Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-02-14
N[USING OF THE DEAD

There was the sound of trampling feet
above my head and the sharp click of met
al against the sod and !, a shape, yapor,
resting in my coffin, could distinctly hear
the digger at work on another grave beside
my own.
1t had never occurred To me in life that
the dead had ears to hear and eyes to see,
and even now there was nothing in the
demeanor of my coflined neighbors to up
hold mo in my present theory | was
criminal when they buried me and my
soul seemed left within my body to grovel
in the dust of horror and humiliation for
a period ut least before its further eyolu-
ton.
1t was as If my own contempt for the
sublimity of the soul was being Knocked
by heshly dissolution. Twas forced to wit
ness the filthy degeneration of what in life
had seemed to me of paramount impor-
lance. Vanity and carnality had been my
ruling passions and all the higher attri-
butes of man, in which the soul took prec-
edence Of body, aroused within my carnal
mind only a feeling of sarcastic pity.
1t was for this destroying Of mental
self that I was finally hunted down and
brought to sudden justice.
For many years my wild debauches had
been carried on with fallen mortals and
mon who scorned and loathed me-even
they were satisfied to let it go as thing
beyond their interference.
1t was only when I won poor Nellie's
love that they began shaking their angry
heads and pointing their warning fingers
at me-
But I had wisdom in my evil way. l
feigncd reformation that did not feel
and for a time behaved with rigid circum-
spection.
There were days even when the child's
sweet nature almost shamed me in my
wicked purpose, but to heart grown old
in sin womans virtue only adds per-
sistence, and after each brief moment of
remorse the old desire crept swiftly back
with tcnfold worse intentions added
And day by day the foweret dropped
with the sun of passion beating on it. Day
by day truth took weaker hold upon the
soul that wavered in my power.
Warnings l had in plenty from tho
friends that loved the girl, and although
there was no violence from me at any
time they called my deed Il deed of crime
and lynched me like common felon.
Whether it was just some did not know,
but to me, lying cramped and huddlcd in
this moldy box, there comes at times Il
realization of my sin that makes the judg-
ment seem most fair and even tempered
with that plea for mercy which doubtful
| Jurors often add.
Day by day, hour by hour and minute
by minute the scenes and sins OF my life
are creeping slowly through my soul, and
now, viewed by the light of disembodied
spirit, I find how greatly the sins of tho
flesh are at variance with the spiritual be-
| ing.
Hope and DESIRE so all important to the
carnal frame, shrink to the meanest form
of guilt when viewed through noblor
| purer lenses. Like wornout husk, bat
tered and travel stained, my flesh lies rot
ting in this grave, while !, q soul, exist
here, there and all about, able to penetratt
the very EARTH able to sec the heavens
above, but totally unable to escape from
the dread proximity Of my moldering clay
of this constant vision of decay in wha
was once my fondest pride.
And now another silent form Is being
lowered to my side. hear the sound o
falling sods, the creak of ropes, the treat
of feet, and wish-oh, coward that l am
that it might be another soul so doomed
that it would bear me company
They are going now, tho mourners N
the grave above my head and almos
touching my crumbling feet I see the out
limo of polished casket.
No one in all those silent tombs seems
Weakened or disturbed but mo- The adven
of another form into the gloom and horro
of this place brings not q tremor to tn
dust of those who sleep SO peacefully.
But now my soul seems pierced agail
by one more venomed, ranking dart, ant
through tho power of spirit sight sec TIN
limit Of my doom.
There Is no soul within this new mad
tomb, no clay freed spirit to condole will
mine, but low beneath tho polished board
a sweet, young face lies still and calm ant
seems to mock my misery.
Once more trace my evil life in all it
willful, sinful ways, and, turning try t.
avert my gaze from that which almos
maddens me.
This, then, Is Justice for the damned
To watch, perforce, whilo all you love de
Gays, while flesh, once fair creeps vilel
back to dust, and the immortal SOUL dc
MED and scorned, rises from tho YER
grave to torture that which scorncd 1T
Yes, this is justice, but the after plea
the plea for mercy, is denied mo, for here
before my shrinking gaze, my victim lie
In peaceful slumber.
Powerless was l to harm her soul
though friend and foe alike condemns
her and now, in throes of bitter rage,
recognize righteous vengeance. lex
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