Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-12-17
$500 PER ANNUM.

| Vut oh lool. ne soon reached the cottage
where the sick man lay. He was an old mar
of seventy years; but his frame had beer
strong his illness was sudden and it was pain.
ful 10 see how he still clung to life, and de.
spairingly looked to the bystanders, as if they
could help him and would not. When the
young clergyman entered and approached his
bed, the old man seemed to conceive an imme-
diate hope, and grew calm, as if he had now
one by him who, in virtue of his sacred office
had an interest with Death, and could extend
him some protection. All the more terrible
was it, when the other inmates of the cottage
withdrew from the room and left them to-
gether, for the young clergyman to do what in
such circumstances is considered the clergy
sidered the clergymans duty, and smooth the
dying pillow o phrase o mockery There,
on bed of pain lay an old grey-headed man,
whose strongest feeling in all his life was this
last one of unwillingness to die; and, clasped
in his hard brown hand, were the soft fingers
of youth, from whose lips, ripe with moth
ing but the touch of love, were expected those
words which should calm the soul of the suf-
ferer, cheer him with crimson glimpse bey-
ond the dark valley, and make his last moments
still and peaceful. o world little knowest
thou to whom thou committest thy trusts i
That, when hoary, hard-compacted sinner
lay down to die, "A sick-hearted youth should
be summoned from tea to see him, like sur
geon with his instruments!
Deeply impressed with the scene which he
had been called to witness, and in which he
was painfully conscious how unreal was the
part which he had been acting, the young cler-
gyman left the sick mans cottage and COM
menced his walk home. A cool breeze was
blowing and the harsh Interpretations
feeling which he carried with him from the
chamber of death, gradually softened in the
twilight into something more pure and calm, so
that by the time he had reached the path by
the side of the planting, his wonted thoughts
began to steal in. AT every step along the
path his heart became fuller of them. For
For the sweet associations of that Sunday
morning when he conveyed his new-made
bride for the first time along that path to
church, came cOyly wreathing themselves
round his affection and when he found him
self at that point of the path where, standing
by the little wicket, his Helen had got her first
timid glimpse Of her rustic admirers assembled
at the church-door, and from which he could
now see his own home and hers lying grey nnd
silyery beneath, he could no longer contain
his emotions, but smiled and muttered to
himself, and bounded from stone to stone
All he should find Helen seated alone await
ing his return; he would sit down by her,
draw her to him more endearingy than,ever,
tell her all his thoughts, his fears, his absurd |
anxicties, and receive in return, as she looked |
at him through her wet eyelashes and hid her |
fully yielded love in his bosom, the over-pay- |
ment of second bridal. All this was to be |
the evening of his highest joy, his reconcilia-
ton with his beloved
With heart soothed by these anticipatons
and purposes, the young man traversed the |
avenue, opened his garden door, trod lightly |
along the gravel-walk, glancing upwards at |
the little window, which he perceived to be
yet unlighted, and entered the manse. As |
cending the stairs, and pushing noisely the |
half-open drawing-room door, he approached |
his wife, whom he was surprised to see seated /
so late at her usual afternoon seat near the /
window her forehead resting on the piano
board. II was evident she was not aware that
he had entered. He was about to speak, when
he was arrested by distinct sob which pro-
rcedcd from her. Alarmed, he hurried to her
side; she started raised her head, and in the
in the act of shrinking away towards the scam
Ly light of the window, presented to his
shocked and bewildered look her hair hanging
all loose and parted, and her eyes red and
weeping.
''Ielen Helen r he cried in horror, "what
IS this ?" So saying he advanced his hand to
her side butas she perceived the gesture, she
sprang up, and extending her arms
so as to separate them, exclaimed with hyster-
c eagerness-
"Touch me not" Then, suddenly bursting |
into flood of tears, she sobbed in faint ac-
cents, "Oh, Henry, you are too good; have
wrOnged youi God forgive me; am wretch
I'd
ine youtH sloou uOOH-SlruCk He nlONeu
not he spoke not; only after some minutes,
were one or two convulsions audible Then,
after long pause, slowly, and n voice of
startling hoarseness, as if each word were a
,lock-beat-
'You mean you do not love me-
Noanswer camei he waited for it long; then,
he silence still continuing, he made one or two
PAGES, and again stood in the centre of the
lin room. What passed in the young mans
mind in those awful moments, only God knew
i seemed, however, that the result was a pro-
ound calmness, for, turning roand at length,
he walked towards the mantelpiece and rang
he bell.
"Lights u said he to the servant when she
The servant brought in candles, and was re-
ring, when he said
ave shall have worship earlier tonight
'ou may come up
Removing the large Bible from a side table,
md placing it in front of her masters chair,
he girl went out Rc-appearing soon with her
wo fellow-servants, the three seated them
elves as usual on the chairs which stood near
he door, with their Bibles in their hands,
cAdy to turn to the chapter which the minis
er should name. Meanwhile, the young wife
etaned her seat by the small window, to-
wards which she directed her face, so as to be
iid Mechanically turning over the leaves of
4 q. u. A. 4.