Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-04-23
THE FINGER or FATE.

H'lN SPA kilhr NANu|S IMAM MaNdO
Kings, High spirits like her good
looks, were always with her Her only
grief WAS not serious things OF life,
but that SHE could not take them ~
seriously rs she should.
For. wlthal. Maude had a great re-
gard for conNCnlonalities. When she
married all nt them were kept, She
married nj the proper age, in most
proper and conventional way. and her
husband was the most proper and con
Ncntional man ever met He was
considerably Older than his wife and
allowed her to be happy rather than
made her 80 \ quiet, plNsa,c life rs
Mrs, Fulsomc did not dim the sunshine
OF her nature, She sometimes sighed
for moro matmnlN ways but neverthc
less kept her eirlishncss,
In time. MIR t'ulsome died His
death was a great blow TO Maude, /
think, and she felt II TO the fnll depth
OF her nature hut in It there was
little space for sorrow. When called
to condole with her she greeted me
sadly, but soon we were chatting with
animation. Suddenly n panied look
g me into her face,
II do feel my SORROW she said. "hut
Why can't | show It? Why was born
= thnughtless ." comforted her as
best | could
\ few davH later | received a letter
with a heavy black border, 1t was
from Maude Il wish to visit some
hospitals" 1t ran Would YOU mind
going with me? | win call for YOU
Il morrow at ."
There was no explanation, but
II ought AT once that Maudc wished to
seek depression or herself she could
not he sufficiently down hearted
I'nat very day there was n terrible
2 ,'dcnt on suburban railway Most
Of The injured. | read were taken to
ST. Johns hospital
Maude came promptly the next after
noon, (Which hospital do YOU Wish
to VISIT" | asked
st. Johns" she replied Her choice
did not surprise me, and | said moth
ing, nor did we converse on the way
down town There was great deal
oI stir about the hospital People
were coming and going Some showed
the marks of present anxiety or fresh
sorrow, but the majority seemed cheer
rnl, almost happy, The hospital was
much mara pIpuunnI tbnp tbn ynnpuun
whore others were seeking friends or
relatives
Going In with the stream we found
ourselves In one OF the main wards
The big room. round cornered, Ranked
on either side by windows, through
which the air and sunlight entered
seemed the reverse Of depressing. Many
Of the poor fellows in their cots were
smiling in spite Of being PROSTATE and
bandagcd Some Of the survivors OF
the accident were in tho room talking
with one another or with those who
had been less fortunate Tho accident
was the one topic conversation. II
was discussed In all It's mInutost de-
tails Their spirits rose with the re
action from the horror and with the
sense that they were safe.
We had passed but little way
through the room when Maude was
stopped by a tall, red whiskered man
who addressed her as n matter OF
ears n glowing. and in parts humorous
account OF his experience Of the day
before
| was left somewhat apart and
walked over to window between two
cots In one OF them a man with a
bandaged forehead was lying with his
pointing upward and his head forced
back well back into the pillows,
Standing almost over him. | CHANGED
10 look down In an instant his cx-
preston was printed 80 indelIby in
my memory as never to be effaced,
Such a look VI frozen horror ! never
saw upon human countenance. With
the marks Of some past mental agony
there seemed to be new and present
terror, gazed upon him as one fas-
CInAte1.
Soon 7 saw tina. he observed me.
Am | to toll II 10 your" heard
him say although his eyes scarcely
moved. yet you come here and are
interested" he continued, his words,
though scarcely louder, became more
audible. 1T might take longer in the
going over Words are slow. This
constant occurrence, this FASTENED rep
etition leading me on, leading me up
again TO that
The horror came TO him anew, and
he forced his head yet further back
into TIE pillow Il must tell you. 1t
puts II on and no picked neryously
al the bedclothes.
He paused moment while I stood
sIellbound.
For three years" he began again.
81 have come TO business on that train