The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1899-03-08

WhiCh WeFo AuOho " Hhu WtIt uuCoN~
cred, save by a bandago which passed
over the head aud under the chin. The
eyes we're closed Tue left arm lay heav-
lily across the bed, and the woman held
the passive hand.
The surgeon gently pushed the woman
aside, and took the hand in his.
"My Godl" he exclaimed, letting II
fall inyoluntarilY-'t the man 10 dead ]"
The woman started TO her feet and
beat her hands together. "0hl don't say
30 sir" she exclaimed with a burst Of
passion amounting almost to freI ~.
"0h don't say 80, sirl can't bear it
Men have been brought to lif4 before,
when unskillful people have given them
up for lost; and men have died who
might haye been restored II proper
means had been resorted to. Don't let
him lie here, sir, without one effort 10
save him This very moment life may
be passing away. Do try, sir o, for
heavens sakel" Aud while speaking
she hurriedlv chafed, FIRST the forehead,
and then the breast OF the senseless form
before her; aud then wildly beat the
cold hands, which, when she ceased 10
hold them, fell listlessly and heavily
back on the coverlet
at is OF no use, my good woman"
said the surgeon soothiugly, as he with
drew his hand from the mans breast.
"Stsy-undraw that curtainl /"
"WhyP" said the woman, taltinR up.
"Undraw that curtain rep; ated the
surgeon, in an agitated tone.
1 darkened the room on purpose"
said the woman, throwing herself before
him as he rose to undraw it. "Ohl sir,
have pity on mel If IL can be of no use,
and he is really dead, do not expose that
form to other eyes than mine F"
"This man died no natural or easy
DEATH" said the surgeon. II must see
the bodyl" With a motion 30 sudden
that the woman hardly knew that he
had slipped from beside her, he tore
open the curtain, admitted the full light
of day, and returned to the bedside.
There has been violence here" he
said, pointing towards the body, aud
gazing intently on the face from which
the black veil was now, for the first time,
removed. Ia the excitement of a min
ute before the female had thro wn off the
bonnet and veil, and stood with her eyes
fixed upon him. Her features were those
OF woman OF about fifty, who had once
been handsome. Sorrow and weeping
had left traces upon them which not
time itself would ever have produced
without their aid; her face was deadly
pale; and there was a nervous contortion
of her lip and an unnatural fire in her
eye, which showed too plainly that her
bodily and mental powers had nearly
sunk beneath an accumulation OF mis-
cry.
"There has been violence here" said
the surgeon, preserving his searching
glance.
'There has " replied the woman.
"This man has been murdered"
"rhat call God to witness he has,
said the woman passionately, "pitilessly,
inhumanly murdered
"By whom?" said the surgeon, Selling
the woman by the arm.
"Look at the butchers marks, aud
then ask me " she replied,
The surgeon turned his face towards
the bed, and bent over the body which
now lay full in the light OF the window
The throat was swollen, and livid mari
encircled it. The truth flashed suddenly
upon him
This is one of the men who weU
hanged this morning!" he exclaimed
turning away with shudder.
at is," replied the woman, with
cold, unmeaning stare.
"Who was he 2" inquired the surgeon
"My son 7" rejOined the woman; ant
fell senseless at his feet.
1t was true, A companion, equall
guilty with himself, had been acquitted
for want of evidence; and this man ha'
bsen left for death, and executed. T.
recount the circumstances of the case a
this distant period must be unnecessary
and might give pain to some person
still alive. The history was an every
day one. The mother was a widow
without friends or money, and had dc
MED herself necessaries to bestow ther
on her orphan boy. That boy, unmind
full OF her prayers, and forgetfnl. of tn
sufferings she had endured for him
incessant anxiety of mind and voluntar
starvation OF body-hsd plugged into
career OF dissipation and crime An,
this was the result his own death by tn
hangman's hands, and his mother
shame and incurable insanity.
For many years after this occurrence
and when profitable and arduous avoca
tions would have led many men to for
yet that such miserable being existed
the young surgeon was a daily visitor a
the side Of the harmless mad woman
not only soothing her by his presence
and kindness, but alternating the rig)i
of her condition by pecuniary donations
for her comfort and support, bestowed
with no sparing hand In the transient
CLEAN OF recollection and consciousness
which preceded her death, prayer fol
his welfare and protection, as iervent al
mortal ever breathed, rose from the lipG
I