The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-14
DRAMATIC INCIDENTS.
Startling Occurrences That Have
Broken in Upon Peaceful Moments.


From the st. Louis Globe Democrat
1t occasionally happens that lives which
have run on the most peaceful and an
eventful lines for many years are suddenly
marked out by fate for the introduction
of keenly dramatic Incidents; and that
such has frequently been the case the fol-
lowing episodes culled from the writer's
recollection and experience, will serve to
demonstrates:
Two old maids for many years had lived
in the utmost seclusion at village near
Toulon. in France, their lives being peace
ful to the point of monotony. Their great
est excitement had been a flower show;
their deepest catastrophe, the death OF a
faVorite cat. One evening, however, as the
two sat at their needlework i'm their little
parlor they were startled by seeing their
window flung Violently open, and a man in
convict dress rushed into the room Failing
on his knees, he begged for protection
from the prison officials, who at that very
moment were in pursuit of him.
The old ladies', terribly frightened, were
about to summon assistance, when, Of a
sudden, the elder of them pointed to the
man with a low cry, and exclaimed;
Look! 1t is Henri, come back to life
Years ago, when the old maid had been
a young maid, and a pretty girl as well,
she had been affiancied to a young fellow
whom she had loved passionately He had
died three days before the day appoin TED
for their union, and ever since she had
carried his memory in her heart. By
some strange coincidence the man who low
implored their protection was the living
image of the dead man: and this being so,
sentiment gained the day, and they re-
solved TO give him the help he besought.
Acting on the impulse, they went
through their work of mercy with heroism.
The convict was secreted in the boudoir,
and when the officers. of the law arrived
and inquired If anything had been seen
of the escaped man a direct denial was
given them. Probably this was the first
untruth which the poor old ladies had
ever uttered, and the lie was one of those
with which the recording angel will per-
chance deal lightly when the time of judg-
ment comes.
The danger once over, the two worthy
danes saw that the man was fed and
properly clothed, and when a week had
passed he left their house, taking with him
a sufficient sum of money, which they
forced upon himy TO enable him to leave
the country and start a new life abroad
The farewell scene was pathetic In the ex-
treme, the rescuers being as deeply affect
ed as the rescued.
For years afterward, and, In fact, until
the time of their decease, the two women
would often speak of this strange incident
with bated breath, and the last incident in
the little drama was the arrival one morn
ing two years later, of a magnificent dla-
mond accompanied by note from the ex-
convict He wrote that he had gone TO
South Africa, where he had prospered ex.
ceedingly, and he felt that the diamond,
his biggest find, was a fitting souvenir of
the biggest service that had ever been rem
dered TO him by man or woman.
Another curious incident of peaceful
life suddenly lit up by a luridly dramatic
incident was the following: A venerable
country pastor beloved by his flock and
distinguished by his benevolence and I'M
sefishness, was preaching one Sunday
morning to the tiny congregation, when
the calmness of the place was suddenly
disturbed by tall, dark-bearded man ris-
ing in his pew, where he had been sitting
unobserved, and calling on the minister to
come down from the pulpit, as he had no
right to stand there and preach to his fell
low-men.
The astonished congregation at first
thought that the man was intoxicated, and
the verger was about to approach him,
when the minister raised his hand, and, in
a voice which trembled with terror, beg
ged for silence.
The dark men then proceeded 10 bring a
terrible charge against the clergyman. lie
stated that, twenty years before, the latter
had wronged his sister, who had died soon
afterward, and that, as her brother, he
demanded that Justice should be done, and
that the preacher should cease to preach
precepts which, in days gone by, he had 50
wickedly dIsregarded.
Every eye was turned on the white-faeed
bOIlfA1
that he would utterly repudiate the charge,
but, to the intense surprise of all, he cried
out in a. loud voice that the charge was
true. and that henceforth the pulpit should
know him no more. He had spoken the
truth, indeed, for even as he descended the
steps he reeled and fell. The shock had
been too great for him, and he lay dead at
the foot of the pulpit Dramatic ana aW-
full indeed!
Then there was the case of the old city
merchant, q steady Flooding citizen, out
every morning at 10, and in bed every
evening at the same time, his life being
governed by the law Of monotones, who
was awakened one night by finding bur-
glar in his room.
Quick as lightning he leaped from The
couch and struggled with the marauder,
and being a powerfully built man, and
possessing great vlgor In spite Of his
years, he overpowered the midnight Wis
itor. lie was just about TO summon the
servants and send for the police when
voice he remembered well said hoarsely:
Don't you know me, Dick?"
For the first time he took a keen glance
at the other man, and what was his hor-
ror when he discovered that It was his
half brother, who, years ago had run
away to sea, and who had always been
hopeless ne'er-do-well. He had gone from
bad to worse with the result that he had
entered this house on this night with the
intention OF plundering It's owner, though
he had not known his identity until they
met face TO face. Perhaps more dram
attic meeting for two brothers, separated
for space Of years, could hardly be Inn
agined, and IL will be needless to add that
the police were not summoned. The mer-
chant promised to assist his disreputable
relative, providing he would give up his
evil ways, and It is satisfactory TO think
that the upshot Of that nights meeting
was a change for the better on the part
Of the would-be thief.
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