The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-10-03
TIE WEDDING D2ESS.
By Alexander Dumas.

TIE WEDDING DRESS.
By Alexander Dumas.
We take the following extract from
This deeply interesting work noticed
in our paper Of Wednesday,:
IRE vessel approached the place
where the body of Henri had been
thrown into the sea, and Samuel sent
for the young girl. She came on deck
again; she had changed her dress. and
now wore white veil. like bride.
She sat by the helm. Samuel looked
at her with surprise. The white
dress and veil seemed out Of place to
the sailor.
"Are we near the spot3" said she.
ayes, in half an hour we shall pass
over it,"
"And will you know t"
"As well as if had the mates
quadrant"
81 have never asked you for the
details Of Henri's last moments, but
to,nightI wish to know how he died."
Samuel refused for long time, but
at last consented. He said: "One
day M. Smith. the Doctor, came to
nell me that NJ. Henri was very sick.
Z put sailor in my place. and went
down at once. Poor young man! lie
had felt badly the evening before, and
during the night the fever came on.
When ! went down he was os!irious,
yet he knew me; but think, Made.
moiselle, all his thoughts were about
YOU"
"My Godl my God" murmured
CeciIe.
"He then spoke Of house with a
garden and Aowers--of a wedding
dress and pail. ] saw at once that
he was a dead man. | have seen
many die of that disease--th yellow
fever--fatai--.ia,al! Besides, no one
would attend him. They said, Come,
Samuel, ones friends are only known
in danger, and now is your time ]
went to the captain ard said, MY
place is at the helm; but put some one
else there, and will! stay with NJ.
Henri as long as he lives"
Cecil shook the sailors hard hand;
and he continued:
"The captain objected, but / said,
bah ! we nave passed the tropics,
and a child can take you to Plymouth.
II, however, | should catch the fever
and die, you will tisd in my bag 5000
francs NJ. Henri gave me. Give one
half TO my mother and the rest to
jenny well, my lad, said he, $50 be
it. You should act as you do. There
is a God above"
Cecil sighed and looked towards
heaven.
"Ihad been only half an hour away,
and YET the disease had made great
progress. M. Henri scarce knew me,
and said, 4 feel as if | were breathing
fre--why give me fire to drink? He
still talked of YOU said you were his
wife, and would be his wherever he
went"
"He was right" said Ceciie.
HE passed the whole night thus"
said the sailor--"l seeking to console
him. Then he asked for pen and
paper; he wished to write to you, !
tried to please him, and gave him
pencil. All he could do was to write
the first letters of your name. He
said, why give me fire? again and
again."
"Then he suffered?'
"Dame! no one knows People
say when reason is gone there is no
pain-that there can be no suffering
where there is no mind to appreciate
II. Thus the night passed. From
time 10 time the young Doctor bled
him and put on b'istcrs, but he shook
his head. On the morning Of the
third day, !, too. began to despair
The fever was gone. When he had
il, | could not hold him; but now
child could have overcome him."
"His weakness increased. and at
five minutes before three he died. lie
rallied two or three times, ard at last
looked round. fell back, breathed your
name, and all was over"
sand then :" gasped the poor girl.
"Then7 You know at sea the
ceremony is not long. l passed a
glass before his lips, but in vain.-I
Then went on deck and told the
captain, who gave orders for the body
to be prepared for burial, which being
done. i, was lowered into the sea-"
"Thank you. Samuel, we must be
near the spot :" said Cecile.
1--WE are there. or shall be in five
minutes--when that tall pine tree is
on a line with the points Of those two
islands" -
"Whence was his body thrown2"
"From the leeward there, by the
grating" ,',a'"s' ''''..''
"Very WE'LL" said Cecile.
The vouno uirl vent TO the place