The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-02-25

her house in ORDER" preparatory TO the
last great change. The first thing was
to view her past life. Looking back
from among the shadows ofdeath which !
now surrounded her, how bright and
cheerful appeared youlh,in the bosom of
her fathers family how sunny and joy
ful the first years of her married life
how dark the clouds that had recently
overshadowed her For the last, who
was to blame? Her natural freedom
from self.insiifying spirit together with
the fearful thought tina, she was soon to
appear before her final Judge, disposed
her To condemn herself. Still justice
asserted her right and Helen was COM
scious. that to please her husband, and
render him happy had been the first OBJ
leci of her heart. Yet, notwiihstand-
J ing this, she was willing 10 believe she
had given him just cause Of displeasure.
With intense anxiety she reviewed the
last year and half and asked herself,
what she had done Tor his happiness,
while her affection for him had been dor
mant. She could iud no special neg
lect Of duty of which to accuse herself
vet the remembrance OF duties hearts
essly performed, gave little satisfaction,
and to Helen the whole seemed dark =,
Il ronhIed aud guilty dream. Now that
she was awaking, it left a most gloomy
and painful impression upon The mind.
And while she had, in this unfeeing
manner, been Gischarging her conjugal
duties, what had heen Mr.. Howard's de-
pertinent towards her
The prospect Of her own approaching
dissolution produced Oh lIelen's mind
mnch the same effect that the death of
husband would have done. His increas-
ing genileness, his tenderness, his deli
cacy and forbearance.-which had hith
erio remained entirely unfeli and unno-
ticed, came thronging to her memory,
and at once the beloved Of her youth,
the idol Of her early welded life,w re>
stored to her in all his perfection. The
heart sweled, and gushed forth in love,
| in gratitude. and in penitence. His re,
cent letters were all brought forth, and
reperused: and all those expressions Of
love and tenderness, that had before fall
en- as on rock, caused her heart e.
thrill with emotion. "Ah," thought she
how constant has that heart been to
ME, in spite of all my GOODNESS, my heart
less indifference, and sometimes, fear,
my dlsdain!'
For the first time since Mr. Howard's
departure from home, did Helen feel a
pang on account Of his absence, but
now she felt her loneliness as ia former
days. How was she to endure the re-
niainder of the tedious session of Con-
gress! Alas ! would she still be an in
habiiant Of earth when it should have
come to close But Notwithstanding
this reawakened regrei on account OF her
husbands absence,-- aud the awful sol>
emniiy of her situation, how sweet did
she 6rd 1t again TO love--loye with tens
derness and arcor and with fervenI
gratitude did she raise her eyes aud
thoughts to Heaven, that her heart was
aroused from its lelhargy.
Heleu'snext letter to Mr.. Howard was
very different from those which had pre-
cedcd ii. She did not, indeed, expires.
in direct terms her new found love but
its spirit breathed in every line. To-
wards the close she mentioned having q
severe cold, and gave some intimatiou
of DR.. Miler's opinion as to the result.
She subscribed herself" your own tru.
~ grateful and afectionate Helen. "
This was the last letter she ever sen
him, though not the last she ever wrote
Joy aud grief conieuded for the mas
tery in the heart of Mr.. Howard as hi
read this epis,le joy exquisite and un
utterable that the affections OF his wifi
were restored to him, for he knew he
! too well 10 have the shadow Of doub
respecting her sincerity and grief and
alarm the most narrowing with regard
to her health. lie had stronger proc
7 of her indsposltion and debility thai
any expressions made use OF in the let
ter. The Iremuousness of the han
: that had written il was but too obvious
II was entirely different from Helen
t neat aud beautiful hand writing, whe
J in usual health. On the instant h
wrote TO DR.. Miller. TO learn the wors
! he had TO fe ar Ten tedious days mus
r pass before he could hope 10 receive a
, answer for at that time the mails wer
5 conveyed in numbering stage'coache:
= and to heart racked by anxiety the
e seemed 10 travel at a snail's pace.
When DIR Milers letter arrived,
more than confirmed Mr.. Howara's wor.
apprehensions. The Doctor had aciua
ly begun TO write, before he re ceived hi