the poor devils
IN the ward chance to catch mortal
chill" responded the second voice.
ssYou are as consistent as the rest OF
your sex, Miss Brady"
While yet the echo of the head doc
tors voice beat the air in circles Of re-
ceding sound, I suddenly ceased to
think, to hear, to feel, to be. And yet
Iwas. I knew by some newly de-
veloped sense that I lay mute and
white upon the cot which had supported
my body SO long, and that the fragrance
of a prayer hoated through the awful
stiffness of the room 1t had no form,
nor sound, and yet something within
me perceived it, as the languid senses
perceive the fragrance Of newly moWn
hay upon serene June morning.
A continuous pageant Of the most
seraphic vision unfurled in endless pro-
gression before me. I saw the green
hills Of my childhood's home lift them
selves like emerald bubbles in a haze
of enchanted air. I saw the sapphire
of the sea set N a rim OF violet dawns
and daffodil moons. I saw the stretch
of desert sands like drifts of snow
within the compass of a lonely land.
And in the midst OF their bewildering
vision i suddenly saw q cleaning slab
within wlndowless room, where some
thing long and white and still was ly-
ing. Drops of ice were forming or
the edges of the slab. and death co!u
stream was purling across its shining
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
. soon shall lie.
ave will bury him tonight" it
seemed to say, ''there will be no friends
to interfere, aud there are too many
dying these few days past to keep
'stiffs' over half day."
"But the law grants even stiff its
rights" responded the womanly voice
l had learned to knew, ''we have no
right to bury him with such indecent
haste"
sRight or no right, law or no law,
he'll have to get out Of this tonight"
replied the first voice.
The contention had no effect upon
the something within my ice-bound
frame which still held its mysterious
connection with sentient life. That
6lament, 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. I could hear the rise
and fall Of angelic choruses, like the
dip of songful seas, and clear and
sweet and distinct, above them all, l
heard the woman's voice I learned
from out the cold embrace of death to
note.
ssHe shall not be buried tonight,
oor yet tomorrow, if that flush con-
hnues on his face"
ssWhat flush 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 forming, crystal by crys-
tai, like the beads one threads upon a
growing strand.
"Why, the flush We have both no.
ticed since we stood here. I knew by
the intent gaze you bestowed upon
what generally demands but passing
glance, that you discovered it when I
did, and demand that the body be re-
moved to the ward until we Investigate
the case"
s.The flush is only the reflection Of
your red Dress" laughed the doctor.