The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-05-10


crossing.
There is something very melancho-
ly in the reflection that any womancan
die; but to him that she should perish,
was the very agony of dispair. He
had lett her for a few days, intending
when he returned to have asked her
hand. On the morning of his return,
he sprang into the stage-coach in most
delicious reverie. He held no dis
course with his fellow passengers, but
wrapped himself up in rich dream of
anticipation. His heart was full of hap.
piness he thought himself, as he entered
his house, too happy for mortal man.
He was preparing to pay her the first
Witt, and dwelling in his mind on her
pleasing welcome, when her brother
came to see him--he did not observe
any thing peculiar about him at first,
and not till the warm and aflectlonate
shake OF the hand was over did he no
tice that his eyes were filed with tears
and a dismal, gloomy, black Grape
hung from his hat. Re started,
and in low hollow voice that had
dreariness in every tone, he SAID
"Elizabeth is dea dw
At first he was not comprehended.
A vacant horrid laugh that echoed
strangely thro' the room was his only
answer-then he repeated the words
and the features of my friend became
pale and motionless as marbe--then he
sat down in a chair, and covered his
face with his hands, but not word
breath broke the silence. There was
something alarming in his calmness; it
seemed like the silence Of the heavy,
black cloud just before it launched its
destructive lightning from ius BOSOM
He beckoned, and wished to be alone.
He was left in solitude. | would not
profane the subject by any attempt at
describing his feelings. The was a
dark, horrible confusion in his mind,
like sum accursed dream glarlng a.
round him, and night rolled away its
long hours ofsleepless agony.
The next day was the funeral; and
when the sun rose in his same glory.
and all the "pomp and circumstance" of
day began to beam upon the face of ma
ture, and the merry voice of men some
times came upon the breeze, and the
carts ratified rudely along, and all a.
round was business, and adventure, I'M
affected by the great event that had
come like an ocean of scorching fire
upon the paradise Of his heart--he rec
objected, and he said, "to-day is her fu-
neral--her funeral!'' His benumbed
mind dwelt upon the words, but there
was something underlined, and almost
incomprehensible in them. She was
to be buried at five in the afternoon.
The clock struck four--he put on his
hat, and went steadily to her house.
He thought twenty times he heard her
sweety toned laughing voice, as he
passed along. He turned his head once
or twice to see if she was not at his
shoulder, but there was nothing and he
walked on. He saw the house, and his
eye sought every window--but Eliza
beth was not there. He rang the bell
the servant came, weeping--he look
ed at him, and walked on--he passed
into tie parlar; the chair which she
had occupied, when he was there be-
fore, was standing in the very same
place; and there was her piano; he al
most thought he heard music; he listen
ed; sob from the next room came
like ice upon his heart; and he sat
down. Her mother came into the room;
her face was serene in grief, but the
first burst was over, and she was COM
paratively calm. She asked him if he
would look at the corpse. He knew
she was dead, but the blunt question
shook every nerve in his frame, and
seemed to breathe death upon his soul.
He arose and followed the bereaved
mother. There was an air of death in
the apartment; and vanished coffin
was on the table, white cloth flung
carefully at the head; few friends sat
and wept in silence, musing on the
beauties and virtues of the being they
were about to consign to the cold earth.
He walked up to the table. and stood
as still and pale and motionlcss, as the
form hatlay stretched before him. He
would have torn away the veil that
covered that face, but he could not; he
felt that he might as well have attempt
ed 10 heave u mountain from its rocky /
base. The mother saw; she felt; a
mother can feel; and she silently uncov-
cred that beautiful countenance. 1t
broke upon him in all its loveliness.
There was the same white forehead;
the sleeping eye; the cheek that he had
kissed so fondly; the lips that had spo-
ken such sweet sounds; he gazed at
her corpse with intensity of thought.