The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-08-19


pers of consequence, which ] wish you to take
charge Of and now, if you can give me pen anC
ink, will write smethiug to Emily" He drew hi
his hand across his eyes, and sat the writing ma
terlals before him. He took pen and, with hur'
ried hand, wrote rapidly for some time then, hav'
ing perused il, he folded and sealed it and gave j
to me. / looked at the address--it for his wife
| caught his eye: You will do it for me?' he sale
in a hollow voice. took his hand and promised
would, if the event he anticipated took place
A faint gllmmering visible in the east
and 1t was necessary for 10 set OUT as the place
meeting at considerable distance. l step
down to the stables, and desired groom TO sadl,
couple of horses then returned to Walter. As
entered the room, he was kneeling, and, with hi:
eyes upturned and hands clasped, seemed absorbed
IN prayer There was earnestness in his manne
that touched me, and startling question immed
ately arose to my heart-Why cannot pray
could not answer this, bu. felt that on my mine
which would have made prayer a mockeIy.
Noiselessly we now prepared to depart. To reacl
the stairs, 1t was necessary to pass the chamber oc
cupied by Emily and when we came to the doc
we both stopped as by mutual consent: all wa:
hushed the stiffness of the grave seemed already
in that chamber of wo; suddenly murmur was
heard, and then faint moan. The hand of my
brother rested on my arm, and l felt him grasp /
hard; we held our breath and listened all was agair
hushed and we moved oil.
When we reached the stables we found the hors
es ready and led them to the grass of the park
that our departing steps might not alarm the wound
ed spirit of the sleeper mourner. The sickly CLEANS
of morning struggling with the departing shad
ows ;-and low chill breeze, that seemed to com,
laden with church-yard dews, moaned sulIenly
through the foliage of the frewning elms. There il
something in the first dawn Of day, when contem
plated by one in sorrow under the infuence o
of ulO hal m
and felt sick heart as the freshness of the
ing saluted our senses.
When we reached the park gate, Walter turnes
and looked back upon his mansion it was dimly
visible in the haze of the morning, and presented tC
the eye misty and mournful appearance. "Fare
well" he exclaimed. My happy home the joys
have known beneath thy roof have been more thar
often fall to the lot of mortals. When next enter
thee, | may be corpse-a clod of cold, inanmat,
clay thy pleasant sights will no more be seen, ant
that sweet greeting which ever welcomed me nC
longer he heard. Heaven protect thee, gentle one
and mayst thou ever be in this world what thou has
been in my bosom cherished flower"
| endeavored to rouse him from his despondlns
vein, and remarkable that should be late.
shall never forget the look of gentle reproach he
upon me; "Oh, Edmund" he said, 4" grudge mt
not IA moment, when am parting with that to whcl
my heart is tied with strings of STEEL you know no
the pang of this moment" | told him he was unrea
sonable in his anticpatons of misfortune,-consid
ering a certainty what probably would never hap
pen. " | know not, he said-''tis foolish to PIE
tend to prophecy, but feel Icaden weight on my
breast that seems like the hand of death.' II,
turned his horse suddenly round" Come said h,
g let us meet our fate"
We put spurs to our good steeds, and rushet
through the hazy atmosphere of the morning jtl
giddy swiftness There is nothing like rapid motion
for shaking off the cold grasp of Despair. Whel
the blood swiftly through the veins, though
Misery may still brood round the heart, she has no
that depressing power which she exercises in tn,
stiffness of repose She takes fercer form, and
mngling with the passions her icy touch is thawet
bv the fire of their breath. The gloom though
had not vanished from Walters's brow had less O
desolation: after we had ridden mile, the mist wa
cleared from his eye, and an angry gleam was in it
place.
We soon reached the appointed spot: it was
little rustic church-yard the top of hill. Th,
road, rather lane, that led to it was bordered will
profusion of wild roses, and the whole characte
for the scene was one of great beauty. The low
browed church and square tower entirely
covered with mantle of dark green ivy that near
ly concealed even the narrow windows; and tn,
drops that lay thick upon its leaves now shon,
like gems as the rising sun dared upon them hi
first rays. small burying- ground, enclosed by
low wall built of rough stone, surrounded the que
house of prayer; and few low hlocks covered will
rank grass marked the last homes of unknown NOR
tails To be Continued
I