Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-02-08

but his tenacity of life protracted his
struggle with the King of Tcrrors, I'M
til his sufferings had wrenched from
him every thing but the breath which
he gladly resigned. The terrible ten
sion of my nerves during this prolong-
ed anguish, together with my acute
consciousness of an exhaustion of soul,
which rendered me less able to bear
distress, were too much for my bodily
frame. | was stricken down to earth,
as by giants hand, while standing
beside my fathers grave. and Iremcm-
Der nothing more until months after
ward, when / found myself the occu-
pant of ward in the asylum for the
insane. had been mad--raying mad !!
My reason retained as suddenly.
however, as it had been impaired, and
my recovery was very rapid. need
not say how eagerly turned to the
thoughts Of Alice, nor how rejoiced
even then in being permitted to suffer
for her sake. | knew that 1t was for
her had endured this loss Of reason !;
was sure that il was only by my total
oblivion of self that she could be
strongly imbucd with the light that was
in me, and the thought that she had
been receiving all Of which had been
deprived was solace to my heart.
rs soon as ! rcgaiucd my strength,
hurried 10 Dublin. and words cannot
describe my emotion as reached the
abode Of my own Alice. As | entered
the drawing room her father rose TO re-
cciyo me kindly ana cordially, but my
feelings ovcrpowcrcd me, and turning
to Alice. who sat beside him engaged
in needle work, / madly claspcd her in
my arms. Good God! she had forgot
ten me! Anger flushed in her eyes,
and her cheek burned with offended
delicacy as she tore herself from my
embrace and fed to her father for pro-
lection. Would that could forget the
agony of that bitter moment |! 10 my
hurried explanation, and my earnest
appeal she listened as TO the rawlings Of
madman. She had lost all memory
of our former union, and anger and ter
ror were the only emotions ! could now
excite. Her father, fearful of the CT
feet Of such agitation upon both Of us,
drew me into another room, and inior-
modmc that Alice had been very iIlsoon
after my departure, and that she had
recovered from a severe attack of fever,
perfectly sane and quiet. But she was
like one awakened from a deep and
dreamlcss sleep. The past had no re-
membranes, she was creature only
of the present, and in her calm, cold
colectcdness Of manner, and her al
most stern reason. no trace remained
Of her tender and crratic fancics. Eior-
riblc did llthissccm to me; methought
we had exchanged souls-thc weak
ness Of the girl had entered into me,
the firm, unshrinking spirit which had
once led me to the cold regions oil
speculative science was now her guide
Fearful was the thought that | had thu:
los: my own identity; doubly fearful
! the knowledge that my TRANSMISSION in
to ancthcr's soul never could be rccog-
nizcd. My birthright-my noble her
itagc Of soul and mind had been given
to another. / had dared to usurp the
privileges of higher order of beings
! and was punished.
I Her father dreaded the effect Of any
! attempt to revive in the mind of Alice
a remembrance Of the past. He fell
grateful to me for her restoration, and
would gladly have repaid me with heI
love, but he dared not risk the recall
Of her former tenderness. He en!rcat
ed me TO let it depart like dream, and
to suffer herto be guided by woman.
fantasy in her affections. / promised
and l tried TO keep my word. Alice
was induced to believe that my recen
alteration of mind could account for
my strange familiarity when we mel
andas her fathers friend she iorgavC
me. But she evidently regarded m,
as a perfect stranger. Ny task wa,
done--she was fully awakened to in,
tellcctusl life, but she was no longer /
portion of myself
! There had been sympathy between
her darkened spirit and the soul which
was imparting to it life and light, there
was Joy between US, and hope, and {
sense Of double existence, which make,
the essence Of immortal love. Now al