Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-03-05
Vol. xxXVEa-Whose No. 1867,

e,
My reverie was broken by the approach
of stranger, and light silyery laugh
shut out the music of the flute. for il was
so like May 5. so ringing, joyous. Pres
entity, as the fine, manly form drew nearer.
l recognized the features of one who had
/ been my college mate two wears ago [
would have sprung forward to meet him
his name was trembling on my lips, when
sight arrested my attention that chilled
my blood and made my teeth chatter with
a sudden freezing fear The two had
come almost beside me, and there stopped.
charmed with the little sylvan spot the
lady held her hat by the strings one arm
was passed confdmgly through that Of her
companion, and when she moved her ra-
dIant face around towards me-who was
concealed by the shadow-I recognized in
full flood Of moonlight, Nav Kendall. |
do not like, even at this late dav, TO review
the feelings that shook my frame when
heard them murmur such words of tender
ness TO each other in subdued and happy
tones 4 deathly laintness came over ME
as gathered from their own lips the kn0wl-
edge that they were betrothed, and when
that passed away, fierce revenge sent the
blood boiling through my veins once
could have leaped upon him and demand
ed nly May, nty love, without whom life
would be a curse, and the world dread
blank. But then, by what right could
call her mine! True she has been most
kind TO me, but never more than maiden
modesty might well beseem her conduct.
Now | knew-God forgive me for the rage
that tugged at my heart strings as thought
lt-why she had talked of Frederick ::
oh! fool that | was, not to comprehend {;
she smiled on me because was his friend.
because had eyersome sweet recollection
TO tell, some comeIy virtue 10 praise; and
blinded by my own blindness, if | may so
speak, iancIed she loved me.
How did | command myself enough.
still to stand motIonless, even till had
learned the day and the hour the wedding
would take place for every nerve in my
body seemed changed TO an instrument of
torture. Fortunately they did not pass
me but rctraced their steps. and /, bend
ing low, with an almost breaking heart.
slowly left the pleasant grave yard, and
walked towards home, too wretched TO
think or feel all the crushing weight of
my disappointment. The next day, before
sunrise, | was Oh my way TO the ncighbor-
ing city ; ! was in a strange tumult. that
knew not but would prove fatal to me
was ready for almost any desperate deed.
and had more than Once-l shudder when
/ think OF lt-cOnlemplated sell destruc-
ton: but / called philosophy, nay. some
thing higher, holler, to my aid-relgion,
and IL time became soOthcd ii not com
torted that Is, after | knew NAV was
lrrevocaDly married
Two months passed deemed myself
sufficiently fortified with good resolutions.
to return home to my chosen place of re-
sIdence; 1t was high noon when drove
up the main street; carriage dashed by
me, light vehicle; III another moment il
had turned, and Frederick was abreast
| nvolnnlarily drew my reins his face
denoted suffering.
For Gods sake, Doctor Lane. nv ear
" friend, do not stop till YOU reach Mrs.
hendali's;~my May lies there-sick. dv-
ing, he gasped; how ashy pale he was.
My face hlanched felt a singular kind
o! uemor; we dashed ahead. neither
speaking, and IN fifteen minutes stood bv
the couch OF the young bride. That was
an awful hour thus spent; at its close, |
pressed down her white eyelids over her
duii glazed eyes-ah heaven thonobt |.
how can such beauty be dead And still
lof all mat, there was triumph at my heart
-unul beheid the awful grief of the be-
iea'cd husband, saw the big drops like
DIood bead his broad, white forehead !
almost forced him from the inan;mate
body, that he would hold clasped to his
BOSOM kissing the white lips, the whittier
cheeks even the golden locks, that Law
damp and uncurlcd over her shoulders.
And when | left that house of mourn
Ing, was 1t not strange tie calnncss | felt
Sc'uing down over my spirit Could this
thought, even Ill lis iaiutest tracery, swell
through my mind at such time-she IS
not mine, and neither IS she his . / am
glad that she could not be mine only. none
but death can claim her now! fear.
iiad conscience applied her torch, she would
nave READ those scathing words written on
'hc CRIMSON portals OF my heart but
must hasten on.
HE next day went over to be present
at the funeral services and still felt that
Sorrowiul happiness. Poor Frederick was
at times raving, then stupid with his great
woe. The mourners assembled, the beau
tIuI dead laid fobod in satin in her coffin
already the large parIor was filled with
weeping friends. | took my station by
the coffin; with unutterable tenderness /
gazod upon that heavenly countenance-it
looked not like stern death, but soft, smn-