The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-03-20

that red dilated eye, which, except on
one occasion, had never turned towards
me but in kindness and, us observed
these proofs of an insanity, that at one
sudden blow. had torn up reason by the
roots and shivcred the stem to ashes,
prayed that the same bolt which had
struck this lofty but frail plant to earth,
might ere long, lay me beside it,
The evening of the fourth day was now
fast approaching. Hortense's attendant
had gone into neighboring street, upon
some errand, and safe alone by the in
valid. Night overlook me on my watch
night Of hurricane and tempest, of ar
rowy lightning-of loud, incessant thun-
der But there was one who heard it not;
for her the elements henceforth were
still far other storm had swept the
desert of her brain--she could never feel
worse As marked the change of
her countenance, and listened to her
damp, heavy breathing, which every in
stant fell fainter and fainter on my ear,
the cathedral clock tolled midnight.
At this instant crash of thunder burst
right above my head, and shook the house
to its foundation.
Another-and then, in the sudden nn-
natural pause of the tempest, rose a Wis
ion before my eyes, which, whether real
or coniured up solely by Imagination, has
since fixed itself as sanimperishablc record
on my mind. Dim at first, but strength
cning gradually into distincter shape,
stood at the foot of the bed, his form ar
rayed in pale, wan, sickly light, the
spirit of the dead Herwalsdcn. His
face was set in the solemn expression of
the grave; all trace oflife had passed from
it; the thin closed lip stirred not; the
stony eye was fixed ; but their looked out,
methought, from its moyeless orbs the
soul Of an intellect sublimed by the
knowledge Of eternity. Had the form
before me indeed passed the portals of
death Had it penetrated that mystic
rious realm from which, ever and anon,
comes forth voice off power which awes
us, though we may not comprehend it !?
] know not; who on earth shall ever
know! For a. brief while the spectre
remained unchanged and moveless, when
suddenly it pointed its upraised arm to
the wasted form that lay before it, and
thcn slo"Iy melcd INTO Wr-tne dim
shadowy smile throwing over its counten-
ance an expression of humanity as it van
ished. Alarmed d--breathless with awe
Il turned towards the dying maniuc.
Life was ebbing fast away, but it was de-
parting in triumph, to the wild dirge of
the hurricane, the stormy music of the
thunder, the sepulchral torches of the
lightning. For upwards Of an hour she
continued in state of hopeless, imbecile
delirium; when, suddenly, she halfraised
herself in bed, and, in a faint Whisper
so faint, so very faint, that it was next
akin to silencc-pronounccd her hus-
bands name. Astonished, and even al
most venturing to hope, looked earnest
ly into her countenancc-God of heaven
there was intelligence in its expression.
With wan, benignant smile, she held
out her hand towards me while her eyo
expressed all she would have said.-This
was her last movement; the springs of
existence were drained the fountain had
ceased to flow; the spark was just going
out: and, as caught its glimmer on the
threshold, it dimmed--wayered-
sank into darkness for ever