The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-26

next morning l naturally felt fatigued
and rose late; but was very cheerful,
for / expected my husband Mt noon.
And now comes the perpleNing mystery.
in the course of dressing myself I
stepped TO my bureau, and seeing q
small newspaper slip attached to the
cushion by pin. drew IL off and read
it. 1t was death notice, and my hair
rose and my limbs failed ME as l took
in It's fatal and incredible words:
"Died this day at the Colonnade,
James Forsythe De Witt Holmes. New
York papers please copy
James Forsythe De Witt Holmes was
my husband, and his last letter, which
was at that very moment lying beside
the cushion, had been dated from the
Colonnade. Was / dreaming or under
the spell of some frightful hnllucina-
tion which led me to misread the name
not determine. My head, throat and
chest seemed bound about with iron,
so that could not cry out or breathe
freely; and suffering thus, stood
staring, i do not know how long, at
this demoniacal piece OF paper which
In an instant had brought the shadow
Of death upon my happy life. Nor was
] at ali relieved when n little later l
flew from the notice into a neighbours
apartment and praying her to read IL
Tor me, found that my eyes had notde-
ccived me and that the name was in
deed my husbands and the notice one
Of death.
Not from my own mind but from
hers came the first suggestion of COM
fort.
at cannot be your husband who is
meant? said she; but one of the same
name. Your husband wrote TO you yes
terday, and this person must have been
dead two days, At least, for the printed
notice of his decease TO have reached
New York. Some one has remarked
the striking similarity of names, and
wishing TO startle You, cut the slip out
and pinned 1t on your cushion
II certainly knew of no one incon-
siderate enough to do this, but the cx-
PLANTATION was so plausible, / at once
embraced IL and sobbed aloud In my re-
Lief. But in the midst of my rejoicing
heard the bell ring In my apartment
and running thither, 1 encountered a
telegraph boy whSheld out to me the
horrible yellow envelope which so often
bespeaks death or disaster. The sight
took my breath away. Summoning my
maid whom 1 saw fastening towards
me from an inner room, begged her TO
open the telegram and tell me--but l
had no need 20 finish. / saw death in
her face; the obituary notice had told
nothing but the truth"
The young widow cholSed with her
emotions, paused, recovered herself for
the second time, and then went on.
IL had better show you the telegram"
Taking IL from her pocketbook, she
held IL towards me. i read IL al a glance.
IL was short, simple and direct
''Come at once. Your husband found
head in his room this morning. Doctors
say heart disease. Please telegraph"
You see IL says this morning. che
explained, plncing her delicate finger
on the words she so eagerly quoted.
"That means a week ago wednesday.
The Same day on which the printed slip
recording his death was found on my
cushion. Doyou not see something very
strange about this?"
sd ard tol6 her 40: but before
commeEced the questions by which l
hoped 10 extract some explanation cf
this matter, desired her TO tell me what
she had learned in Philadelphia, on her
Wait there.