Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-11-02

iceQeQ 10 my wiz prayer that OuH UIludl
f Tourney might be postponed until he
was better, and permitted me to be
: constant watcher by his bedside. He
had not long to wait. My beloved had
broken blood vessel in his fall, and
the fourth day be died. i held his hand
as he faded silently away. 5
'Katrine,' he said, looking mournfully
into my eyes, 'Katrine, it is very sweet
to die thus, with you beside me. I am
dying for your love. I shall be happy,
dearest, for angels whisper you will be
mine in Heaven. You have never said
you loved me, but I know it. l know
that am dying, love is more to you
than all this bright living world, and l
am going where no shadow falls. Kiss
me, Katrine, and then sing me one of
our dear old songs
4 had kissed him many times before
as a sister might; the free, innocent
kisses of childhood, but now,-now, l
kissed him with the wild passionate
kisses of womanhood's deathless love;
and then drawing his head to my bosom,
1 sang. 1t was a ballad we had sung
many times together, when the stars
were climbing up into the quiet sky,
and l sang it now, to the soul which
was so soon to climb above the stars, !
above the sky, even to the footstool OF
the great white throne. He looked at
me with floods of light swelling into his
large blue eyes. Every moment he
grew more and more beautiful, till was
frightened at its unutterable glory. l
ceased, and his low voice whispered
'Katrine-Heavenp
The lids closed over those earnest |
eyes, peacefully as a child lies down TO
dreams, and the golden head grew cold
upon my bosom. was alone with my
deadp .. IL
Ny mother paused, and clasped me
wildly to her heart, then releasing me,
she continued: -..... -.
'Hanne, l know in those early days
your father loved me, as he could lore.
Not with the worship of the dead, but
he was proud of me, and stroye to make
me happy. He suffered much, The
wife whose head rested on his bosom,
slept in her dreams upon another's
heart, mixed in with grave-mould.-
When he clasped his arms about her,
ever between their folding and her slen-
der waist, were those cold arms of the
dead. 1 pitied him, but my very soul
was sick unto death; l could not feign
a love my heart could never feel. 1t
was two years, Hanne, before you was
born. He had learned of late, to seek
his happiness elsewhere. l did not
trouble myself to inquire the nature of
his pursuits, for l was grateful to be
left alone. When you were put into
my arms, Irained tears of blessings over
you, thanking God that my heart could
love still. Il
'As l lay in silence with my eyes
shut, holding you on my heart, l heard
him say:
Perhaps this child will win her love
to me. God grant; we may be happierP
1T was vain hope, Hanne, l was
colder to him than ever. We both
loved you. l would hold you in my
arms hour after hour, raving madly over
the dead who should have been your
father. One night as held you thus,
my husband entered.
'Katrine,' said he, Il shall die tonight,
die by my own hand. l have lost my
all at the gaming table whittier your
coldness has driven me. am sorry
for your sake, for the sake of our inno-
cent child, but oh you deserve little else,
woman, who could sell herself for sta
ton, when your very being was an
other'si' Is
L knew his reproaches were just,
and l sat still, in defiant silence, holding
you to my heart. For FIVE minutes he j
stood silently looking on us. Then he
spoke again, with softened tones:
'Katrine forgive me. Perhaps you I
did not know your own heart until it
was too late. Let not our parting be in :
anger. have done you many wrongs,
but have suffered terribly. God win
Judge me, and he is merciful. Katrine, |
kiss me once more before / die. Once, |
let me hold you to my heart. You are
my wife. Your hatred cannot be so ]
remorseless as to refuse me this, my last {
requestP {
:Hanne, l knew not what demon j
ruled me, but sprang up from my seat,
1 held you alOft from my arms, and l
cried: !
go! do not touch mel 1 loathe You, {
1 hate you'll But for you my darling
would not have died. Before your /
coming, 1 was happy. Gol You can
not suffer as | have suffered, ever since
your hateful lips called me wifeP I
Then holding you still, 1 sank down !
upon the floor, weak, helpless, in posi- I
ton of sobbing. can remember moth
ing distinctly, but 1 have a faint, indis-
tinct memory of a kiss of fire upon my ]
forehead-of seeing your baby face {
covered with passionate caresses. and of
being reused from the darkness of my !
long faint by the report of pistol {
Your father was dead. Hanne, do not ,
quite hate me. / have loved you, suf Z
fered for you, lived in your life. If my !
crime was great, the punishment Of my
lifelong remorse is terriblel'
/ clasped her bowed figure to my ;
arms, and pressed nv lips again and {