Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-11-17
FREEHOLD, q. J. Thu RIsssb Ysa NC
yntercstng Storp>
From, the Nep York Leader
g Dead at the Atari
BY f. Amy.

|
BERTHA was dead-ded at the altar be
fore the wedding ring had circled her fin
ger, or the name Of wife fallen upon her
ear"
So ran the hasty epistle in which was
summoned to join the funeral solemnities
instead of the marriage festivities at my
uncle's residence.
What could it mean, this sudden and
awful death of my cousin Bertha who was
seemingly in the full rich glow of health
and happiness ahaa.s T. hscome the wife
of one of the most distinguished and
wealthy men in the State?
Was this compulsory marriage. and
were her affections in the keeping Of an
other? Had she obeyed her father, and
fallen sacrifice to his persuasion?
had been the playmate of Bertha's
childhood We had fwelt together in
the same household an orphan. aud
she motherless. had been her gallant
in youth, her fayorite and conIidante,-
Had been too well remembered in ab
sence? She had written me but once
after her engagement, saying that her
girlSh days were over, and that she had
submitted to the wishes Of her father in
becoming the afianccd of her father S
friend. She presumed she should be hap
py after the custom Of the world She
supposed women were born expressly for
their allotment Had She consulted her
own heart sEe ssaaAla llaye, waited meef
longer before choosing a companion for
life: but as the honor had been some
what thrust upon her she would sustain
it gracefully aud dutiiully, hoping to be
content and happy.
This was one year precisely before the
wedding night-the night of her death.
Duty and feeling kept me from witness
ing her marriage, but nothing iuterfered
now between us: she was as much mine
in death az any ones. could not claim
her living. but in death might | not be.
eve her mine?
| arrived at the house of mourning,
where the decorations of the marriage
festival were overriding with folds Of sable
black Grape knotted with bridal flow
ers aud black aud white folds plated
and interviewer from the entrance hall
through the long apartments FROM floor
to ceiing-up the winding stair case,
f everywhere gently sal;s'ellating with the
soft baImy breath Of June, lloated and
swayed the symbol Of death-huug. bud
ded and blossomed the bridal flowers.
All but the bridal chamber, and this
alone bore no emblem Of DEATH save the
stiffness of the marble figure outstretched
, and puiseess upon the richly decorated
bridal couch.
f Thither | was silently lei by my be
reaved uncle whose convulsive clasp OF
the hand and fixed stony gaze told the
+, sorrow his lips refused to utter. He left
me alone with the dead, but only little
while asleep to wake on the morrow.
Never had | seen form and face so
6 perfect and lovely as was Bertha's in her
bridal robes and nawers. nushed in the
: repose Of death. A flowing veil swept
from her fair, high brow, and dark braid
cd hair, over her Parian shoulders. dowo
to the small feet caSed in their bridal
slippers.
One fair hand resAed or her pulseless
heart, and oh that death should still the
, heaving of that matchless breast before a
mothers love hod filled its fount of JOY!
Bertha lay as one in sleep; the dark
lashes lay like siken fringe upon her
rounded checks; her lips were red with
the fulneas Of life, and soft smile still
fingered round their slight parting,
through which the small teeth shone daz-
zlingly white. Only around the gently
curved nostrils fingered evidence OF the
struggle and the victory of death.
| was aroused from the trance into
whichI had fallen, by the entrance Of
two persons. In one | recognized the
lover and almost the husband Of Bertha.
:, He was man much older than his aft
anced tall, thin, with sharp features,
and high pale brow. Thin brown hair
hung to his shoulder. tossed wildly in
many directions. He who entered with
him was in the prime Of youthful man
hood, and his dark eyes burned with the
fire of an unconsumeG ~ " Stoga'nent. His
dark hair rolled in masses and lay'iu rich
profusion upon his shoulders.
i The last rays Of the setting sun came
through the crim5ondraped windows,
lending softened glow to the beautiful
figure before me, as the two men advan-
, ced to look upon the beauty OF death.
Great God" exclaimed the one with
the deep emotion of an artistic soul, how
> could so much beauty die!"
Beautiful !-beautilul!" murmured the
other, in his cold, classic manner. 1t is
this beauty. Claude, You must preserve
by your pencil; more beautiful III death
than in life for now the soul is at rest!
, he seemed to add to himself.
withdrew, for now | knew Bertha
had never loved him. AID her spirit died