The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-11
! THE CONSUL'S STORY :
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come in. She was one OF the RADIANT
brunettes whose checks get lovely
red when the thermometer runs near
zero, and who can light the gas with
her fingers when frost is about. She
was in widows garb of the most ag-
gressive sort, and she looked as happy
as "A prisoner Just escaped from Jail
ar. She tripped me a sliding courtesy
and swan into a chair. There was
positively not an angle about her.
II haf come on d sad business she
said. The hardening OF the final "f"
showed the Frenchwoman. but there
was no other evidence of it,
l bowed and looked up with sympa-
thy and inquiry.
my dear husbant, he is det."
l mutely expressed my cOmmisera-
tion.
He has died very suddainly and
haf decided that / cannot leave his
body in this cold Englant where IS
noting sympatica. l will take him
back to New York on the steamer"
Her long lashes fell like a velvet pail
as she said this, and then slowly came
upward. Beneath them l could see a
pair of dark brown eyes shining
through a film of tears. 1t was like
rainbow in the mist
MY dear husbant he was so goot 10
me. He lies in a leaden coffin at the
cemetery house, and we must take him
away tomorrow. 1t will be for you to
do something for mo. You shall say
that he is inside. If not this, dey open
him at the custom house"
But / cannot give sou the usual
certificate without actually seeing him
in the collin
"Thcy will not let me open de coffin
no more. | did not know yesterday or
I would have sent for you. You must
do this"
She leaned over in pleading entreaty
and murmured: My poor husbant, he
IS not here to protect me and help me
like he used to do. # my consul does
not helm me. who can help me, and
where shall [ go?"
felt as though it was positively
criminal to torture this poor lady any
longer with suggestions of strict COM
pliance with the law. 1 said [ would
do all | could To smooth the hard path
of widow hood, and asked for the death
certificate. II was duly handed me,and
was correct in all particulars. \ big
splash of ink covered the place Of de-
mise. but that was obviously an acci-
dent. Then | ntmated that l was quite
satisfied the husband was in the coffin.
but that | felt I must at least go and
see the outside of the receptacle.
You shall come with me-" she said,
and together We drove over to the
cemetery 1t was Il pleasant afternoon
and | enjoyed the drive immensely.
Mrs. Burns also seemed to find the air
eXhilarating, and laughed several
times in so hearty a way that / was
moved To express my satisfaction at the
way she vas bearing up under her
great bereaVemcnt
All, yes" she said. with a sigh,
sometimes do forget that | shall not
see my hushant any more"
Was he long ill?"
His healt was what you call pre-
pre-carious Is dat how you call it,"
That is right"
He was a man who loved de mystery
and dc romance. We hat had many ro-
mances."
"Nh, tell me one, for instance"
mo; dose t'ings are sacred in his
tomb He was very large man. long,
hut not what you cali fat. His coffin
seems very large"
And have all your romances been
with your husband?"
Il do not tell You dat. Mr. Consul" a."
and she, smiled as though SHE could
whole volumes unfold.
At the cemetery / found in themor-
tuary chapel an immense leaden coffin
which looked large and grewsome
enough TO contain the remains Of two
husbands instead of one. and 7 felt that
the widow had completely made out
her case. Upon my return l therefore
gave her the following certificate, sur
mounted by a large American eagle;
consulate of the L. S. A., -, -
Il, the undersigned consul Of the
United States of America for do
hereby certify and make known to all
whom it may concern that on Monday,
the ------ dav of - A. D. IS at
the consulate aforesaid, the leader
coffin containing the mortal remains OF
Samuel Burns was sOldered down ir
my presence: said Samuel Burns hay.
ing been temporarily abroad. and hay
ing died on the - day of - A
D., IS, aged fOrty-one years. The said
leaden coffin contains inside a polished
oaken casket, and the said coffin was
securely packed in a deal packing case
marked This side UPPER steamer
Cmbria-' B.) ! further certify that the
said Samuel Burns died from no in,
fectious disease, and that said case Sc
marked contains nothing but said re.
mains inclosed as above stated. Thi:
certificate Is granted to serve at the
custom house at New York, in The
United States of America.
In testimony whereof I have here.
unto set my hand and the consular sea
THIS ------ day of -, in the YEAR OF
our Lord IS"
You see" l said to the widow. 81
certify here that ] have actually seer
the coffin soldered down: but, as it wa,
done before. / hardly think it neces
Sary TO have it broken open, and I an
sure it is all right, You will now have
no trouble in getting the precious pack,
age unopened through the custom house
at New York"
The widow was grateful for this.
1t would be an awful ting if de,
were to make trouble dere," she muir
mered plaintively. "Oh, my dear, dea,
Samuel"
! consoled her as well as ! could an,
encouraged her to talk about Samuel
He was the tenderest, best of hus
bands, learned. He had never givel
her a cross word. and had sacrificed
everything TO her wishes. He was no
wat you call handsome man, but n
had his good points" she cOnfided. An,
she got brighter as she recounted hi
virtues. At last the widow left me
profuse Of thanks. The consulat
seemed dreary after she left.
1 thought of her at times and hat
hnnng Of Co