The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-16


denly she started, leaned forward, and listened
| eagerly She was sure she heard her own name
called, in an imploring voice 1t seemed TO
| sound from the ravine beyond the hill. Once
| more it came-a wild, sorrowful, piercing cry
| 1t raS Henrys voice. She stole down stairs
passed noiselessly through that eastern window.
and ran down the road She was not mis-
| taken for a little way beyond the bridge Selm
| was standing, with his head dropped sadly
over his master, who was lying on the grass Of
| the roadside.
As Fanny passed over the bridge. she saw
that plank had been broken through.
| She flung herself down by her lover. CRYING
| 4" Henry dearest Henry, are YOU much hurt ~
| He seemed to have tainted but he soon re-
viyed, and looking up, exclaimed, brokenly,
. Oh, Fanny, have you come! Now, it will not
be so hard to die"
Dear Henry, don't talk So / hope you are
not badly hurt"
Fanny, am MORALLY hurt. Selim broke
through the bridge, and threw me, cutting my
head here in the temple-then, in extricating
himself he fell ON me with all his weight.
| afterwards got strength to crawl out of the
dust on to this grass, and to call you twice ;
but Fanny, Fanny | kn0r | am dying-my
breast seems all crushed in, and my lungs seem
filling with blood"
ooh, then let me run or shout aloud for
help"
mo, dearest" he whispered only take me
in your arms, and let me die on your bosom,
under the stars-alOne with you, have strength
even to die"
Then Fanny, bewildered, brokcn-hearted, but
strangely calm, raised Henry's head and pill
lowed it on her breast, Those thick curls she
had seen 50 little while ago, all bright with
dew, were now dark and heavy, with blood
trucking from a severe wound in the temple
J Oh then Fanny waS no lonzer shy or chary of
tvcr as;alsczess sfss8 Used sae,
lips, the eyes, the brow, the already cold hands
| of her lover She iayished on him all the en-
dearing names, the fond protestations her diff
dent girlish heart had been storing up for the
use Of the wife, through years OF trial, sorrow
and ever-deepenng affection. Then she wept
and prayed, and folded that poor, wounded
head against her breast as though to stanch
the blood, which only flowed the faster for the
warmth il stained all her BOSOM and turned
| those pale blush roses to deepest crimson.
Henry who seemed to have been again insen-
sible, suddenly opened his eyes, and whis-
pered-
"My blood will spoil that beautiful blue
dress!"
"Oh, nav love nv sou!n cried Fanny,
would to God it flowed from my own heart !!
| Would to God could die for you, or with you,
for cannot, will not stay in this dark world
when you are gone, Henry for my life is in
your love-
my dearest do not grieve so bitterly some
| thing tells me- even now, that We shall not be
long parted--only be patient love, for a little
while"
After lying quite silent for some moments,
looking upward, he exclaimed, almost in his
usual voice
"My spirit is passing Fanny-Heaven is
ready, now--all the stars seem to have rushed
together, and formed one great central bright
ness--a world of light to which rise" Then,
reaching up his arms and winding them about
her neck, he murmured kiss me once more,
my Fanny, my dear, only love, my wife; once
more-good night"
| As he breathed these words stream Of blood
looking so fearfully black in the dim starlight
poured from his lips, his arms dropped, and
Henry Lester was dead!
Then Fanny fell forward upon his breast
and sent forth shrek after shrek so fearful ant
piercing that every slumberer in her home wa
reused, and guided by the voice of her lonl
pent-up agony, came to look upon the piteou
sight of her awful bereavement
In that pleasant parIor where but an hou
before had set the betrothed lovers, in life anC
love- in loves most blessed hope and most un
utterable Joy, was now extended the form o
one, ghastly, bleeding. dead while over it hung
the pale, distracted face of her who kept al
night her watch Of speeshless, fearless, unima
ginable sorrow.
| f,,lI bar a.,
the grave. After her last lingering look upon
his face, as he lay in his coffin, she for the first
time tainted She was borne to her room
where she remained insensible for some hours
That night she said to her mother, who watch.
ed at her side
| "Where have they laid HenryW
"In the southwest corner of the graveyard,
under the large elm tree" was the reply. All
the succeeding day, Fannys grief was bitter and
despairing but at night she was camcr, and
earnestly desired Ia be left quite alone. Early
| the next morning, her mother went to her cham
Der and was surprised to find her looking much
like her former self and speaking almost cheer
| fully; but towards night she relapsed into fits
of passionate weeping, most desOlate and hope
less grieying. Again, with sleep seemed to come
peace, even an exaltatlOn OF spirit which cndur-
ed only for the morning hours--and so it con-
tnued throughout the week The poor child
gave her mother beautiful explanation of this
mystery. Every night" she said my Henry
comes to me in a vision He folds me in his
arms, and lays his hand on my hot forehead
and looks 80 pitifuly into my eyes he wipes
away my tears and comforts me- oh, 80 diyinely
He looks ~ he always did ON earth-only yet
more beautiful. | was No proud Of his beauty
mother that | did not think it possible he
| could grow more beautiful, even in heaven !;
but he seems 30 in my dream. He gives me
strength and JOY to sustain me till we meet
| again but am 10 weak, that before the long
day IL through, it leaves me- Yet, lac never fails
to come to me, or draw me to him scarce
know which | seem in state like that Of the
Apostle, when he knew not whether he was in
the body or out; only know am with him.
| and content
A strange rumor spread through the neigh
borhood and finally reached the family Of Fan
nv that some beated Travellers, had seen, in
the midst Of the night a shape Of shining
white, gliding about the grave Of Henry Lester
But no one among his friends was 80 supersti-
tious rs to heed the story.
On Saturday night, just one week from the
time of the heartbreaking tragedy Fanny's
father. who was physician, was riding home
ward some time after twelve and as he was
passing the graveyard, in sight OF his house, he
was startled TO observe some white object ut the
grave Of young Lester Dr. Austin was truly
brave man, and after a moment OF ndeclson,
he dismounted and entered the lonely burial
place. The appearance at the grave grew more
and more distinct as he drew softly near. 1t
was human form prone upon the earth One
moment more, he had reached the spot, and
found his own daughter Fanny in her bridal
dres, living beside the grave Of her lover, with
her face upon the mound, and one arm flung
over il Shocked and alarmed beyond measure,
| l.. - hon hoe