The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-12-25

4
motiieht strange depression came over me.
and the idea daily grew upon me that /
should sink under the excitement of this
terrible passion. 1t was. therefore, that |
dreaded moro than death to disclose my
love. l felt that refusal would KLINE a,
once, and this dread grew upon me SO fear
fully that for hours l would lie on my sofa
or my bed listless and unable to move. OF
course wen. TO doctor, fer would no,
confess to myself that there was no other
disease in me than my hidden passion.
| The man Of drugs shook his head, saw
through me partly, and recommended
change OF scene. | never went near him
again.
One evening I met Ida at the Duchess
OF D-s. l had grown daily more ex-
cited, and every day had imagined that
she seemed TO understand me more. | was
now almost beyond sell. lf.government, and
she was wonderfully kind: Though Stock.
enheim was there, she danced with me
only, and we roamed through the rooms
together, and talked rapidly and excited.
ly, now about the world in which mixed.
but which hated, and now about myself,
and my own awful presen,iment of death.
AT times she listened seriously, almost
thought sally; but then, when she had
drawn me on to speak still more ferven,lv.
she would burst out into laugh, tell me |
was mad or dreamer, or ask me if had
made my will and left her anything.
Once as we quilted the ballroom, ] saw
her turn and throw glance to Stocken.
helm, who was watching her, as dog
watches his master eating, with strong
appetite IN his great unmeaning eyes.
We strolled from room 10 room, and I
did not see that the officer was following
her. a, last, in a little boudoir, stopped
her short.
"You have laughed at me long enough ~
l said, and my whole soul was in the words.
You must listen seriously for one moment,
and then-then, when you haze killed me.
you may laugh rs you LIKE cannot help
it. know it will be my death. blow, but
| must speak now. love you-love YOU
more than"
How very amusing! How delightfully."-
absurd. Monsieur Stockenheim," and here
like an apparilion lie appeared in the door
way, do come TO my rescue. Here is Mr..
G. making me an offer. Ha, ha, hal
Enough" l muttered Laugh now.
Ii is your last chance"
And with that tled.
| For week lay on my bed more dead
Than living. | nursed my grief, my rage,
my despair, and every hour brought me
i"wer. One or two friends came 10 see me.
and one Of them-one Of those kind, cha.
liable beings who always lake care to tell
YOU the news you least wish to hear
brought tile intelligence one morning 1ha,
Ida WAS engaged To Slockenheim.
IL will not believe it," cried hoping
against hope, and reused from despair by
this new blow. 81 will so aud Judge for
myself"
My vehemence gave me an unnatural
strength. dressed rapidly. and in spite
OF the entreaiies of my faithful valet, who
seemed truly attached to me, and had
nursed me carefully during that terrible
week, rushed out and arrived at the door
of the Frankenstein's hotel. | asked for
Madame la Countesse first, and when she
was denied, boldly demanded admittance
to see her daughter. The astonished porter
assured me-and ! thought | saw lie in
his face-that not one Of the family was at
home.
l turned away in misery, and by one OF
those fatalities SO common in life, Stocken.
helm a, that moment loungcd listlessly up.
bowed stitfiy to him, and crossing the
street, watched him. lie was admitted.
and there was now no doubt
That day lay in fearful state. For
hours | was unconscious. was afterwards
told the doctor had come and pronounced
me in danger. ! knew it well myself |
felt so powerless, so down.stricken, that |
could not hope 10 survive
Towards night, however, recovered a
little. became conscious. But ! lay with.
out movement, with one hand stretched
! upon the counterpane, cold as ice. The
hrst thing | recognised was something
warm beneath this hand. Ii was the broad
muzzle of my dear old dog Cesar who had
watched beside my bed, fearful to disturb
me. and now, by that wonderful instinct
which God gives the dog that he may be
mans friend, had perceived that was con
sciouS, and quietly assured me thus Of his
! presence and love.
tried to speak, and in low, gurglng
sounds | bade my valet be kind TO poor
| Caesar.
II am dying, Karl, | said. 81 know
canno. live over tonight, You have been
faithful servant, and to you leave all
that belongs to mo in the way Of personal
property. In return, you must take care OF
the dog. Never leave him; promise me you
will not. And-and when am gone
you must write home and tell them all"
could say no more, for felt death was
stealing fast upon me.
The man bent over me, and wept like n
child amid his promises.
Then came the awful thoughts of death
From what a life of careless worldliness wa.
| passing into eternity. had been CAV
indifferent, thoughtless. / had lived fol
the world, and with it. How many vice
or sin, which had once thought trivial
now reproaching me with its garing wick
/ a1naSSs and atornitt. saa,,aI - -.