The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-09-29


grinder, remember now that have 10
story TO tell, CT at best it is a simple histo-
ry.
She loved Joe. His calm and earnest
way OF loving her won her whole SOUL
he did not say much to her III company,
nor of her, but when they were alone, or
only some Of the children near, his low
voice would be musical, ano she sat en-
tranced with lis eloquence. | have seen
them seated on the bench by The side of the
stream, and nave heard him lead her gentle
soul step by step with him from earth to
stars, and tier from star TO star, until she
seemed to be in heaven with him, and lis
tening to the praises of the angels.
] am unable to tell you how it happened
that Joseph S left his profession,
(Which had been law and entered the min
istry, nor am able to state, though | might
guess at. the causes operating in his own
mind. The father If Sarah D was
not a religious man, and, am sorry TO say,
was one Of small class OF men, who not
only deny the truths of our most holy
creed, but take every opportunity to cast
ridicule on its teachers. Ii was, therefore,
with great pain, that his daughter observed
his coldnese and rudeness TO Joseph S,
and she was not surprised, however much
she was grieved, when an open rupture
rendered the suspension Of bis visits at the
house absolutely necessary.
They had never spoken Of love. Each
knew the secret Of the others affection, and
what need then Of words to tell it? 1t
would have been but the repetition OF hack
neyed phrases. And yet there is no music
in the world so sweet as those three words,
Il love YOU from the lips we love to kiss.
But the father of our gentle friend had fear
ed the existence Of some bond between
Them, and PeremPtoTily required his daugh-
ter to break it If it did exist.
She replied to him, relating the simple
truth, and he desired her to refuse thence
forward TO see or speak to Joseph.
A month Of deeper pain than can well
be imagined succeeded this command, dur.
ing which they did not meet.
1t was on moony night in August that
she walked out with me, Qhen boy three
years her junior and sat down on the bench
by the side Of the stream. the air was
clear, the sky serene, and no sound disturb
ed us; but the soft voice Of the wind among
the tree-lops made pleasant music, and we
listened and were silent. The stiffness
was broken by the voics Of Joseph S.
You will pardon me if pass over that
scene. dare not attempt description OF
it. 1t was my first lesson in human suffer
ing, and though have learned it over and
over since then, though the iron has entered
my own soul, and SCARED and SCARED it,
yet have never seen, nor do believe
have ever felt, more agony than those two
felt as they parted that night to meet no
more on earth
lie bowed his lips to her forehead, and
murmured the solemn word Forever
She woke at that word, and exclaimed with
startled vehemence, No, no, there is no
such word, joe
We shall not meet again on earth, my
gentle one. And what is earth" Her
tall form grew more queenly, and her dark
eye flushed div-nely, as she rose and ex-
claimed, in clear and silvery tones: And
what is earth? These things must end. |
will name tryst, dear Joe, and you shall
keep it. II you pass first into the other land,
wait for me on the bank, and if | 90 hence
before you, will linger on the other shore
intil you come. Will you remember?'
q will live and die in this memory
/ She lifted her face TO his, and her arms
10 his neck, and they chung together in a
long and passionate embrace. Their lips
did not separate, but were pressed close to-
gether, until he felt her form cold. and her
clasp relaxed, and he laid her gently down
on the old seat, bowed over her moment
in prayer, and was gone. heard ban say
take care Of her w. and so | strove
TO recall the life that had gone from her lips
and cheeks and eyes. ltcame slowly, and
she woke as we wake in the morning after
death has entered our charmed circle, with
an oppression on the brain and swimming,
swollen senseleSsness OF soul.
At length she remembered all; and raised
herself with half.articulated exclamation
Of sgony, broken oy sob; then fell on her
knees by the bench and buried her face in
her hands, and remained thus for nearly
half an hour.
When she arose, her face was as the face
Of all angel. 1t wore that same exalted
look until she died.
think she took cold that night, she was
never well alterwsTd, and the next winter
she passed at the south, returning in the
spring very fragile, but very beautiful.
Joseph 5, was sent abroad by one OF
the Boards Of Missions Of the Church, but
his health failed, and he resigned bis COM
mission, while he travelled through the Eas-
tern world.
Three years fed with their usual swift
ness. To Sarah D, they were very
slow and painful years, yet she was happy
in her quiet way, and no one dreamed of the
strange tryst she was longing to keep on
the other side Of that dark river, which men
so shrink from. She grew feebler daily as
the summer and autumn advanced, and in
December she was evidently dying.
One day her mother had been out of the
house, perhaps making calls; she returned
at evening. and among other incidents of
news which she had learned, she mentioned
to Sarah the death of her old friend joseph
S.
The fair girl was reclining in her large
armchair, looking out through the closed
windows at the snow on the ground, and