The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-03-31

! 90 he lies in his little bed so brIght.-Come
with me, Frank, and look al him."
| With kisses on lips brow and cheek, the cho
slumbered on, and the carriage rolled away from
/ the door to the ball.
| 1t was a brilliant scene, that ball room !-Necks
| and arms that s!amed E.. whitcness, the snowy
| robes that foated nd them ;-eyes rvallng
| the diamonds light whose hue was borrow
| ed from the sun manhood's peerless form and
| noble brow; odorous garland's flushing lights,
music TO make your blood race more swiftly
through the veins; all we're there TO lroXcate and
! bewilder.
Peerless in the midst-qucen of hearts and of
! the dance-stood the young wife OF Frank Fear
irg. Accepting the offered hand of an acquaIn'
| tance she took her place among the waltzers.-
She made few turns upon the floor, then pale as
death, she turned TO her husband, saying:
"O Frank, | can not-I feel such an oppression
here,'' and she placed her hand on heart and
brow.
Frank looked annoyed; he was very proud OF
his wife; her beauty was the admiration OF the
room. She had never looked loveIier than that
night Whispering in his ear, /" for my sake
Mary conquer this weakness" he led her again
to the dancers. With smile Of gratdrd pride,
he followed her with his eyes, her fairy form
foaed past him, excitement and exercise lending
again to her cheek its loveest glow, while on all
| sides, murmurs OF ." beautiful most beautiful" fell
on his ear. "And that bright vision is mine, .
said Frank TO himself; 'I have won her from
hearts that were breaking for her."
When the dance was over, following her to the
window, he arranged her scarf about her neck,
with fond care, and with q thank you dearest,
when leaving her she again laid her hands upon
his arm, saying with wild brliancy in her eye {:
Frank something has happened TO Walter-take
me home now"
"Pshaw Mary, dear; you look radiant; |
thought you danced the vapors away.-One more
dearest, and then if you say so, we will CO.,
Suffering herself to be persuaded, again those tiny
feet were spurning the floor toward the close
her face grew so deadly pale, that her husband in
alarm, few TO her side.
"The effort costs you too much, Mary" said
Frank; "let US 60 home" He wrapped her cloak
| carefully about her. She was still and cold as a
| marble statue.
As the carriage stopped at their door, she rush
ed past him with the swfness of an antelope, and
gaining her boys chamber, Frank heard her ex
claim, she fell senseless TO the floor: &C | knew
it, told you so p The child was dead
the servant in whose care the child had been
left, following the example of her mistress, had
joined some friends in a dance in the hail. That
terrible scourge of children. the croupe, had at.
tached him, and alone in darkness, the fair boy
wrestled with the g King of Terrors.'
From whence came the sad presentment that
clouded the fair brow Of the mother or The mys-
ferrous magnetism drawing her so rresstibIy back
to her dying child? Who shall tell?
For months she lay vibrating between life and
death.
" Yet the healer was there, who had smitten her
heart.
And taken her treasures away.
To allure her to heaven, he has placed it on high
And the mourner will sweetly obey
" There had whispered voice-'twas the voice of
God,
love the pas. under the rod
Other fair children now call her " mother"
never again, with flying feet, has she chased the
midnight hour away. Nightly, as they return,
they find her within the quiet circle Of home
within call of helpless chiIdhood.-Dearer than
the admiration Of the gay fhrong-sweeter 10 her
than violin or harp,-is the music of their yourg
voices, and tcnderIy she leads their little feet into
the green pastures and still waters OF savarion,'
blessed with the smiles Of the Good Shepherd, who
sayeth, " Suffer little children to come unto me,
and forbid them not.'