The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-04-14

husband tremblcd more than I; and un
fastened her gown, and threw water on he
face, and pushed back her hair; but she di,
not revive. told Harry to 20 for doctor
a horrid thought was stealing over me bu
he fingered, as fancicd, unaccountably an,
cruelty, though twice asked him to 60
Then, ] thought that perhaps he was to,
much overcome; so went to him and kisse,
him, and said, "She will soon be better
Harry" cheerfulIv, 20 cheer him. But
felt in my heart that she was no more.
At last. after many urgent entreaties. ant
after the servants had come up. clustering il
a frightened wav round the bed-but he sen
them away again Immediately nut on hi
hat, and went out, soon returning with
strange man: not our ow: .'octor. This mar
was rude and coarse, and ordered me aside
as stool bathing my sisters face, and pulled
her arm and hand roughly, to see how dcat
they fell, and stopped close to her lips
thought he touched them even-all in a VIC
lent and insolent way, that shocked me ant
bewillered me. NY husband stool in the
shadow. shas'ly pale. but not interfering.
1t was 700 true. what the strange man hal
said so coarscv. She was dead. Yes: the
creature that an hour ago had been so full of
life. so beautiful, so resolute. and Young. wa.
now stitlened corpse. inanimate and dead
without life and without hope. Oh, that wor,
had set my brain on fire Dead here, in nv
house. under nv roof-.,cad so mvtericu>Iv
so strangly why How? 1t was a fearful
dream. ii was no truth lav there was in a
nightmare: was not sane : and think ing how
Ghastly all was. tainted softly on the bed. nc
one knowing, till some time after. that | had
fallen. and was not PRAYING, When recov-
cred was in my own room. alone Craving
ir"h'v to my sisters door. ! found that sh,
had beer washed and dressed. and was n,w
LAID ont on her bed 1t struck me- that all
lad been done in strange haste: Harry tell.
IN m" the servants had done it while FAINT
ed knew afterwards that hr had told then
hat il was !. anl that would have no help
The ,.lvs,"rv of it all was soon to be unrav
clel.
One thing i was decided on TO watch by
nv sister this nigh,. II was in vain that my
husband opposed me: IN am that he ''"aNcd
me by his carresscs. or trn Il To terrIfv r'e
with angry threats Somcthin.. of NV sister $
nature seemed TO have passed into me ; an!
unless he had positively prevented H." by
force no other means would have had anv If
feet. lie gave way 20 me at last anerilv-
and the night came on and found me sitting
by the bedside watching nv dear sister
How beautiful she looked Her face. still
with the gentle marks of sorrow on it that i
had in life, looked SO grand Shcs was so
great, so pure; she was like goddess s'ccp-
ing; she was not like mere woman Of this
earth. She did not seem TO be dead there
was life about her vet. for there was still the
look of power and of human sympathy that
She used to have when alive The sou! WAS
there Still, and litr and knowledge.
Tv dcorecs strange feeling OF her livinr
presence in Nh" room came over me. Alone
in the still midnight. with no sound no rcr
son near me. it seemed as il | had leisure and
power Of pass into the world hcvond the
crave ] f'it nv sister near me- felt the
passing Of her T.: about MT. As when one
sleeps. but still is co;,>riouS hat another life.
Is weaving ~ with ours 1t seemed As if her
breath fen warm on nv face: As if her shaI
o.y arms held me in their clasp; as if her
eyes were looking through, the darkness at
me; as If held her hand, in mine. and her
long hair iloatcd around nv forehead And
then TO shake OF these f,ncrS, and convince
myself that she was really dead. ! looked
again and again at her lvinc there a marble
corpse, ice-cold. with the lios set and the
dcail-band beneath her chin. There she was,
stiff in her white shroul, SNOWY linen press
ing so lightly upon her: no life withir. no
warmth about her, and ali my Eanccs were
VAN dreams. Then buried my face in nv
hands, and wept as if my heart was break
ing. And when turned away my ewes from,
her, the presence came around NE AGAIN.. :
So long as | watched her it was not there: !
saw the corpse only; but when shut this out
from me, then it seemed as if A barrier had
been removed, and that my sister floated near
me again.
had been praying, sitting thus in these
alternate feelings Of her spiritual presence
and her bodily death, when, raising nv head
and looking toward the further corner of the
room, | saw, standing at some little distance.
my sister Ellen. l saw her distinctly, as dis
tinctly as YOU may see that red fire blaze
Sadly and lovingly her dark eyes looked a,
me, sadly her gentle lips smiled, and by look
and gesture, too, she showed that she wished
to speak to me. Strange, | was not frightened.
1t was so natural to see her there, that for a
moment forgot she was dead.
Ellen" said ]. what is it ?"
The figure smiled. 1t came nearer. Oh
do not say it was fancy! | saw it advance it
came glidingly. Remembered afterwards tha,
it did not wak-but it came forward-to tb,.
light, and stood not ten PAGES from me. 1t
looked at me still in the same sad. gentle way.
and somehow don't know whether with the
hand or by the turning of the head-it show
ed me the throat where wera tho d.;.