The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-10-15

OF the hand lying on the coverlet, and
slowly opened Oh him her languid eyes
eyes Of indispensable depth of lustre. No
one had spoken.
''lie is here" she murmured. "Raise
me, mother, while have time TO speak
to him"
Byron looked around the small cham.
Der, trying in vain to break the spell of
awe which the scene threw over i.inI. An
apParll!on from another world could not
have checked more IeariuIly and omplere-
Iy the more worldly and scorniul under
current of his nature. He stood with his
heart beating almost audibly. and his knees
trembling beneath him, awaiting what he
prophetlcally felt to be warning from
the very gale Of Heaven.
Propped with pillows, and left BY her
attendants. the dying girl turned her head
toward the proud noble standing by
her bedside, and slight blush over
spread her features, while smile OF an
gellc beauty stole through her lips. In
that smile the face re-awakcucd to it., for
mer loneliness, and seldom had he who
now gazed breatIleSslv upon her. looked
on such spiritual aud incompatible beau
~. The spacious forehead and the noble
contour, sllII visible, of the emaclaled Inns,
bespoke genius impressed upon a tablet
ell feminine III It's language; and in the
slight move Of her graceful neck, there
was something that still bresthcd of sur
passing elegance. 1t was the shadow
wreck OF no ordinary mortal passing away
humble as were the Surroundings, and
strange as had been his summons to her
bedside.
"And this is Byron!'' she said at last in
voice Overwhelmingly sweet even through
It's weakness. "My lord. could not die
without seeing you-without relieving
my soul OF a mission with which it has
long been burlhened. Come nearer for |
have no time left for ceremony, and |
mustsd what ! have to say-and die!,n
She hesitated and as Byron took the
thin hand she held 10 him, she looked
steadily upon his noble countenance.
''Beautlu!'' she said; beautiful AS the
dream of HIM which has so long haunted
me!-the intellect and the person OF d spir-
1t OF light Pardon me, my lord! Par
don me that at moment SO important to
to yourself, the remembrance of an earth
ly feeling has been betrayed into express
sion"
She paused moment, and the bright
color that had shot through her cheek and
brow faded again, and her Counlenance
resumed It's heavenly serenity.
~ am near enough TO dealh,n she re
sumed-'near enough to point you al
most to Heaven from where am; and it
is on nay heart like the one errand of nv
llie-!ike the bidding of God-to imp,ore
YOU to prepare for judgment. Oh, my
lord with your generous powers, with
your wondrous gifts be not lost! Do not,
for the poor pleasures ola world like this,
loose an eternity III which your great
mind will ou,stnp the intelligence Of
angels. Measure this ht.-scan the
worth of angelic bliss with the intellect
that has ranged SO gIoriously through the
universe: do not, on This one momentous
subject of human interest,-on this alone
be not short sighted"
"What shall doc" suddenly burst from
Byrons lips III tone olagony. But with
an effort as il struggling with death pang,
he again drew up his form and re-assunl-
ed the marble calmHess ofhis countenanre.
The dying girl, meantime, seemed to
have lost herself in prayer. With her
wasted hands clasped on her bosom. and
her eyes turned upward, the slight motion
of her lips betrayed to those around her
that she was pleading at the throne of
mercy. The physician close to her bed
side, but with his hand in his breast and
his head bowed, he seemed but watching
for the moment when the soul should Jake
its fight.
She suddenly raised herself on the pill
low. Her long brown tresses fell over
her shoulder and brightness unnatural
and almost fearful kindled in her ewes.
She seemed endeayoring to speak. and
gazed steadisstly at Byron. Slowly, then, |
and TRANQUILITY she sank back again upon
her pillow, and as her hands fell apart, |
and her eyelids dropped, she murmured |
"Come TO Heavenn' and the stiffness of
death was in the room. The spirit had !
fed.