Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-01-12

tasted food, nor exchanged word with any huma 4
being, when the clock of the cathedral warned
4 me of the solemn and witchng hour of night.
''And then you went to your pillow to dream?
~ did not.''
"Then whither!''
'sDo not ask me- ..
81 must know" she answered. with pretty way
wardness.
/ "Ask me some other question
"Yes, but first answer me this. On your aIle-
glance -.
Il went into my dissecting room," he said,
tgravely and sadly.
Blanche hastily snatched away the hand that
he was holding, and with an exclamation of horror
turned away.
Il know he said, ssthat should shock and
offend you but now, dear Blanche, exercise your
reason. Throughout that day had been pursu-
ing laborious Investigation, and l went to illus
trate and prove the truth of it's results. Believe
me, that could not lightly invade the saneity of
the dead, or approach it with an irreyerant hand.
1t was because felt the inveteracy of death, that
strove-to grapple with it in its strong holds-be-
cause had seen the tears of the orphan and the
wife that l had labored through many days, and
had made Tiny companion through many nights
for so hoped to r4pe it in one of its boldest forms
i of approach And will you think that my
touch will pollute your hand?''
Seemingly Blanche did not think SO, for she
suffered him to retain it.
s.And the RESULT" asked she.
"'The result" answered he. @Oh! the result
was, that became acquainted with you, and all
other results were swallowed up in that
''Shall thank you or chide you for that COM
pment!'' &
ssDo not ask me- To certain extent ceased
to hink when began to feel. The intellect and
the passions can never rule conformity. The one
must triumph at the expense of the other. Man
might be wholly intellectual were it not for wo-
man, but she makes chains of our passions to bind
us down to earth.''
'sAnother doubtful compliment
Itwanted but week of the Students next birth
day-the next birthday was to be his wedding-day
Blanche had deferred it until then. Women have
better tact at compliment than men after all.
They were standing at an open window a little
withdrawn from the festive group which were as
sembled, taking no share in the pastne of the
hour, and occasionally even to each other. There
is deep quietness in happiness which belongs
not to joy
ssYou are SILENT said Blanche.
"Only because feel the utter emptiness of
words 5':
asFil them with your thoughts. %
"They may convey thoughts, but not feelings. .
"They have done for Eve and all her decend-
ants said Blanche, with smile.
..sShall infer,' said he "that women feel less
than mine!''
because I am too happy both in the present
and in the future to be sad, and yol not So" "
'sSad dear Blanche''
cay, you cannot deny it. And indeed when
you are in these silent moods, and look on you,
and your eye sees me not, and watch the gather
ings of thought upon your brow, and the gradual
gloom that orershadows your countenance, I say
to myself that you were never made for the hap
piness of this fair world
s'You make me sad now in reality, because I
have the fullest trust that your happiness is impli
Gated in mine"
. ssIndeed was not selfish enough to remember
that"
'sAnd was selfish to have forgot it even for
this little snatch of time. Perhaps it may be my
own individual fault; and yet it is not a law of
our common nature always to be anticipating the
future rather than enjoying the present! Come, .
dear Blanche we will forget the future (is it not
curious to forget what has never been!) and be
happy in the present. s5ea
Il will not be happy now,'' said Blanche, with
a smile.
"And why not!''
sBecause you are leaving me for week."
ssTo return for ever
The Student had returned-all things had gone
prosperously with him. He had made the final
arrangements for his expected brde-his relations
had concurred in his views-everything was hope
full and happy.
F Never to the Students eye had the sun shone
SO brightly, nor the earth looked SO galy nor the
world appeared to be arrayed so inyitngly, as on
that last day of his return Never had he felt such
a buoyancy OF spirit as When ne entered the mouse
where Blanche resided
But suddenly chill come over him-what and
why was all this. The house was darkened, the
domestics moved stealthy and spoke not above
their breaths, dreary stiffness, mysterious awe
hung heavily over all. The Student staggered,
gasped for breath, asked why these things were
so. and was told that-Blanche scas dead!
+ They led him to her chamber, and he saw her
arair-saw her wan, white, motionless, wrapped