Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-07-21

Il current OF her thoughts, but could neye
u WIN you an adequate return. She is devot
i ed to higher ulrns, and the marriage bon.
$ VIII Ill suit one whoois already the bride o
Heaven"
81 shall never forget the bright and
seraph expression of the youth's face as be
uttered these last words Never he 50
: strongly resembled mis- beautiful sister. and
had he asked the sacrifice of my life at that
moment, it would have been freely given. "
@Promise me-" said he shat while I.live
yon will never proffer your suit to my sister.
Let me still behold her ia all her maiden
purity of thought, free from even the shadow
OF another love. When l am gone, her
own noble nature must be her guide, and
to that can surely trust
Il promised, and the painful interview
closed with varied and mingled feelings On
both sides
81 cannot dwell on the painful details of
Charles Mordaun,'s last illness; my heart
sinks and my eyes fill with tears, which
seem to scar my cheeks as they fall. The
injunction Of the dying man was obey ,and
while | was constantly ministering to his
wants, and sharing all his sisters cares,
though our hands often met in his feeble
grasp, and my pulse bounded as if my veins
ran lightning when felt the cool touch cf
her rose tipped fingers; though our brows
were often bowed down in prayer upon the
same pillow beside him, yet bresthed not
the love which, pure as know it to be,
seemed almost sacriligious at such mo-
ment. Helen never spoke Of herself, but
the calmness with which she contemplated
her brothers approaching teath, seemed an
evidence OF her belief that she should not
long survive him He declined gradually
but surely; suffering little pain. aud retain-'
ing every faculty Of his mind unimpaired,
yet he yielded day by day to the debility
which was slowly wearing his lfeaway.-
To sit bes de that noble bro her and sister,
to watch the varied beauty Of their glorious
countenance, to listen to the converse
high" between the dying youth and the
doomed maiden, such were my precious,
my painful pri, ileges. Alas! l linger upon
these moments, even as the condemned
criminal seeks to prolong the time which
intervenes before his execution.
3Helen and myself watched beside
Charles until he drew his last brea b when
the final moment came, his face shone even
as the face of an angel, as his bca ,tiful lips
parted with smile Of my seraphic sweet
ness, and the words, "Helen my sister!"
died upon, his falling accents. had
dreaded the last scene on Helen's account,
for know the danger Of any sudden stroke
Of sorrow to one so frail, but hsr brothers
life had been prolonged until the whisp eof
death was even as the brea h of tho even
ing zephyr closing the flowers in slumber.
| Calm, but fearful aud feeble as child, she
suffered me to lead her from the room, and
giving her in charge Of her faithful attend
ant, buisied myself in arrangements for
the last sad Offices to my departed friend.
| will not attempt to describe my emotions.
had learned to love Charles Mordaunt like
brother, and my affection for Helen was
now as far superior to the visionary pa ssion
which had first led me to seek her. as are
the stars Of Heaven abuve the cicle which
glitters in their rays But at such a mo-
nent thought not for myself, my anxiety
was only for her who was now dearer to
me than life. a.
@The sun was rising above the horizon
when the spirit OF Charles winged its flight to
purer realms, and the bright sun was glow
ing on the verge Of the evening when /
again sought his silent chamber. Stretched
on couch, the rigid outline of his delicate
limbs clearly defined beneath the snowy
sheet which covered his remains, lay the
pale and beautiful form of the youth, while
kneeling by his side, with her face bent
down upon his bosom, and the golden sun.
light falling like u halo around her bright
hair, | beheld the devoted sister. Unwill.
! ing 10 disturb her grief,I silently withdrew,
keeping watch at the door till she should
come, FORTH: An hour-a long, long hour
elapsed and sill she came not. Her maid,
distressed at her prolonged stay in the
chamber of DEATH, would not be denied
entrance, and with less delicacy than DIS
cretion, intruded herself upon the mourner's
privacy. The door had scarcely closed
behind her, when piercing shrek from
the woman almost iroze my blood. l
spsang into the apartment and beheld the
lifeless form of the fairest Of Gods c eatures.
Helen Mordaunt was dead!
@They were lovely in their lives, and in
their death they were not divided" One
grave holds the brother and sister. and in
that grave lie buried all my fondest aflec-
tions. Ii | look on beauty now, it is only
to be reminded of Eer transcendent love-
liness; if listen to the noble sentiments, it
| is only to remember her glorious intellect;
if watch the varying emotions Of others,
it is only to recall the perfect. the exalted
purity Of her heaven-devoted heart; and
therefore it is, Anne, that woman, fair
though she may be, delights me not, for,
s.What are thousand living loves
To that which cannot quit the dead!'
S'a~ Taking it Easy.