The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-05-12

qucstod that the directions she had
given 10 her executor regarding her
burial be carried out TO the gtrlctesi
letter. These directions we're unusu-
al. She had always felt a horrible
morbid fear Of being buried alive. This
dread preyod on her mind continuous.
~ and at times almost drove her era.
~. She made her executor. Judge +
c. kontz, promise her that he would
daye her heart pierced after her death
20 maka certain that she was dead DR.
John g. Earnest was summoned by
Judge Kontz to go 20 Barclays under.
taking establishment and carry out thll
last request Before Dr. Earnest
pierced the heart he made a very care
ful examination Of her body for any
sign OF llie The body was cold and
not the slightest evidences OF vitality
we're apparent when DR.. Earnest
made sure that all life was extinct. hs
took the emhalming instrument called
trocar and with this slender weapon
pierced the heart Of the dead countess
as she had requested when the del
icate little instrument penetrated the
fesh there was not the slightest CULVER
Ing Of the fixed cold muscles. The
countess was certainly dead. For a
moment the physician and undertakers
stood around the body. Then Dr.
Earnest slowly drew the trocar out OF
the body. bringing with Il the stains OF
the hearts blood Of the dead coun-
teas.
The body was prepared for burial
as the countess had always requested
She was attired IN a white satin burial
gown with white stockings and shoes
According 10 her instructions and the
customs Of the royalty Of Germany.
the body was drawn 10 her grave by
four mllk-white horses There was
no funeral sermon. The dead woman
had asked that there be none. and
there was only a simple prayer by Tn
dertakor Barclay. For a minute he
prayed earnestly and fervently that
God might bless the ashes OF the dead
and then. without further rite or cere.
mony. the dirt was piled In on the
conn and the body was shut out from
human sight Il was a strange burial
No minister was allowed 20 attend and
the unusual quiet Of the intorment
caused an uncanny feeling 10 thrill the
frames OF the few attendants gathered
around the grave.
The shades of night were falling
when the burial party reached the CEN.
otcry. and this served 20 make The
four white horses. which drew the dead
10 rs last resting place. look more an.
real and ghoGiiy. aad the scene was
especially uncarthly when the grew
some looking conn was lifted from the
plumed hearse and lowered into The
grave.
Perhaps the crowd around the bier
partook OF the superstition that had
been a ruling spirit OF the woman who
was dead before them. They stood In
anxious silence as the coffin was placed
In the grave. No one spoke There
was not even a whisper, when a M.
tle clod OF dirt became loosoned and
fell into the grave Il sound. like the
report % a cannon 20 the strained
nerves of the men. who jumped as II
badly startled.
When the coffin rested on the bot
tom Of the grave. Mr Barclay stepped
out and began % pray His voice
sounded strange,y solemn and his sad
and simple words seemed singularly
20 the occasion. Mr.. bar
clay prayed that the dead countess
might ind that peace and happiness IN
heaven which she had sought 90 long
on earth. When he finished the lnvo-
cation the men began TO shovel In the
earth. and IN a moment the conn was
covered from view.
Countess Zeldloka was born In 81
In 1917 OF a German ducal
family. which had attached itself 10
the Russian court. Al the age OF l6
she was married 20 Count Zeldleka.
Gar Nicholas ! furnished her dowry
aud gave her husband a place upon