Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-07-30

voices wavered and srembled until tears
and sobs choked down their music. and
one mourntul. heart rending wall sound
ed through the room. Il N a
The pastor arose and began bis pray
er; never beard a more affecting peti>
ton: how gently he spoke of her youth.
her beauty and goodness. the circum.
stances under which God was pleased. to
call her. nst as it were standing on the
threshold OF q happy life. aud looking
through the rose colored future. l sill
Kept my place by the head Of tbe coffin:
my eyes. full of tears. never once moved
from that holy face. 5d d.
iancisd the features grew dim: 1
though. my sight failed. and bent clio
ser 10 the corpse, drew back. wiped nv
eyes. and looked again; God of mercy
What thrill sent wild shock. through
my frame and smote my brain as with
irel ] reeled. fell over almos. upon the
coffin; there was moisture on the glass,
moisture that came not off when appli,
ed my hand; moisture upon the insidsl
Ny knees trembling. n,y heart beat
against my side till my body swayed like
a pendulum; all my serenity was gone;
the voice of the pastor whistled in my
ear; each moment was an hour-is was
was swiul. awful. If l kept my silence.
she was still the bride Of death, and as
much mine as another's; il l spoke. she
was again the wife of my rival. | dare
not think of my emotion now; l could
not have been myself when that horrible
temptation beset me. and whispered to
me let the dark grave claim her if l
nigh. not. Oh, that was the great sin
oi my life; hope l am forgiven.
The perspiratlon welled out from every
pore. but the agony was passed. could
have throttled the pastor that he did not
cease-yet feared for the life of the
poor husband. should he know the truth
TOO suddenly. There was tingling from
my head to my head to my fingers ends;
| shook like an aspen leaf.
Amen! oh. how thank God for that
sound; still clung to the coffin; was
weak, weak as clild.
II was the custom for the chief mourn
ers TO be called 6rst, that they might be
spared the shock of seeing the dear one
borne out before their eyes. The poor
husband tottered out. supported on each
side; do you think my feelings must have
been singular, as be passed?-ne1t the
sobbing mother. Now was my time.
friends. neighbors." gasped, "call the
sexton; take off the coffin lid; for Gods
sake delay not a moment; she is not
dead" rather shrieked than said the
last words.
The lid was thrown aside; in my arms
Was the fair creature born 10 her couch; ;
as returned moment. saw her only
sister standing as il riveted TO the floor,
her cheeks ghastIy. her eyes staring
irighnully. seized her by the arms.
but she stirred not. shook her rudely,
saying. "unless you help me. Maria. she
may really die Quick Come and cut
off her grave clothes; she mu not see
them-she must not know .bisl"
With a wild. unnatural BURT OF laugh.
ter, the girl aroused herself from her stu,
POI; then as suddenly food Of tears
came to her reliei; all was right; she fol,
lowed me into the next hamber, and un
tied the white satin ribbons from the del
icate wrists, and unloosed the linen bands
on the breast, SO BY the time the young
b de opened her eyes. she was lying as
lif she sought her, couch for pleasant
| slumber.
And now the most terrible excitement
oyer. | bresthed freely: and yet another
important task was 10 be accomplished;
by my orders the poor husband had been
briefly iniormed that the ceremony would
be detained u moment; he was 80 dis
tracIed with his grief that all news was
alike 70. him-lhey led him where they
liked: he sat in little room Just across
| the entry. l went in. closed the door
and stoUd beside him; he glanced up
once. then buried his lace in his hands
with deep, unearthly groan. that went
TO my very soul; oh! felt, for the first
Time. such exquisite joy 10 the perform
ance of good deed-I experienced q
new love for my profession.
'Fredetick.' said l. placing my arm
around his neck. 'therseis some good yet
10 store for you; do not mourn in this
way. Frederick
Il am broken-hearted man; Go not
strive To comfort me; you only increase
my misery
But if could give you comfort you lit
tie dream o-if-if told you" l
stammered and knew not bow 70 proceed,
for the husband's wild eyes were fasteu
ed TO my face. while he half rose with a
strange. quick movement.
IL whst-if what. Doctor Lane? on
what am 1 thinkings' his voice trem-
bling: There is something in my heart
that bids me look to you for hope and
joyl Yet why? why?' and the words
sank mournfulIy into silence.
Did you ever hear of people falling
into frances. andthen when robed for the
burial
could proceed no further; the excited
man sprang from his seat. cIenched both