Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-12-01

ear and registered in the depths of his own
heart. BY his order, a careful nurse was pro.
vldeo, when, al the close Of the second day
from her seizure, Mademoiselle d Abb was bro.
nonhced by the apothecary TO be in imminent
danger The physicians opinion conceded but
too perfectly with that Of his medical subaltern,
and in spite Of their united endeavors to save
the interesting young creature intrusted to their
care, II soon became evident that the hand oP
death was on her, and that human art was now.
erless 10 unoose that fatal grasp. Previous 70
her dissolution, she lay for many days in state
Of perfect stupor, far less painful to contem.
plate than the previous delirium during which
she had talked necessarily with the embodied
creatures of her fancy, rambling volubly in her
native tongue, and now and then breakina out
into snatches Of wild song or wilder laurb,er
But al last that fearful mirth died away in faint.
er and fainter bursts, and broken syables. and
inarticulate sounds succeeded the voluble sneech
like dying murmurs Of distant echo, SS"then,"
as the nurse expressed it, "she lay as quie, as
lamb" Tor many, many days, with eyes half
closed, but not in slumber, or at least only in
that slunberous torpor, the gentle hagbnger Of
more perfect rest.
More than once or twice, or many times, had
Mr.. l.. visited the sick chamber Of poor Blanche
while she lay like a waxen image in that death
like trance. More than once, as he stood eaz.
ing on that fair, pale face had large tears stolen
down his own cheeks; and once when there was
momentary glimmering OF hope; a momen.
tary amendment Of pulse; he had caught the
hand of the physician with sudden energy,
strangely contrasting his usual habits Of formal
reserve, exclaimlng, "save her! save her! nv
dear sir! spare no pains, no cost, consulta.
ton, perhaps" and his agitatec voice and in
coherent words carried conviction to the heart
of the good doctor, that if half his wealth could
have purchased the life of Blanche D'Albi, he
would not have hesitated to make the sacrifice
: But neither care nor skill, nor aught that
wealth could command, or kindness lavish
could prolong the days already numbered, or
reverse the decree that had gone forth.
Towards the close Of the fourteenth day Of
Blanches illness. the respiration of the uncon.
scious sufferer became quick and laborious, and
Dr.. NJ whose finger was on her pulse, direct.
ed that the curtains of her bed should be drawn
aside, and free current of air admitted thro'
the windows Mr.. L. had entered with the
physician, and slationing himself al the beds
foot, stood there with folded arms, and eyes
fixed IN sad and hopeless contemplation on the
affecting object before him. Though the eyes
OF Blanche were more than half yelled by their
full, heavy lids, a streak of soft blue was still
discernible through the long dark lashes, from
whence, however, emanated no spark Of intelli.
gence; and far different from the finely blended
rose hues OF heathful beauty, was that bright
crimson which burnt in either cheek Her
head was raised little from the pillow, by the
supporting arm Of the nurse, who, wiki her
hand set at liberty, put aside the deep frill of
has a,I tho VII 1. IL
escaped beneath it, that the sweet fresh air
might visit with its comforting GOODNESS those
throbbing temples, and that burning brow
1t was a beautiful, mild, warm April evening,
redolent Of life and Joy, and natures renovation,
and the pale, golden light Of an April sunset,
penetrated even through London atmosphere,
and among labyrinth Of high walls, and black.
ened roofs. and clustering chimneys, into the
very chamber of Blanche; and even 10 that con-
fined chamber, and over those gloomy precincts,
came the soft breath of spring, breathing deli.
cious fragrance, as it was waited through her O.
pen window, over box Of mingonette, coaxed
into early blossom by the assiduous chershing
of one who had watched over her miniature
garden with the impatient interest Of eager
childhood.
The balmy air stole gently, gradually, into
tains Of the bed, as though it were a thing Of
intelligence, and came gladly on its blessed
mission 10 convey to the dying Blanche the
last soothing sensation she might yet taste on
earth; the odorous waiting OF her favorite flow
ers. 1t came not in vain, as the caressing COO
ness played over her face; and when il had val
dered few moments amongst the parted ring,
lets, for her quick and laborious breathing 6e.
came less and less distressing, and at lenglh,
nhaIing one long, and deep inspiration, sabsi.
ded into regular and almost imperceptible res
plraton, like that o.! a sleeping infant
Al that moment, there struck up al The far
Their end Of a neighborng street strain OF wild
music, from band of ltinerant musicians; wan.
dering Savoyards. Wild and touching was
the strain, as ii came mellowed by distance, &
mingled with the evening breeze. 1t was "Le
Rams des Vaches;" to every son and daughter
OF Helvetia, spirit-slirrng spell, magic me-
lody, never yet listened to unmoved by any wan.
derer from her mountain land; only the inscn-
sible ear OF death, or ofthe dying, But il seem
ed as If perception yet fingered in that Of Ban
che. AS the notes of that national air swelled
out more and more distinctly, light lremor
passed over her features, and at last as if ava
kening from deep sleep. her soft blue eyes