Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-03-27
AY IKE n ID AL L. /.
BY MRS. C. W. DENNIsoN.

There are some seasons when the graveyard
seems peculiarly beautiful. When hushed twi
light wings her noiseless way from heaven to
wrap the temples of the dead in her soft, trans.
parent drapery, or the pleasant moon lights up
the messed graves, making luminous the white
sculpturod marble it is sweet to wander up the
shaded aisles Of the slumbrous city, and muse
upon the holy memories of the departed.
The stars burned with lustre peculiar to
summer skies. clear, mild atmosphere gave a
refreshing elasticity to my spirits. ! wandered
along, ] scarcely knew where, and found myself,
after a leisure walk, near the old-fashioned burial
ground at Dallston Falls. ! was happy man,
for, having that day received a diploma, was
really and professionally an NJ. D.
What directed my steps to the rural burying-
ground, cannot now tell; but believed, at the
time Il was romantic and enthusiast them,
that some mysterious agency shaped my course.
As drew near, the rustic gate was open. The
walks glittered in the strong yellow light; the
shadows leaned down from the trees, and frescoed
the smooth gravel with quaint tracery; the buds
and flowers, grouped in dark masses upon the
gently curved mounds Il knew they were buds
and flowers, for their fragrance betrayed them),
seemed whispering in the silent language to the
beautiful dead below. In my youth l fond
Of symbolizing, Every inanmate thing had its
type in some ideal or oriental fancy. This eve
nng felt particularly poetical. My imagination
as fertle--yes, thought as fertile as Mil
images sublime.
sauntered carelessly along the side where
hawthorn hedge twined its firm tendrls together,
dragging my cane after me, and musing in care
less reveric Suddenly paused. Judge LIS
beautiful lot was directly before me, its tiny sill
yer fountain bubbling up, and breaking into white
globules that glittered like hoarfrost Here
leaned by huge, hoary elm, and closed my eyes,
the magic breathing Of flute sklfuIly
touched foated through my dreaming brain AS
look back, it seems to me that that was the most
blessed hour Of my existence, for, minging with
that plaintiVe melody, came gentle face, with
sparkling eyes, serene brow, and cheeks just
crimsoned enough to resemble two pale rose
leaves flushing the purest snow.
Oh, how ! loved that sweet May Kendall
Love Forgetting my Cod l idolized her, and,
egotst that was fancied that my unspoken pas
sion was returned. But will not linger. In
those few moments was pouring my very SOULS
depth and fervor into the heart that fondly i'm
agned youth will, sometimes-was, in sort
of spiritual presence, ever beside me.
Ny reverie was broken by the approach of
stranger and light, silvery laugh shut out the
music of the flute, for it was SO like my love,
May's-so ringing so joyous
Presently, as fine, manly form drew nearer,
] recognized the features Of one who had been
my colege-mate two years ago. would have
sprang forward to meet him. His name was
trembling on my lips, when sight arrested my
teeth chatter with a sudden, freezing fear. The
two had come almost beside me, and there stop
ped, charmed with the sylvan spot The lady
held her hat by the strings; one arm was passed
confdngly through that of her companion; and
when she turned her beaming eyes around to-
wards me, Il was concealed by the shadow),I rec
ognized, in the full food of the moonligh ght-May
Kendall
do not like, even at this late day, to review
the feelings that shook my frame when ] heard
them murmur such words of tenderness to each
other in suAdued and happy tones. deathly
fantness came over me as | gathered from their
own lips the knowledge that they were betrothed;
and, when that passed away, fierce revenge sent
the blood boiling through my veins | could
have lpaped upon him, and demanded my May,
M love, without whom life would seem a curse,
and the world dread dead blank. But then by
what right could call her mine True, she had
been most kind to me, but never more than mai
denly modesty might warrant towards the most
intimate friend. Now ! knew-GOd forgive me
for the rage that tugged at my heart strings as
thought Of it why she had talked Of Frederick.
on fool that was, not to comprehend before !!
She mad smiled on me because | was his college.
mate--because had ever some sweet recollection
TO tell, some comely virtue of his to praise; and
hli ded by my own foudness, fancied she loved
mo-
How ! stood there. weak, passionate, and
painting with the violence of my emotions, even
iii learned the day when the wedding would
take place, ! know not for every nerve in my
body seemed changed to an instrument of keen
torture. Fortunately, they did not pass me, but
retraced their steps; and l. bending low with an
almost breaking heart, slowly left the pleasant
graveyard, now only valley of dry bones to
me, and walked towards my boarding house, too
wrctched to think deliberately, or feel all the
crushing weight of my disappointment
The next day, before sunrise, was on my way
n a upiphbOFiup | n a nUn
that knew not but might prove fatal to me. |
ready for almost any desperate deed, and
had, more than once-I shudder as | think Of it
contemplated selfdestruction. But l called
philosophy, nay, something higher, hoer, to my
aid-religion and in time | became soothod, il
not comforted; that is, after | knew May was
rreyocably welded.
Two months passed. / deemed myself suffi-
ciently fortified with good resolutions to return
once more to my chosen place of residence 1t
was high noon when | drove up the principal
street. A carriage dashed by me, a light vehicle.
In another moment, it had turned; and Frederick,
Mays husband, was abreast. | involuntarily
drew in my horse. My friends face denoted an
gulsh, intense and concentrated. "For God 3
sake Doctor Lane, my early friend, do not stop
ill you reach Mrs. Kendal's! My May lies there
-sick--dying," he gasped. How ashy pale he
was My face blanched. felt a singular trem-
or. lie dashed ahead neither speaking; and in
fifteen minutes Istood by the couch of the young
bride. That was an awful hour At its close, /
pressed her white eyelids over her dull, glazed
eyes. All, Heaven! ! thought /, kneeling with an
achng heart, can such beauty be dead? And
still, for all, there was triumph in the feeling
triumph until beheld the awful grief of the be-
reaved husband-saw the big drops bead like
blood his pale, broad forehead--amost forced
him from the inanimate body to which he hung
with the grasp of despair, clasping her to his
bosom-kssng the white lips, the whter cheeks,
even the gold locks that lay damp and uncurled
over her shoulders.
And, when left that house of mourning, was
it not strange--the calmness felt settling over
my spirits Gould this thought, even in faintest
tracery, pass through my mind at such time
"Well, she is not mine and neither is she his
am glad that as she could not be mine only
none but death can claim her now" fear, ha(