The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-03-21

sake give me some signal
The eyes, gradually assuming a dull,
dreamy look, closed wcarily, and opened
again very slowly.
A low wall burst from the wife, The
old clergyman turned upon her quickly
and said, with bitter imperiousness
"Be still, must speak with him." Then
bending again over the bed:
"Abner, have you thought Of Dr,rn?-
Shall we pray-have you made peace with
God?"
There appeared to be sort Of convulsiyc
effort ON the sick mans part TO attain ait
ting posture. For moment he seemed pos
sessed of perfect consciousness and perfect
strength.
"God :" he echoed hoarsely; how dare
you name Him God You, who have
made me what am; you, who goaded me
to sin, and all for money, money! Was it
so precious to you that must sell myself,
body and soul, marry for it? Don't speak
to me of God. There is none-no God-no
God :"
lie sank back on his pillows cxhausted,-
Blood burst anew from his mouth. He tried
to say more, but the words were drowned in
the warm tide that bubblod over his chest.
And she, the wife, stood there in marble
calmneSs, and heard that which was to
blight the rest of her young life. Her hands
We're clasped again, her eyes fixed unflinch-
ingly on the floor. She neither moved nor
spoke. Looking at her, you would have
felt your ye,y heart melt with compassion,
so wild, so forlornly miserable was the cx-
preston of that sweet, girlish face.
"Abner, Abner, my son." was all the
father spoke with his blanchel, Quivering
lips.
The momentary flush faded from the sick
mans features. stood by him and wiped
the blood from his mouth, and knew that
in few moments all would be over. There
was no struggle, but there was that gather
ing shadow on his forehead which is So ter
ribly understandable Seeing this, the in
tense despair ON his wife's face grew trine
more stltuosquc, and her hands locked them
selves involuntmily tighter, till the blood
gushcd from the smooth palm that came in
contact with the fingcr-nails. Not q word
was spoken, not n sound broke the deep still
ness of the chamber, but the indistinct and
oppressive breathing Of the dying man. |
thought il grew fainter and slower, and |
bent down to place my finger on the wrist,
and to listen more intently; but the old
man waved me ferccly, jealously away.
"1ouch him not" he said, T" for he IL
dead ~
And thought, indeed, that it was so !;
for even as he spoke, the faint respiration
suddenly ceased, and the pallor of an ever
lasting Inconsistencies crcpt slowly over
the still features. But in another moment,
| saw that life was not yet extinct. The
eyes again partly unclosed in the same
dreamy way as before, and an indescribable
radiance for an instant lit up the pale,
handsome iacc-handsomc even then, but
with an uncarthly beauty.
"God!" the colOrless lips muttercd, "God
there is a God" and smile, whose utter
serenity | have never seen eQuallcd, flicker
ed around the mouth. Then the shadow
dcepcncd, fell, and he expired. 1t seemed
as though the soul had been half freed, and,
returning, gave evidence Of that eternity
which it but partially had entered
a woman's voice, sobbing, at last broke
the dreary silence.
The old man rose, and approaching his
dead sons wife, said ftebly:
esther, be comfortcd; God is over ALL.
She drew her hand from his clasp with a
gesture Of uncquiyocal adherence.
"COmfort ~ she echoed, with great de-
fant flash of her black eyes; comfort you
preach to me of comfort hypOcrite" She
hissed the word from between her closed
teeth, with startling, indignant energy. /,
is all clear to me now. Who was il plotted
and schcmed to bring us together? Who
tempted him into marriage where there wa,
no love on his sidc-none, none, o my Got
but for money? Answer me that"
Her dark hair had become di entansled O
fastening, and now fell, in wild, conrusCl
grace, over her bare shoulders. Her white
appraised arms, glittered in the bright ligh
, of the lamps, the scarlet ornaments foatin,
r from the sleeves, falling over them in yiyi,
contrast. Never shall forget the imprcs
, sion created by that indignant appeal, ant
the tragic, excited beauty, of this injurc,
woman. All this was many years ago, ye
never recall that Sibbath night without
shudder. Frequent as are terrible or touch
ing scenes in the life of physician, re
D member none that own power so to unmai
me, as the memory Of this. And the scquc
Q was no less sad. Within year anothc
p grave was made for the poor, deceived wife
, On the death of her husband, she sank int
stupOr from which nothing could arous
: her, and which terminated at last in rapi
, consumption. 1t is strange that i shoul,
so we'll rocOllcct the day she died. 1t is n
new in my mind as yesterday. White
e frcshly-fillen snow on the ground. It ha'
e come early that year, and many leaves wer
G still hanging crimsoncd on their boughs.-
4 The trees were loaded with light, aeecy fng
!. ments Of snow, among which these brilliant
4 ly dyed leaves CLEANED out in the sunshin
!. like blood ON woman's fair face.-Salpel
8 ANNUAL SLAVE LETTING IN WASHINGTON
o Our Washington correspondent gives tn
= following account of the annual sale OF th