Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-08-29

= = Il + = :
TO THE MEMORY
OF A
FEMALE STRANGER
Whose mortal suffering
Terminated on the 4ih dav OF
October, 1916.
Aged 23 wears and s months.
This stone is erected by her dis
consolate husband, in whose arms
she breathed out her last sigh,
and who, under God, did his ut
s. most to soothe the cold dul! ear
of death.
How loved, how honored once,
avails thee no,
s. To whom related or by "ho"'
begot;
- A heap of dust alone remains
of thee
8 'Tis all thou art, AMI all the
proud shall be.
TO whom gave all the pro
: phets witness, that through his
rame whosoever belIeveth on
p" Him shall receive remission ol
s. sins. =
Il was on the 25th of July, 1916
that the brig, Four Sons, bound IRON
Halifax. Nova Scotia, to the WesT sh'
dos diverted her course in order tc
ascend the Potomac River, and ancH'
ored off Alexandria just long enousf
70 land boat there and send ashore
s;cl woman and her husband. Inc
trim up the Potomac was evidently
de for this special purpose, since
M mail. cargo, nor other passengers
were put ashore. Whers the sma''
boat pulled up at the wharf il va:
saen that the invalid had on a timex
veil which. in spite of the heat OF tta'
midsummer day, she continued tc
vaor while being carried through the
stroets 70 the "Bunch of Grapes. the
LARGEST tavern in the city"
After engaging the best room tna1
the hostelry afforded the ANXIOUS
husband hurriedly sent for physl'
c;or who was, however, before hc'
mo admitted to the sick room. call
ed aside and pledged upon his hono'
40. 20 reveal what he might see OF
learn concerning his patient. The pay'
sicians lips were sealed untl4 MS
death and the only information con-
cerning his patient which could Dc
obtained from him was that he nae
never seen her face.
She was yelled during each OF nj:
,,is;.s for ten weeks. The HUSBAND
was the only nurse at the BEDSIDE
dav and night, through all the ener'
vating heat of August. But as Au-
tumn approached he became exhaust
cd from loss of sleep, and two V'r
ginia ladies, guests at the hotel were
,,orn,;tted to administer to the SUI
ferer. but only after they had takef
solemn oath that they would never
reveal what they might learn about
the mysterious invalid.
When the stranger was seen 10 o'
diving at midnight, October D. tn'
husband requested that only he snou''
he left in the room, so the physician
and two volunteer nurses withdre"
A chill east wind ratified the sash
es a fine. cutting rain pattered
AGAINST the windowpanes, and the tw'
ladies with the landlords wife shud
dered as they waited outside the
death room door. Finally at dawn
the husband with haggered face ant
swollen eyes, stepped out into the nal
and announced that all was over.
Then, lest some one should see tn
hidden face in death, the husband
own hands prepared the cold body 10
burial. He personally sealed the col
fin lid. After attending the burial i
St Paul's cemetery, and orderin'
! the monument with its puzziing II
scription, he disappeared
For a dozen successive years n
returned on the anniversary OF MS be
loved ones death, to put fresh ITO"
ers upon her grave and see that tn
grass was neatly trimmed. Durln'
these pilgrimagcs of his devotion h
! was ferried directly from Washlngto
! and back. without stopping again a
! the Alexandria tavern or speakln
to any one he met upon the street;
But, at the end of these doze
years. he seems to have died, for hi
visits suddenly ceased and the gray
( Continued on page four)