The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1849-07-28

OF William who was stretched m0lonlehr
upon tie ground, his eyes glazed aud HE
brow covered with blood which flowed ifon
wound Va tho Ton temple
'HDOctorY" 6aid Iva 10 mo. Thai one word
expTessed--"Does William liye?"
] stopped and felt tho pulse of William
MeredillG placed my hand on his heart
aud remained silenL-Eya still gnZed on mo;
but, when my silence was prolonged, en-"
her bend, whyer, aud then, without word ar
cry ,nii sonHGluBH upon her husbands corpse,
"Iiui ladies'" anid DR. liarnaby, turning TO
his audience, "lhe sun shines again you can
go out now. Let ~ leave this sad story where
II H."
Madame do Moncar approached the old
physician. "DoelOr," said she, III implore
you To eonlinuei only look NJ Us, and you will
not doubt ihe interest with which Wa lis.
ten.n
There were no more smiles Of mOckery
upon Ito young faces that surrounded tho vii
lhge doctor In some ~ their eyes ho might
oven Distinguish lhe glsJeniug OF tours Ito
resumed his narrative.
"Mrs Meredith was carried home, aud ro-
NAMED for several hours senseless upon her
bed. I felt IL NJ once duty and cruelty To
use every effort 10 recall her 10 life. ! dread
ed the Hgonzing scenes dat would follow this
stnto Of imnobili,y. q remained beside the
poor woman, bathing her temples with fresh
water, and awaiting with anxiety tho sad and
yet the happy moment Of returning consei-
BUSINESS. I was mistaken in my authorizations.
for had never Witnessed great grief Eva
half opened her eyes and immediately closed
them Hgnin:no icor escaped from beneath their
dr She renamed cold, inotionless, silent;
and hat for tho heart which again throbbed
beDehth my hand, should have deemed her
dead. Sad Is II 10 bolEOld n sorrow which
Zone feels IL heyond consolation! Silence, |
thought, socuied like n want Of pity for ilIis
unfortunate creature: on the other hand, yer.
bal coincidence was n inockery of so NIGH
" grief ! had found no words TO calm her
unensiners; could lhopo 10 be more eloquent
IN the hour Of her great suffering I took tho
safest course, that Of profound silonce. ! will
remnln here, thought, and minister To the
physical suilerings, M IL my duly; but ] will
be- mute and passive, even ms n faithful dog
wuuid itr down at her feet. My mind once
nindo up, I felt cAlmer; ! let her live life
which rcsembled death Aacr n few hours,
however, put spoonful Of n potion to her
lips Eva slowly hverted her bead. la few
moments ngnin offered her the drug
"Drink, madam" ! suid, gently touching
her lips with tho spoon. They remained
closed.
"Madam, your child" persisted, in low
voice.
Eva opened her eyes, raised herself with
effort upon her elbows, swallowed the med
fcipc, And fell back upon her pillow.
II must witt" she murmurcd, "till Hno,h-
or life 81 detached from mne"
Thencctorwnrd Mrs Meredith spoke no
more, hut she mechanically followed all my
prescriptions. Stretched upon her bed Of
suffering, she seemed constantly 20 sleep;but
At whatever moment | shid to her. even IN
my lowest whisper, "Drink this, she instant
" obcyed;- thus proving to no Shnt lhe soul
kept It's weary watch ia thst motionless body,
without single instant Of oblivion and re-
pose n.
There were none beside myself TO attend
To the intormont of William. Nothing pos
tive was ever known ns to tho cnuso of his
death. The aum he was to bring from the
Town WAS not found upon him; perhaps he
had been robbed and murdered; perhaps the
money, which was in notes. had fallen from
his pocket when lac was thrown from his
horse, and, rs II was some time before nny
thought of seeking 1.-THE heavy rnin aud tram
pied mud might account for its disappear
nnce. A fruilless investigation was mndc
and soon dropped. ! endenvored' to learn
from Eva Meredith IL her family, or Tint of
her husband, should not bo written to. had
difficulty IN obtninipg an answer. At LAST
hIt KuNG uit W dIuGIbldHu tItut 4 nhn HitFf-
IL to inform their agent, who would do what
ever was needtul. ! hoped that, AT least from
England, some communication would arrive.
de cisivo of this poor creatures future lot.-
But no. day followed day, aud mono seemed
10 l-++.-D- si.at- liza AEidnH of William Meredith
lived in utter insulation, in poor French
village. To endenvor TO bring back Eva To-
a sense of her existence, urged her to leave
her bed. Upon the morrow found her up,
dressed la black; bu, she was the ghost OF
iLe beautiful Eva Meredith. Her hair was
parted in bands upon her pale forehead, aud
she SaI near window, moIionless as had she
lain IN bed
passed long silent evenings with her,
book in my hand for apparent occupauon.-
Each day, on my arrival, addressed 10 her
n few words of sympathy. She replied 10y n
thankful look; then wo remained silent.
waited nm opportunity to open conversation;
hut my awkwardness and my respect for her
grief prevented my finding one, or suffered
il to escape when il occurred. Little by lit
tic | grew accustomed TO this mute inter
coure: aud, besides, what could have said
20 her My chief object waB TO prevent her
feeling quite alone in the world; and obscure
ns was the prop remhining,t still WINS some
thing. went 10 see her merely that my
presence might say, " nti'here."
IL was a singular epoch in my life, and had
n grrn, influence on my future existsnce.--.
Had not shown so much regret at the
threatened destruction ofthe white cottnEe, /
would hurry to The conclusion OF this narra-,l
tive. But you have insisted upon knowing |
why that building is liallowed to me, mud / |
must tell you, therefore what haze thought
aud felt beneath it's humble roof Forgive |
me, Indies, ii my words are grave. 1t is good
for youth 10 be somUtITHuS little sstltlt.4.e.lt
4 has 80 much time before it to laugh and to