St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-08-05

oh, Eva, | am so glad You hav
come thought it was mother-it i
:" dark can hardly sec.'
Dark and cold shudlcr crcp
through the veins of Eva. \ larg
lamp stood upon the table the room
was very light.
Yes, so dark and cold, and hav
been alone 50 long"
And yet to Eva the room SCENE
very warm. She put back the dam
hair from his brow-it was white an
cold. Slowly he lifted up his pal
hand and passed it over her face.
" Can You not see me now, Willie
and she held the cold hand within he
own, and counted the low, slow pulse
of the faded wrist.
Yes, now see you now, Eva
But it has been SO dark and cold.
And with wild, imploripg earnest
ness he watched her looks. What ;
strange beauty was in those sweet
uplittcd eyes. Eva almost slranl
back from the mworldly gaze.
4" And You will not leave me, Eva p
And the voice was very low and faltcr
ing. II am so tired and sick"
"No, Willie, will not leave you
And she bent her face close to hi
that he might hear the words sh
could scarccl y speak. With an cil'or
he wound his arms around her neck.
Take me up, Eva, it is 50 col,
here"
The sister lifted him in her arms
And he bent his face to her till it was
half concealed by the folds of fine
white muslin that shroudcd the trcmb
ling form. And Eva felt that the
heart that lay SO close to her was
beating slower and slower. She fold
ed him still more closely to her.
" Mother,' the child looked up. and
then his head lay still more heavy on
her arm.
" DO You wish to see her, Willie
Shall | call mother here ?" was the
low whisper.
" No, no, not now" And then hc
lay long as if asleep.
" Mother, mothcr,' he started from
u restless dream.
And where was the mother? And
where was Eva?
There, the angel of the midnight
hour, holding in her arms the helpless
form Of dying brother.
" Mother, mother" Again the mourn
tul words trcmbled over the cold lips
of the boy.
" Shall | not call mother. dear vii
iic!" And with fearful pang a
d9 c&f heart, Eva gazrd down into thos,
"No, no, Eva do not leave me. |.
it midnight, Eva ? The words were
broken, but the glance was one ol
pleading carncstncss.
" No, not quite yet"
"Thcn it is not tomorrow, is it Eva.
Father was coming home tomorrow
shall never see him again And
the sad eyes for a moment closed, and
the faint head moved upon her arm.
"Oh, yes, Willie, hope YOU will
many times yet you will he better
when you have slept
The boy did not reply, but the cold
lip quivcred, and there was an inward
a suffering that was the
bitterness of death. But that passed
away, and his brcathings came low
and more regular. But it was only
for few moments.
Mother" and again that ono moan
stole strangely upon the solemn still
ness there and again he seemed to
sleep.
I" Is it midnight now, Eva ?" and
the sunkcn eyes were half unclosed,
and the words were scarcely whispered.
Not yet Willie. But go to sleep,
it will soon be tomorrow now
Sing to me, Eva, as you used to.
| will soon be asleep
Eva's whole soul tremblcd with suf-
fcring, and yet with a great effort she
conquered her emotions, and with
touching sweetness, brcathed over the
loved boy OF other days.
Willie lay still and motionlcss in
her arms, and lower still the dying
heart throbbcd against her own.
Mother, mother" and all was still
The child slept-but only for Il mo
mcnt.
- Is it tomorrow now, Eva ?" and
ere she answered, he family whispered
kiss me, Eva
With half impassioncd movement
she bent over her lips to his. Oh
how cold and still they were. One
weak hand was lifted to her face, anC
then fell back again upon the stillet
bosom.
"To-morruw will mover come" Tn,
broken words were only brcathed
"Oh, is this death, Evay am st
cold and tired, and-and when to
morrow comes will be in Heaven
You will comc-shall tell God you
will come soon, Eva? Do come soon,
Eva. Mothcr-tather and the white
lips were stilled forever.
The child slept; yes, slept, for he
still breathcd. Oh, the agony of Eva
She counted every respiration with
fearful anguish--she had counted the
last The child slept forever
The midnight hour struck to,
morrow had come Yet still Eva held
the dead child i'll her arms, SO closely
that lc was half concealed by the
folds of white muslin that seemed the
holy shroud of the dead. The hours
that went on seemed an age to the
suffering heart of Eva. The door OF
the apartment was opened, and ser.
want spoke her name Eva did not
answer, but held the dead child closer
to her.
"Your mother has sent for you
Miss Eva And the girls cold tones
seemed like the breathings Of blight
in some sacred sanctuary. And
you must go down now; she
wants you to accompany Miss Victo
rine in that song she sings SO much.
A shudder shook the smitten soul Of
the listener and more than agony
were in the wild worlds,
No, no, Lucy ; II cannot go"