The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-09-11

and Again by the Shade Of the Husband,
Who Was Stone Dead.
1t must be fully ten years ago that the
doctor and myself were engaged upon a
geological survey in the north. On q cold
November day we shouldered our KNAPP
sacks and turned our faces homeward
Our way led through chain Of black and
rugged hills
We halted at sunset and building a fire
at the foot of a crag, disposed ourselves to
rest as well as we might. How long had
slumbered knew not when found my
self sitting upright, peering nervously
into the darkness. 1t seemed to me that
some one had uttered n wild, appealing
cry in the very portals of my ears. was
on the point Of lying down again when
was arrested by repetition of the cry.
This time there could be no mistake.
Wild long drawn, and, 1t appeared to me,
full of intolerable anguish l shook the
doctor to awake him.
Be quiet, he muttered. Il heard 1t
all"
ans voice, but 1t expressed such supreme
misery as, believe woman never felt be-
fore. Again it came.
"Helpl o God, helpp'
At this Ineligible appeal to our man.
hood our superstitious weakness instantly
disappeared. Selling torch, we made
our way hastily toward pile of rocks a
few hundred yards distant Scrambling
up the height, we came suddenly upon
strange and mournful scene Before us
stood wretched looking hut Through
the open door we saw the body of man.
apparently lifeless, lying prone upon the
floor. Beside him, with arms flying wild
ly over her head, knelt the figure of a
woman, evidently the one whose cries had
alarmed us.
The woman raised her eyes as we ap-
preached, but gave no further heed to us.
She was young creature, hardly 20, and,
despite the signs of hardship and sorrow,
very beautiful Her companion, young
man of about her own age, attired In a
coarse woodsman's suit, had evidently sue
cumbed to hardship or disease and was
either insensible or dead
WHO are youf" said the doctor very
gently, land what has happened?"
"He died this morning before my very
eyes" she moaned; ''dled, o my God,
of starvation And never knew that he
was depriving himself for my sake. Oh,
my husband, why did you not let me die
with your" And she threw herself across
the body, sobbing as If her poor heart
would break.
We felt that we had CHANGED upon a
strange, sad story of love- pride and suf-
fering The doctor stopped down and felt
at the heart of the prostrate man.
He is dead" he WHISPERED.
Without vanity can say that both the
doctor and myself have received some few
testimonials as to our scientific ability
from the world. You will probably be-
lieve, then, that we are capable of deciding
upon very simple case of death by starva-
ton. Very good. Remember, then, that
l assert upon my professional reputation
that the man was stone dead.
Well, having satisfied ourselves upon
this point, we covered the corpse decently
and sat down to wait for morning. But
at length, completely overcome with
WEAKNESS and excitement, l fell into q
slight slumber. Almost Immediately it
seemed was awakened with shock. The
doctor was bending over me with wonder
and alarm upon his face
Wake up" he said, in a troubled wills.
per. Something very strange has been
going on in this room for many minutes
past.
what Is it9" l asked. II thought that
/ heard some one speaking"
"You did, he replied. II have distinct
ly heard voice close beside us, yet there
Is no one in the room except ourselves and
these two poor people.
There it is again." he muttered agitat
eddy.
A low, confused murmur arose in tht
room. Again it arose, coming from 6
point over our heads, until it seemed II
emanate from some invisible source be
hind U.S.
"Oh, my poor Wife,
The weird, uncanny, startlingly signifl
cant words amazed us.
We scrutinized the corpse. 1t had no
changed position or appearance. The fesl
had grown perfectly cold, the muscles
rigid There was not a trace of vitality
in 1t.
Now, do not expect you to believ,
what followed Yet / swear to you OF
the word of an honest man that do no
deviate from the truth by syllable.
sin the name of God, assist me back Il
life, were the next astounding words.
We gazed at each other, absolutely un
nerved and appalled,
Again was the voice audible "Oh
have pitvw it said
. "Wbo speaks to usS" cried the doctor a
last.
"The soul of the man who lies dead be
fore you
1T is impossible that the dead cal
speak," said the doctor.
mo, for the intelligence never dies
My body is dead, but that with which
lived and loved Is in the room. I dare,
not leave my poor wife unprotected in thi
, wilderness. By the power of my love
have remained near her. l cannot, 1 viii
not be separated from her.
The doctor spoke no more. But for tn
; poor wife lying on the bed we would bot
, have fed forthwith.
Some hours passed in ominous silence
The dawn came Suddenly we both start
ed The voice had again spoken. "Helpl
1t cried in faint accents, for God $ sake
helpr'
We hesitated, then FASTENED to tn
corpse and removed the covering. Their
was an alteration in its pallor. Our in
stinct conquered our weakness A powerful
restorative was administered, and befor
kha