The Davenport gazette., 1852-04-08

mother. Now was my time; friends
aeighbors,' gasped, 'calI the sexton; taxi
Of the coffin lid; for Gods sake, delay no
a moment, she is not dead.' I rather
shrieked than said the last words.
i o! such change as came over that as
sembly; many swooned-a crowd cam,
rushing up to the coffin; pressed then
bach; the hand Of the undertaken trembled
and as screw after screw fell rafting 0,
the floor, my heart beat quicker with hop.
and fear.
| The lid was thrown aside; in my arm,
WAS the fair creature borne to her couch
rs returned mement, saw her only sis
ter standing as if riveted to the floor; bel
cheeks ghastly, her eyes staring frigbtful
ly. ! seized her by the arm, but she stir
red not; shook her rudely, saying, 'Unles.
you help me, Maria, she may perhaps real
Iy die; quick! come and cut off her grave
clothes! she must not see them-must no
know of thisn
With a wild unnatural burst of laughter
the girl aroused herself from her stupor
then as suddenly, food Of tears came t,
her relief; all was right now; she followed
me into the next chamber, and united thu
white satin ribbons from the delicate wrists
and unloosed The linen bands on the breast
50 that by the time the young bride open
ed her eyes, she was lying as if she hal
soogh, her coach for pleasant s!umber.
Aad now the most terrible excitement
over. breathcd freely; and yet another
import ant task was To be accomplished: b,
my orders the poor husband had been briei
| y informed that the ceremony would bt
detained FOR moment; he was SO distract
cd with bis grief that all news was alike I,
him-.hes led hin where they liked; he
80, 10 a little room just across the entry
went in, closed the door and stood beside
bin; he glanced up once, then buried his
face in his hands with deep, uneartbly
groan, that went TO my very soul; oh!
felt for the first time such exquisite Joy II
the performance Of a good decd! expert
enced new love for my profession.
Frederick said !, placing my ara
around his neck, Frederick, there is some
good yet in store for YOU; you do not mourn
ia this way
| i am "a broken hearted man, he uttered
in iaiiering accents; do not strive to com.
fort me-you only increase my misery
But if could give you comior, YOU lit
tie dream of; ie-it'-if told-you-'
stammered, and knew not how 10 proceed
for the husbands wild eyes were fastened
to my face, while he half rose with 9
| ~ ranna oricE poyamapf
Iii what-if what, Doctor Lane?--oh
what am TO think" bis voice trembIed
'lhere is something in my heart bids me-
look 10 you for hope now! Yet why, why {?
and The words sank mournfuIly into 81
lence.
'Did you evor hear of people falling into
frances, and then when robed for the buri
Ial-'
could proceed no farther; the excited
man sprang from bis seat, clenched both
my hands, and with FIRE in his eyes, inco
herently exclaimed: :'What?--how ?-dead
in ?--laid ul?-buried? --shut upi
lalive-aIive? Great God! mcrciful God
you do not tell me that she--my May,
whom saw die--who gasped in my arms
ON this bosom -bade me farewell--grew "
while and cod--no, no, you mock me'
| Frederick said !, while the tears rain
ed down my checks, 'your wife still lives
she was only in a trance
Never shall | forget the ensuing scene;
be threw his arms around me, and hugged
me like one frantic. God bless you!-..
Heaven bless you! Oh! doctor, shall
die Of this excess of joy! lead me to her;
where is she, my friend, my good friend ?
Nv May. my sweet brde--not dead-no,
dead! when these eyes looked upon her for
the last time? Oh! but no, doctor--ihis is
TOO beautiful, too good-let me see her; !
will be calm: and, doctor,' he exclaimed,
graspng my arm with his sinking fingers,
i would almost give you nv life for this,
would, | would; could not have survived
long-You canuo, tell how dearly loved
her. Dear doctor, God bless you!
He did not even dream, poor fellow, that
he had been my rival.
The mother hung over her chid--tbe
husband bent over his bride--full, thanks
giving: she, with her large, blue eyes NOV
ing fondy from one to the other, as she
whispered, Il am better, stronger; shall
soon he we'll again; have been sick verJ
long, have no,?'
Frederick kissed her pure brow in reply.
and then hid his face in the pillow, to weep
in silence land then ! left them. hap
pier being, better man; and happier and
better have been ever since.
May and her husband still live--a fond,
beautiful pair, even now.
am an old bachelor.