Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-04-20

Simultaneous in it's work, and swallowed
strong draught. On my excited and tense
ly strung system it was powerless.. | grew
calm and went home-to Isabels chamber
She was surrounded with attendants, will
medical advisers. Colonel St. -Maur wa
dead on the couch. Some ofthem attempt
ed to explain,to me, but the words fel
meaningless on my ear. dismissed the
people, requesting my own physician to re-
main below. was alone with my wife
and the dead. fell on my knees before
her and told her all. Her, cnuntenance
never changed. In that strange diseased
state,,, she, manifested nc. emotion. She
smiled family and said calmly: ), ~.
"Albert came back when you were a
way, He was not dead, thoug for years
had mourned for him. His life was in
danger in New Orleans, yet he had, risked
all to come for me. He was esperate
he wanted me TO leave you, He made me
pledge myself never to reveal his story to
you, until he was far away. Poor Albert -
She said this without emotion. could
not endure it. summoned the physician.
| said, II have poisoned my wife. Can
you save herr" <s.
Isabel laughed--looked herself, and said,
in her own tone: ), ~
"Do not believe him. 1t cannot be true.
Don't you. see it cannot be so;"
| / repeated my words. 49,
The physician, too, laughed at me " You
you who loved her so. No, it is YOURSELF
you are i'll, and your mind is diseased
The climate is not suited to you. Goto
your Northern home. In the autumn you
will return, cured of your midsummer mad
ness" -. ,-r. I,
Isabel said, "Yes, let us go. twill be
cool there, she said Int with the fiery blood
of poison raging, burning in her veins, yet
the blind physician could not see it, though
she repeated, at will be cool there"
caught at sudden hope, and, after the
funeral'of Colonel St. Maur, we iourneyed
10 the North. We travelled in our own
carriage, and without attendants. Isabel
seemed to revive; she constantly talked of
our home by the water-side--she had spent
a palt of each year since our marriage in
that cool and lovely place: and well she
loved the quiet garden and the lovely lake,
with her chosen flowers aloat upon its bo-
som.,' Yes, she seemed to revive. told
her, over and over again, all my passion,
my Madness my guilt And again she
smiled incredulous, and said, at cannot be
true ,r
] thought she would live. We were near
ly there. She grew impatient. She cried,
$50 on, let me see the old garden and the
water, and the water-ilies. / smell their
fragrant breath-my welcome home."
1t was just at dark we were within sight
of home; she started again. "Ah,' she
said, 81 shall never be there" she sighed
wearily, heavily, and laid her head upon
my shoulders, and her cold fingers clung
around my hand, and her damp curls seem
ed to creep about my neck. could not
see her face for the gloom; but knew she
was dying.
"Ah," shc whispered, "lay me among
the lilies, where it is cool kiss me Arthur"
She was dead, at the very gateway of
our home. drove in. took her in my
arms and carried her to the boat. 1 sat
and watched her there in the pale moon
hight and talked to her, and wept, and
laughed, almost till the day dawned. Then
! took off the silk mantle and rowed out to
the lilies, and laid her down in the cool,
fragrant bed. She sunk from my sight
What was it? Where, was IL What had
done "She was here and is gone
have killed Isabel" said this aloud, II
have killed Isabel"
said it maay times, without knowing
what was saying, All the next day |
think | slept. don't remember taking a.
ny precautions for concealment, or even
thinking of doing so. should not have
shrunk from arrest / do not know what
happened around me. | saw no one.
recollect how desolate, and tangled, and
wild the garden locked how lonely the
house; felt that | must 60 back. Once
would 60 down TO the water-Side and look
at the lilies. stood and gazed off upon
them, and saw something bright. in the
moon. : ! knew it-a rubv--the gift of AL
bert Then felt that the water had re,
fused her rest. carried, her back and bu-
ried her IN the. garden, Under waving Ca
talpa tree, brought, like herself, from the
warm South. m
Then Twas impatient to 60. r. thought
| should, find .Isabtl at New Orleans. i did
not. believe that she was deady 4 knep
should find her awaiting me. longed; to
see her. l was mad to meet, her, ! bur
ried back. | travelled by day and night.
| reached home and asked for Isabel. and
there was no answer TO memo one wait
ing me there.
=. He burst into an agony of tears. Was
he mad ? He seemed to understand my
thought. He came.to me when the wild
storm had had its way, and held out his fe-
minne hand to me. - - e,.-
81 am net mad now," he said, gently,
81 was, perhaps, then. Many years have
passed. | cannot bear to stir those buried
feelings. cannot be calm, when | speak
of her. But it is over now. Do with me
as you WILL" turning to Judge Blackwell,
s'bAt," he added, with a, sweet, though mel
ancholy smile, 'you will see how little Ter
ror has punishment for me. The ingenuity
of man-the skill of friends cannot inAict
more than [ have borne-I cannot die, i
have only one request to make. Think Of
Catherine, and spare her Call me in
sane, or what you will, but spare her /
will 60 away from her, if you say it, with
out explanation and without farewell. Shall
L go"
| begged his forgiveness, and he left the
room with Judge Blackwell. never saw
him more. What explanation was made
to the family I never learned. Catherine
afterwards married happily. What be-
came of the wanderer, the God who 'tem-
rereth Indictment with mercy" alone know