The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-12-06
j. P. OWENS, EDITOR.

pensive but of the three, Madeline,
the eldest, possessed the most fire, spir-
1t, cultivation, and intellectuality.-
Their father, man of taste and edu-
cation, and being somewhat above the
vulgar prejudices, permitted the visits
Of the hero of my story. Still he did
not encourage the affection he found
springing up between Mary and the po-
ct. When, however, he found that her
affections were engaged, he did not
Withhold his consent IRON their marriage,
and the recluse bore to his masion the
young wife OF his affections. Oh, sir,
the house assumed new appearance
within and without.
"Roses bloomed in the garden, jas
samines peeped through the lattices,
and the fields about it smiled with the
effects Of a careful cultivation. Lights
were seen in the little parlor in the eve
ming; and, many time would the pas
senger pause by the garden gate to
listen to the strains Of the sweetest mu-
sic breathcd by the choral voices from
the cottage. II the mysterious student
and wife had been neglected by the
neighbors what cared they. Their en-
during mutual affection made their home
paradise. But death came to Eden.
Mary suddenly fell sick, and after a
few hours illness, died in the arms Of
her husband and her sister Madeline.
This was the Students second heavy
affliction.
"Days, months rolled on, and the
only solace Of the bereaved was to sit
with the sisters of the deceased and talk
Of the lost one. To Adelaide he offer
cd his widowed heart. The bridal was
not one of revelry and mirth. Yet
they lived happily, and the rose again
blossomed in the garden. But it SEEM
cd as il fatality pursued this singular
man. When the rose wirhered and the
leaf fell, in the mellow autumn Of the
year. Adelaide too sickened and died,
like her sister, in the arms of her hus-
band and Madeline.
"Perhaps you will think it strange,
young man, that after all, the wretched
survivor stood again at the altar. Mad
alinc. l well remember her. She was
beauty in the true sense Of the word
she might have sat upon a throne,
and the most loyal subject, the proudcst
peer, would have sworn the blood in her
veins descended from hundred kings.
She loved the widower for his power
and his fame, and she welded him.
"They were married in that church.
it was on summer afternoon-I recol-
lect it well. During the ceremony the
blacklist cloud 1 ever saw overspread
the heavens, and the moment the bride
pronounced her VOW, a clap Of thunder
shook the building to its centre. All
the females shrieked, but the bride her.
self made the response with a steady
voice, and her eye glistcned with wild
fire as she gazed upon her bridegroom.
When she arrived at his house she sunk
upon the threshold; but this was the
timidity Of the maiden.
"When they were alone he clasped
her hand and it was as cold as ice. He
looked into her face-'Maiden' said he,
what means this? your check is as
pale as your wedding gown The
bride uttered a frantic Shrek. My
wedding gown exclaimed she-'no, no
this is my sisters shroud. The hour
Of confession has arrived. 1t is God
that impels me to speak. To win you
1 lost my soul. Yes, yes-I am a
murdcress She smiled on me in the
joyous affection Of her young heart, but
| administered the poison. Take me to
your arms have lost my soul for you,
and mine you must ben
"And then,' continued he in hol-
low voice, 'at that moment came the
thunder, and the guilty woman fell
dead on the floor.'' The countenance
Of the narrator expressed all he felt.
"And the bridegroom!v' asked I,
"the husband of the destroyer and the
victims, what became Of him %
"He stands before you.'' was the
thrilling answer.
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THE FLOATING ISLAND.