The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-08-31
SOME DRAMATIC I>ClDENl:
Strange and Inexplicable Happen
ings in Lifetime.


It oo ,asionally happens that lives
which have run on the most peaceful
and uneventful 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 following episodes
culled from the writer's recollection
and experience will serve to demon
strate:
Two old maids for many years had
lived, says a writer in the st. Louis
Globe-Democrat. in the utmost seclu-
sion at a village near Toulon, France,
their lives being peaceful to the point
of monotony. Their greatest excite
ment had been flower show: their
deepest catastrophe, the death Of IA
vorite cat. One evening, however, as
the two sat at their needlework in
their little parlor, they were startled
by seeing their window flung violently
open, and 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 cid
maid had been young maid, and a
pretty girl as well, she had been at
famed to a young fellow whom she
had loved passionately. He had died
three days before the day appointed
for their union, and ever since she had
carried his memory in her heart. BY
some strange coincidence the man who
implored for protection was the living
image Of the dead man; and, this be-
ing SO. sentiment gained the day, and
they resolved to give him the help he
besought.
Acting on the impulse, they went
through their work of mercy with hero
ism. The convict was secreted in the
boudoir, and when the officers of the
law arrived and inquired if anything
~NSAA
rect denial was given them. Prob
ably 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 perchance deal
lightly when the time Of judgment
comes.
The danger once over, the two
worthy danes saw that the man was
fed and properly clothed, and when
week had passed he left their house,
taking with him sufficient sum of
money, which they forced upon him,
to enable him to leave the country and
start new life abroad. The farewell
scene was pathetic in the extreme, the
rescuers being as deeply affected as the
rescued.
For years afterward, and, In fact, un-
til 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 morning, two years
later. of a magnificent diamond. accom-
panied by a 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 rendered to him by man OF
woman.
Another curious instance Of peace
full life suddenly lit up by luridly
dramatic incident was the following
A venerable country pastor, beloved
by his flock and distinguished by nj,
benevolence and unselfshness, was
preaching one Sunday morning to tn,
tiny congregation. when the calmnes.
of the place was suddenly disturbed BY
tall. dark bearded man rising in hi,
pew, where he had been sitting unob
served, and calling on the minister 1.
come down from the pulpit, as he hac
no right TO stand there and preach I,
his fellow-men.
The astounded congregation at frs
thought that the man was Intoxicated
and the verger was about to approach
him, when the minister raised his hand
and, in voice which trembled wit
terror, begged for silence.
The dark man then proceeded ,e
bring terrible charge against tn
clergyman. He stated that. twenty
years before. the latter had wronged
his sister. who had died soon after
wards, and that. as her brother, he
demanded that justice be done, and
that the preacher should cease to
preach precepts which, In days gone
by. he had so wickedly disregarded.
Every eye was turned on the white
faced cleric. and every person hoped
and believed he would utterly repudi-
ate the charge, but, to the intense sur
prise Of all. he cried out in 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. Dram
attic and awful. indeed!
Then there was the case Of the old
city merchant. a steady. plodding citi-
zen, out every morning at 10. and in bed
every evening at the same time. his
life being governed by the law Of mono.
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