The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-07-01

satisfaction,-and to Helen the whole seemed a
dark, and troubled, and guilty dream. Now that
she was alcaking, it left most gloomy and pain
! full impression on the mind.
! And while she had, in this unlecng manner,
been dischargng her conjuga duties, what had been
Mr. Towards department toward her. The pros
pect of her own approaching dissolution, produced
on Ilelen's mind much the same effect that the
death of her husband would have done. His in
creosing genleness, his tenderness, his delicacy
and lo.bearuncc, which had hitherto remained
entirely unfel and unnoliccd, came thronging on
her memory,-and at once, the beloved Of her
youth. the idol of her earlier welded life, was re-
stored to her in all his perfecton Her heart
swelled and gushed forth in love, in gratitude, land
in penitence. His recent letters were all brought
forth, and re-perused; and all those expressions of
love and tenderness, that had before fallen as on Il
rock caused her heart to thrill with emotion 'Ah
thought she, +" how constant has that heart been to
me, in spite of all my GOODNESS, my hearlless indil-
fernce, and sometimes, | fear, my disdam''
! For the first time since Mr. Howard departure
from did Helen feel pang on account of his
absence, but now she felt her loneliness as in for
mer days. How was she to endure the remainder
Of the tedious session Of Congress Alas, would
she still be nm inhabi,ant of earth, when it should
have come to close' But Notwithstanding this
re-awakened regret on account of her husband
absence, and the awful solemniry of her situa-
lion how sweet did he find it again to love-ove
with tenderness and ardol and with lervcnt graft
ude did she raise her eyes and thoughts TO Heaven
that her heart was aroused from its lclhargy.
lIeen's next letter to MIR Howard was very
dileren, from those which had proceeded it. She
did not, indeed, express in direct terms her new
found lose; bu, It's spirit brcathcd in every line.
Toward the close she mentioned having taken
severe cold, and gave some information Of Dr.
Nli!er's opinion as to the result. She subscribed
herself" yoar own irucIy grateful and affection
ate l.eIcn.' This was the last letter she ever sent
him, though not the last she wrote,
Joy and grief cOnlended for the mastery in the
heart Of Mr. Howard as he read this epistIe; ioy
Exquisite and unn,lerub'e that the affections of
his wife were restored to hlm,-lor he knew her
too well 10 have the shadow Of doubt respecting
her sincerity and grief and alarm the mos, har-
rowing with regard to her health. he had stronger
proof of her indisposllion and debility than any ex-
pressions made use of in the letter. The trcmu-
IouSncss of the hand that hid written it, was hut
100 obvious 1t was entirely different from lelen's
neat and beautiful handwriting, when in usual
health, On the instant he wrote to DR. Miller, to
learn the worst be had 10 fear. Ten tedious days
must pass before he could hope to receive an an
swcr; for at that time the mails were conveyed in
numbering stage coaches, and 10 heart rlcked BY
anxiety, they seem TO travel al snaiI's pace.
When DR.. Mier's letter arrived, il more than
confirmed Mr. Towards worst apprehensions. The
doctor had actually began 10 write, before he re-
cciyed his friends letter. 1t told him, tina, Helen
was undoubtedly in II confirmed hccc,-.-un that
her life could not be protrac,cd to many weeks;
and further, tina, if Mr. lIowaid wished 10 make
certain Of seeing her again, he had best not wait
sympahzing, but perfectly honest letter,
Mr. Towards resolution was ut once taken. lie
asked aud obtained leave of absence from Con-
sress and after the unavoidable Intervention Of
one day from the receipt of the Doctors letter, he
commenced his homeward journey, Ample time
had he to rcproach himself, and every body else,
while seated in n coach, the horses attached To
which seemed to him TO be all the time in eis-
uleIy walk, "Why had he trusted to Iccn's
account of her own hcah' why had he been
50 ncxccusably negligent ns not sooner to have
written to DR., Miller? Why did the doctor wait
till the last possible moment before writing to him,
Why had not Mr. Atwood informed him Of his
daughters danger ~ These, together with other
thoughts, far more bitter and greyioas, were con-
tinunIly revolving in his mind,
With regard 10 Mr. Atwood and Dr. Miller, the
fact was, that they both knew the frequency of
lleIcnS letters 10 Mr. Howard, aud had no idea Of
the degree ignorance under which he laborcd,
else they would certainly have given him the truth
Slow as Mr. lIowlrd's progress was, compared
with the present rate of ocomolon, he at length
reached the place of his residence in safety. lie
occupied the back seat of the mail coach, and Il,
i drove up TO the post office, he inyoluntarily
drew himself back, dreading to read fatal news in
The connienance of every acquaintance, who might
perchance, get a view of him. rlom his partial |
conceaImen: he glanced around, and, among Others
saw DR. MilIera few rods distance, coming to-
wards the carriage. In bis cagerness TO read the
Doctors face, he leaned little forward, and their !
eyes met.
"Thank heaven" exclaimed the doctor, as he |
'prang to the side ofthe coach" thank heaven, |
;ou have Gomez
Mr. Howard actually gaspcd for breath, and
II -: IL