Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-01-21


met" she cried.
II cannot change your fate. Eudora.
but l can disarm it of it's terrors," he
answered. very gently.
She looked at him with a wild, in
credulous gaze.
CHAPTER xXvIII-(Continucd)
"The state Of the mind depends so
much upon the condition of the body
that l must bring your excited nervous
system into some Quietude before l can
hope that YOU will listen to me with
benefit" said the doctor. opening
small box and taking from it minute
lozenge. which he directed her to swal-
low.
Eudora obeyed. and the doctor sat
watching the effect of the drug.
In Il few moments the morphia had
done it's benign work. and soothed the
agonizing nervousness Of the victim
down to Il state of serene repose in
which She could calmly contemplate
her coming doom.
"You feel better now. my child:' said
Dr. Moss. =.
Yes" she replied.
"And YOU can bear to speak of your
position:"
ooh. yes
''Then, Eudora, wish you to open
your heart to me as to an old expert
enced friend, who sympathizes with
every phase of your sufferings and can
ameliorate them all. Tell me, now. what
it was that filled your mind with such
fear and horror as to overthrow your
fortitude so completely. It was not
fear of death I know; for even children
meet death unblenchingly. What was
it then? 1t will do you good to confess
to me-
"You judge me rightly" said Eudora,
as, calmly by the morphia. she now
entered with perfect self-possession
upon the dreaded subject. ut was not
fear of death, for should be happy if
l could die quietly here in my bed. 1t
was the manner of the death, the deep
dishonor and the mysterious unknown,
awful agony of that blindfold, suffo-
eating. helpless struggle with violent
death!'
"In word, you dreaded excessive
physical suffering?"
"Oh. yes"
"A1y child. there will be no such suf-
fering at ALL The death you so much
dreaded will be the easiest of all
deaths"
She looked up at him with calm, in
crelulous wonder.
'Eudora, speak. the words of truth
and soberness, as we'll as of science
and experience" said the doctor
gravely.
.'Ah, how do you know? How can
any one know? l myself can only
judge by this Here she put her
thumb and fingers toward her throat.
but the doctor arrested her moving
hand and held it while he said:
You must not do that-you will only
brighten yourself with false terrors.
An incomplete pressure like that is
very distressing. a complete one is
quite the reverse
''Al, how can we he sure of that:
''By the light of science. which
shows us that the instantaneous con-
gestion of the brain consequent upon
such pressure prevents all suffering.
So. my child. dismiss all dread OF pain,
you will lot lave to bear 1t.
Il do not know. No one has ever
come back from that dread mystery
to tell us what it was.
Yes, but there has. There are sew
eral authentic instances on record Of
after execution. and who have all
agreed in testifying that the manner
of death was easy, thus demonstrating
the theory of science in that respect.
But if YOU want farther confirma ton,
Eudora. you can have 1t III my own
professional experience
"Yo1rs!'' exclaimed Eudora. in quiet
incredulity.
T q
in Il fit of despair. attempted to de-
stroy himself in that very manner
Hc was found by his friends suspend
cd from a tree in a grove. and when
taken down was quite insensible, and
apparently quite dead. But the vital
spark had not fed. for when l was
called to him. and took proper means
to restore him to consciousness. l sue
ceeded. He was very penitent for
having. in a fit of dependency, tried
to rush unbidden into the presence of
his God But what made his case
most interesting to me. as a medical
man. was his description of his scnsa-
tons while undergoing that process.
He described them as being without
resembling the effects produced by the
III 81 VI ShA'loAOiih. NAAA'A.
like one under the full influence OF
that drug. he lapsed into insensbility,
and knew no more until his rcsuscita-
ton; and now l hope !ou will believe
me. and dismiss your fears Of suffer
Jig
''Oh. yes; I suppose I was a sad
coward to dread torture so much
"All women do. Eudola. 1t is their
nature: their tender. delicnte sensitive
organizations shrink from torture. But
now. what other feature is there in
this fate that so distressed you. for
the dread of physical agony was not
ally'
sob. no. for there was the sense of
deep dishOnor.'
Yet you say that you are inno-
cent?
Il am weary of repeating that 10 in-
crcdulous ears. and yet God knows
that am innocent"
Then trust in God to redeem Your
name from all lasting rcprOacll. as
your Christian faith teaches you 10 be-
licvc that He will: and consider also,
| dear Child. that when. in Il few more
hours. you shall stand in the presence
of that Divine Judge who knows your
innocence the opinion OF the world
YOU loft behind will be rs nothing to