Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-05-07
ADELE BARRON.
ICONTINUED.I


found that the box was removed though no
harm could be done. Absorbed in his own busi-
ness, elden did not care 10 inquire farther
although the coincidence between the initials
ana the name which was uppeTmOst in his
thoughts struck him for the moment AS a little
singular. lie had soon secured berth for the
voyage, and went back to the ship to send his
luggage on board, being informed that the pas-
ssngeTs who had gone ashore were to be on
board that afternoon when the vessel was to
take advantage of the first fair wind. As he
entered the cabin, on his return. he was sur
prisc1 at hearing n lady in deep mourning
utter hls name with start. 1t was Mrs Bar
ron, VINO with her son came forward to meet
him. with tears in her eyes. No words were
needed tn tell the tale The signs Of grief
coupled with the initials on the long and mar
TOw chest, the silence of the sailors and the
remark of the captain, indicated too plainly
that he had been seated upon the coffin which
enclosed the remains of Adele Barron Over
come with emotions which chOkeI free utter
ance. he sank upon a settee, with paIlid cheek
and glazed eyes, and was at length only enabled
To gasp out in broken sentences:
- How did 1t happen When Where?''
There ~ no disease more deceptive than con-
sumption. The appearances hich to the patient
and friends gives the most cheering aSs;r RANGES
Of recovery too often Immediately prccede a
rapid decline. So il with Adele The
fHvorite indications which the few first weeks
of residence in n warm climate had produced
rapidly charged. aud the fond mother soon
found herself watching by the side of her diving
daughter bed, listening to every pusatiOn
and endesvoring to cheer her by tho cOnsoIa-
tlOns of religion. She was prepared for the
change. for the last few months had been fruit
ful in reflections, and death had been from the
first looked upon by her as an event which
could not probably be deferred for long time
As she lay psnting for breath, her head sup
ported on pillow, and now and then lisping
cat words of consolation to her mother, who
stood BY the bedside ministering to every want
the brother entered. bringing letters from
home, which had just been brought by a vessel
from the United States. Ons of them enclosed
the letter which Welden had written Just before
leaving England. IL was read by Mrs Barron
aloud. The eyes of the patient kinded with
uBwOnted lUstre, a sweet smile lighted up her
face, and a moment after the spirit passed to
the God who gave it. The smile remained upon
the still beautiful though emGciated features
and the d,-cOnSOlGie mother pressed the lifeless
clay with almss, frantic grief.
such IN object must not be buried she said
No. ii must be carried home, aud placed in the
chapel where she - loved To- walk and pray
snd whore tine requiems can be daily sung over
her remains
The body was placed in metallic coffin.
which filed with spirit, and carried ON
board the same vessel which had brought the
letter, Whero. the singular chance | have re-
lated, another n0urnGr Joined them.
Ii were needless tO dwell upon the details Of
that solemn voyage. How much they talked of
the dear departed one; of all she said. all her
suEerinys. her calmness in the prospect of death,
the confidence she still retained in her absent
lover, ~ strikingly and happily confirmed to-
wards the last, How keen the agony Welden
felt how lac upbraidcd himself for not having
sboner returned to solve the mystery, and free
her mind from anxiety; and how at times rs
10 lay IN his berth. tho reelection that but
Il #
him from her corpse within its narrow case
g0adel him almost tO madness: all this can only
be realized by those who have lost loved
friend, and felt the paDgs If Self-TeprOach for
real or supposed neglect
At length they arrived at their destination
and the Intelligence they brought came like n
thunderb bat upon the family. who were entire
ly unprePa:ej from any previous accounts, to
expect such result. After the first startled
ordinations. Mr.. Barron gave vent to 10 viz
lent emotions. but OCCASIONAL Sigh told that
under tina: calm AMI apparently unrufird brow.
there was constant struggle bctN cen the feel
iugs "f u father and the duty IF submission 10
the Will ~ Providence And IL requires, all the
ealmncss Le could master 10 cheer up his help
mate. whose feelings, heretofore in some
measure sUbdus-l by the Sense of responsibility
and necessity for CXer:iUu. HOW broke forth in
the most hcarI-rending dependency, ia shc
stood once more in her own hDusehO and saw
every where evidence of bereavement wildly
before her. The vacant rJvHI, the garments.
tho jewolry which had belonged to her daugh-
ter, reminded her, with redoubled force, Of the
treasures she had lost: and at intervals a Der
feet paroxysm of anguish would come on, during
which the voice OF EO comforter could be heard
How empty indeed at such times are all the
cOnsOlAtiOIs which friends or spiritual advisers
can offer All seem but hackEeyed phrases
HppIicstiOHs which play around the wounded
spirit. but do not reach the stricken heart
a ~. 4.
ed II all predominant, and it Is not until the
gush Of tears or the cares Of life come to our
relief that We can listen to- the reflection that
the loved one has only gone before. yielding to
the C"mInJn l,t Of humanity, and that we can
rest Upon the promise of meeting in another
world Little did the presence Of Nelden tend
IL a!lay this state of feeling in the mother
Ever since the day un which the high aDticipa-
tiOTs 0f his heart had been 80 suddenly blighted
he had H.aiEtaiued settled melancholy, which
no object seemed To divert. Mingled with tli-
state Of mind was Vsgue desire 10 SJlve the
mystery relative To his letters, and thus fully
yindic4te himself before the relatives of his
bstrOtEcd. lie said hut little 40 any one and
frequently sought the retirement Of his room
Yet readily gave himself up 70 ia" guidance of
those around him, ~ II be~ilierrd ia mind and
unconscious Of the world without.
Such indeed was the ~,ate of Mrs. Barron
that for the two days succeeding her arrival
the ui1st serious apprehensiOns were enter
taineI, and the family for the time in their
anxiety for the living. seemed to neglect the
dead. Each morning, however. the father and
the sons attended the service of the mass in the
little chapel where placed the coffin, taken
from its case, surrounded by wsx candles, and
strewed with fDwers, which had been laid
thereon by the youthful friends who guarded it
nv night and by day. Welden too was there
though not Catholic in faith, and the reig III
bors present all shook their heads rs they OBJ
served his air If listless Indifference, with the
saldeaed cast Of his eOuntenance, during the
solemn service.
On the third evening Mrs Barron for the
first time desired 10 visit the chapel and
look upon her daughters face. The son had
before proposed To open the coffin, but his
father hal shrdnk from exposing ~ view the
changed Features Of the once beautiful Adele,
desiring that she should be remembered as she
"ss rather ;Aan ~ she now appeared. When.
however. the UOther expressed her wishes, and
NCliea to- desired tn look into the shrine,
preparations were Instantly made To crafty
their wishes. Tie carriage which conveyed
them arrived nj the chapel before the person