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

bile intervention OF one day from The re- |
eipt Of the Doctors letter, lie commenced |
lis bomeward journey. Ample time had he
o reproach himself, and every body else.
While seated in coach, the horses attached |
o which seemed 70 him to be all the time in |
leisure walk. Why had he trusted TO
Ielen's account Of her own health Why |
lad he been so inexcusably negligent as no
coner to have written to DR.. Miller? Why
did the doctor wait till the last possible mo-
nent before writing to him? Why had
not Mr.. Atwood informed him of his daugh
Ier's danger? These, together with other
far more bitter and grevous, were
continually revolving in his mind.
With regard to Mr.. Atwood and Dr. Mil
Ter, the fact was, that they both knew the
frequency OF Hclen's letters to Mr.. Howard.
and had no idea of the degree of ignorance
nnder which he laborgd, else they would
certainly have given him the truth.
Slow as Mr.. Towards progress was CONS
pared with the present rate Of locomotion,
lie at length reached the place of his resi-
dence in safety. lie occupied the back seat
Of the mail coach. and, as it drove up to the
post office, lie involuntarily drew back,
dreadine 10 read the fatal news in the coun>
tenance of any acquaintance, who might
perchance get view of him. From his
partial conceaIment he glanced Ground, and
among others saw Dr. Miller, few rod $
distant, coming towards the carriage. In his
aarnestness TO read the doctors face, he
leaned little forward, and their eyes met.
"Thank heaven !" exclaimed the doctor,
as he sprang to the side Of the coach--
- Thank Heaven, you've come"
MIR Howard actually gaspcd for breath
and could with difficulty command voice 10
say" then am not too late ?"
"No-no," said the doctor, "she yet
lives" and the coachman at that instant
drawing up The reins, DR.. Miller took the
seat at his side, and was driven to Mr..
Towards.
"Tol me,' said Mr.. Howard, as he a.
lighted at his own door. and graspcd his
friends hand" what have to hope and
what have I to fcar?"
The doctor shook his head. The fever
has made dreadful havoc with her strength
said he. Within the last week she has
sunk rapidly. sometimes feared that all
would be over, with her, before you could
reach us"
"Will she know me 2" asked Mr. How,
ard.
90. ycs,-bul she viii be hardly able io
speak TO you. Since yesterday she has spo-
ken one word only AT time, and that in a
whisper. But must hasten to prepare her
20 meet YOU. have sometimes thought
that the hope of seeing you has helped &c
keep her alive"
The doctor left the room, and Mr., How,
ard walked the floor with sensations which
the feeling heart may conceive, but which
no one should attempt to describe. Ii seem.
ed an age before D.. Miller returned, but
he came at length, and taking his friends
arm within his, 10 lead him to the chamber
said-
4" Now compose yourself, my dear sir
Remember that Mrs. Howard Is not in a site
uat;on to bear strong excitement"
Mr.. Howard spoke not but The doctor
felt his whole frame trembe as lie Leaned
on his arm. Ilelen's eyes were fastened on
the door as it opened; they sparkled like
iii damonds, and her cheeks were like the
rosc. To The inexperienced eye, she might
have appeared the picture of health, as she
was of beauty. She made an effort to raise
herself, but in vain the doctor, by forci'
BILE grasp Of The arm, constrained Mr.. How
rrd to walk across the floor instead o
sprineing towards her. When he had quiet
" led him to the bedside, and had seen hi.
wifr's hands casped in his, he left them.
What world of joy and grief can lht
human heart endure NJ the same moment o.
time How sweet, yet how agonizing wal
this meeting How did Helen drink in the
words of love and tenderness that her hus
band murmurcd in her ear how sooihin,
were the kisses he Imprinted on her feveret
brow and how precious to him were tn,
single words Of whispered love, that iel
from her quivering lips !-aye-a treasure
to be the solace Of years
Beyond expectation, Helen fingered
week after MIR. Iloward's return, and h,
scarcely left her by day or by night. Fo
some time the children had been al MIR. A,
woods, as tie sight of them seemed too ex
citing in their moIher's sinking stale; bu
once after their fathers return, they wcr
brought home, 10 give and take the last
fond. parting kiss. As the youngest chill,
was taken from her, Helen looked at tn
falher-looked at the little ones. and the
rased her fearful eyes to Heaven. Word
would have been useless, had she been abl
10 utter them. Her face expressed far NOR
than language could have done, and il
meaning was engraven on her husband
soul. Two days after parting with her chi
dren, Helen breathed out her spirit. Will
her head reclined on the bosom OF her hu'
oand as peacefully and as gently as a
infant falls asleep on its mothers arms.
In tho soltude-ihe utter desolation iha
follows The last sad offices TO depar,e
friend, nothing is SO natural as to examin
every relic they have left behind. parlict
lary do we love 10 touch and look at tho.