Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-11-11
A Domestic Tragedy
9a Grant Allen.

Larthia Seiant;;i WIS dead. Her hus-
band was iEcGiI,ei.lhe. AT least" he
said to his brother-in-law, who strove to
comfort him for the loss of his beautiful
young wife. carried suddenly off after IA
few days of TYPHOID, 'all that art can
So to make her long sleep happy one
HAIL be done 10y my orders. | will go to
the finest craftsmen of tombs in Gu
sium.
The maker of monuments was all OBJ
seqgiouS attention. They called him in
al once. He hastcncd in his best black
suit to the house OF mourning. In the
inter hall Seiantia's two baby boys were
playing. with somewhat chilled mirth,
iimly aware that some terrible thing had
happened to mother.
That's the man who's come to make
mothers tomb" Arnth whispered to
Aule. Nurse told me he was coming
Aule said nothing, but went on drag
Eing his little cart round the marble hall.
with his doll laid out on it, ''going to
mothers funeral"
Il could modcl you a very nice tomb
like the one / made for the late Lady
Ramtha," the Scu. ptor remarked, after
the cutomary ciyilities, in tie subdued
voice of conventional sympathy. 1T
was n superior sarcophagus of best Tar
quinan alabaster. l represented the de-
ceased lady on the lid in the attitude of
a feast. as is now so fashionable. She
had cup in her hand. which she was
in the act of raising with dignity to her
lips. You must have seen the design, for
don't | recollect you were one of the
guests at the funeraly'
''No, thank you," the Larth answered.
"A tomb is not like house. One inhab-
its it for eternity. She would not have
wished Il cup herself. My beloved Lar
thia cared very little for dinner parties,
though, to be sure, she was always
perfect hostess
Everybody in society knows how
charmingly the Larthia used to preside
at her own table," the sculptor answered
deferentialiy. ''She was indeed the mod
el of high bred Etruscan lady. And
the poor-the poor have lost generous
friend in her. But what do you say to
a sarcophagus like one | recently com-
pleted for an order from Cortona! The
deceased lady was represented in high
relief on the front bidding farewell to
her sorrowing friends and family. took
the idea from a fine Athenian marble
original, imported for a wealthy patron
at Faesulae.'
Larth Seians shook his head.
mo, no." he replied. Il won't have
that either | don't want to perpetuate
the memory of our last sad parting
That is, as it were. an accident in her
history. | want the essential. l would
rather see sny dear wife, when I so to
offer the yearly gifts At her grave. dress
ed in her everyday costume and reclining
as ! knew her on her couch with her
needlework. represent her Just so, in
the very dress ! will lend you; put this
cushion beneath her elbow. lay this mir
ror by hes side. give her these bracelets,
that necklace. her sewing, her worsted
and then ! shall feel she goes on in the
tomb living the same placid. affectenate,
domestic life ! have always admired in
her.
"Colored terra Gotta. | suppose|' the
sculptor suggested "Alabaster or mar
BILE for heroic work. you know; clay alone
for domestic. In that material could
make her face absolutely lifelike. You
might almost suppose it WAS the deceased
lady herself if you entered hurriedly."
80 make it." the Larth answered,
brushing a tear from his eyes. Spare
no expense on the craftsmanship. Let
me see her as she lived-calm, dignified,
courteous. with her jewelry and orna-
ments--a lady and mother
When the tomb was completed. all |
Clusnm wondered al it.
. Its every biz as Ene as good Greek |