Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-10-08

who, he says, is consclous-s stricken and
sees mysterious things nights"
Part ii.
| had not long to wait. l had no
sooner come to yhe great open lawn of
the old house, which seemed to stand
sideways to the sea, after the manner
of many houses on the coast, than |
was recognized by an acquaintance,
who said to me, You have just ar
rived. This is sad day, Let me in
troduce you to my friend Congressman
Grant He has come down from Provi-
/ dence. Mr.. Grant. DR.. Brown, our
new physician"
A tall man, with restless eyes and a
nervous palor, bowed. | saw at a
glance that the face was not happy
one; saw also that the man was SUI
fering from want OF sleep.
We'll" said -.e, cur friend Placide
has gone and left us"
analysed this cheap, make-shift
provincial sentence, Placide had not
been my friend, nor had Grant been a
true friend to Plaaide.
Our friend Placide" The words,
fanoied, somehow pictured his soul, and
they struck me unfayorably.
Il am not feeling we'll today" he
continued, Il have lot slept well of
late. ] go to bed and close my eyes,
but my thoughts go Oh. | wish that |
could get one nights sleep. | must !.
cannot live in this way. Can you
help me, doctor?"
Here was patient at once, my first
patient, and he 4 congressman |
glanced at his face--there WIS set
tied shadow on it; it recalled the mys-
ferrous words Of Luther, the undertaken
And 1t was night.
Il am studying 10 b. a specialist in
nervous troubles' ! answered, and /
have new remedies ihat think might
help you. I Will speak to you about
it later if you wish. l."
solemn voice rose on the dreamy
sunny air.
"a man that is born of a woman is
OF few days and full of trouble"
1t was the minister. The old clock
had struck one in the still, crowded
rooms The clergyman, tall man
with white hair AMI well nigh celes-
tial face. had moved 10 the open door,
and was speaking so that the congre-
cation within and without might hear
Like clear bell che voice rose again,
after solemn pause.
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling
place in all generations. OF old thou
hast laid the foundations of the earth.
and the heavens are the work OF thy
hands. They shall perish, but thou
shalt endure"
There was the same reYerent silence
during the slow utterance Of these
majestic words Of the Hebrew poets.
The wind from the bay scarce stirred
the leaves Of the trees, or the flowers
in the open windows. There followed
long pause, when suddenly an Incl
dent changed the scene,
The undertaken rad arrived, and had
brought before the view Of the
audience Placide's horse, and he said
''Whoap
TO me the exclamation following the
lofty strains of Hebrew poetry, was
comlcal. But it had not SO impressed
the audience. The rooms suddenly
became white with handkerchiefs.
The horse stamped his feet. Men,
strong men, bowed down and cried, |
knew not how II was, but / found
tears coming into my eyes, The
horse stopped. Stopped there was a
parable in it. Stopped
The old minister cleared his throat
to speak again
Il have seen the flower blooming on
its stalk, but"
There was tremendous sound OF
weeping in the still air OF the rooms.
He paused. The crushed balm beds
under the windows filled the place
with fragrance. The wings Of the
purple swifts in the ancient chimney
brought to mind the familiar associa-
ton OF happy summers in vanished
Il years.
II cannot preach funeral sermon
today" said the old pastor, "A man 4
life is his true funeral sermon. and
words to that are as empty as air.
My friends, you all knew the heart OF
Placide. To die is to be blest Let us
pray"
Every one is weeping. | was never
in such an atmosphere of simple and
unaffected grief. / turned TO study
the face of Congressman Grant.
1t was not that Of a mourner, It was
that Of stone, save that his eyes
seemed moving like shuttles. The
spirit of the simple affecting scene
was in my view gnawing at his heart
and burning into his brain. said to