The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-04-16
UPPER sANDUsKY, OHIO, THURSDAY, APRIL 49, 1851

aa st
mos: speed, she flew along with no though
but of Justin in her heart. Three week
had gone by since she had heard from
him could it be that he was sick-dead
.'God in heaven have mercy upon mel
she murmured, as she wiped her damn
forehead 'If | come to him too late
shall never see happy day again"
The bell seemed to answer her. Sh,
tried to fix her thoughts upon other things
TO remember the daily thoughts ane
trials of the past two years, and the gooe
that had come to her through eyil-sht
even tried to look beyond, into the rost
colored future, and picture herself ane
Justin happy and contented in their cot
tage home, training the wild roses above
the lattice windows-it might be, teach.
ing rosy faced child how to take his frs
trembling steps upon thej journey of life
But still the tomb seemed opening beside
her to snatch away all she loved, and the
clear laugh of her dream cEild was hush
ed and smothered in the booming of the
funeral bell.
As she galluped up over the green
sward from the public road she saw a
long procession moving down from the
door OF her home. In the midst coffin
was borne upon the shoulders of six men,
and Jastin's father walked behind it with
his eyes bent moodily on the ground
Then came his friends and companions,
all sad or weeping, while from the window
of her chamber his invalid mother look
ed down with a gush of tears.
Her heart seemed turned to stone with
in her bosom, and she sat on her horse
like marble statue. The bell ceased
toll'ng--the procession halted beneath the
great maple tree that overshadowed the
farm yard gate, and the bearers placed
their burden reverently beside an open
grave that had been dug at its feet.
Then she knew beyond doubt who
was to be buried there. No one but JUS
tin would have loved that spot SO we'll,
and with a loud terrible groan she flung
herself from the saddle and pressed to
the spot.
Every one shrank back at her approach
as if they had seen spirit. She had
been expected the day before, but the
letter dispatched to summon her had
passed her on her way. And now when
she stood among them 50 pale and wild,
she seemed more like being from anoth-
er sphere, than like being of flesh and
blood
No one dared to stay her as she passed
on toward the coffin. The bereaved
father looked up with bewildered glance
as she stood beside him--the young girls
wept and turned pale, and the men in
voluntarily uncovered their heads in the
presence of such mighty grief.
She reached the coffin Al motion of
her hand the bearers lifted the lid--and
the lovers met where they had parted just
two years before on that very day.
Yes-there he lay looking as calm and
tranquil as if he had been asleep. A
sweet smile fingered about his sunken
mouth, and the wind rustling through the
trees stirred a little curl upon his fore
head-but those soft and dark eyes were
closed-nevermore to meet her own again
and the hand she lifted to her heart was
cold and heavy as lead. He had gone
forever. And the vulture of remorse
was already preying upon her heart.
She did not weep or sigh: She sever
ed the lock of hair from the temple, and
took the wedding ring from her finger and
placed it on the Hfeless hand. The dia-
mond sparkled and glowed like fire in the
sunlight.
She looked around upon the awe struck
spectators with melancholy SMILE
II hoped to have been his wife," she
said calmly. "And even in the grave
have made him mine.''
One last long look upon the beloved
face-one last long kiss pressed upon lips
of icy coldness, that for the first time
gave no answer back again-and rose to
her feet, and stepped back from the cof-
fin. The lid was replaced, friends and
relatiues crowded around with tears and
sobs, then it descended, and the face and
form she had loved were shut out forever.
Her heart seemed ready to die within her.
She stood with folded arms and bowed
head until the funeral ceremonies were
over. Then sending her horse back by a
servant, she took her uncle's arm and
walked slowly up to the desolatea house,
followed by the plying glances of all who
fingered there.
4 ~
| have lifted the veil from heart which
few have ever understood. Perhaps
some one will recognize in Stella Shirley