The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-03-21

$3.50 49, 80 " 49,
|, NAL were lost. Horace was seen no NOR
Many followed down the stream, thinking tt
body might be found. "A deputation of youn
men had called for Henry, and we're now o
their-way to seek the dead.
"And now my child" he said, ego to Rutl
but keep the painful tidipes from her as Ion
as you can. Your own heart is breaking, bu
sympathy will make your own grief less har
to bear Kissing me tenderly, he sent m
back to my room. @
The light was cleaning family from tn
cast, and in its soft glow L could see the flush
ed;face. Of the sleeper, The loosened hair, la
in wavy masses over the fair temples, and Aev
cry flexible delicate feature, indicated u sweet
painless rest. Without was the sullen roar o
the remorseless- waters, filling my ears witt
wild requiems FIR the loved and lost. l nest
led closely to my cousins side, and clasped m,
arms tightly around her, gathering strength
from her peaceful consciousness. Oh! them
tensity of that silent suffering! the crushing
back of the strong sob that panied my throa
to suffocation!
The morning. sun broke radiantty through
the folds of the close curtain, when Ruth
clasping myhlnds closely in hers, exclaimed
"Dear Annie, how cold you are"
Then suddenly raising her head, she looked
into my face with an expression of tender syn
pathy. NOting%my paleness, she continued
"Oh, Annie, you are very i'll. Let me call pa
instantly" - ~ llAfoH = =
But as she was in the act of rising, I mas
tered my emotion, and babe her dress herself
quickly, as l had something important. to tell
her. -s
Half bewildered, she passively allowed me
to assist her; then T held her head closely to
my breast, and asked hor, eff Heaven had de-
manded of her a sacrifice of that which she
valued most on earth, what wou. d it be 2"
With an des,ribable terror in her face she
only chung to me the closer, and 1 told her, as
composedly as l could, Of the dreadful catas-
trophe.
For a little while she sat gazing distracted
~ IN my face; then realizing the rurport of
words, IL a sudden revulsion of feeling she
sprang to her feet, passienately exclaimine:
ooh, Horace! Horace |! let ne die too 1
will not live without you Oh Hor-
ace, my cousinl come back and speak to me,
Just once more, and let me clasp the hand l so
seornfully' repulsed!-that warm, tender, kind
hand ! Annie! Annie :" said, almost sternIy,
'1t cannot be! Horace dead No, no, 1 Will
not believe it !"
Thus at intervals, she moaned and laughed
looking with an eager, ques-
look into the faces of each who enter
I'd our room with words of sympathy and con-
Then, as the day wore on, there was the
'ound of wheels without, and then foil. wed the
hurried retreat of shutting feet in the hall he
ow. j knew too we'll the i'm port of that
ound. Ruth raised her bloodless face from
he pillow against which she had been nest
ing. For two hours, she had sp ken no word,
She moved hurriedly towards the door, but a
ind, firm hand restrained her.
"Not yet, my child" said the soft voice of
unit Esther. Bear up yet a little while, and
shall 90 to him.
Another long, blank period passed, and
7hen all was still, l took the hand of Ruth,
re descended the stairs and passed through
he hall, where groups of anxious faces were
llently waiting for a look at the beloved dead.
We entered the room SO dark and chill, aud
ogether We two whom he had loved best in
fe, stood, pale and fearless beside him
cad F.! The noble features wore no trace of
he death struggle. A benign peace rested
pom brow and lip. The knife was C asped in
ne right hand, with a grasp no power could
Moose.
Ruth lifted the wet hair from the temples,
ntil the holy repose of the dead face passed
ito her own young stricken soul. l left her
lere alone with him to whom, in life, her
cart had been knit with a irmness that not
ven death could sever. l FASTENED back to
y own room, and the wild passion of woe
lat had been garnered up in my soul, found
lief in blessed tears.
Our deld vas borne from our sight, and in
lie agony of her grief, Ruth told me how she
ad seen, as she thought, tire face of Horace
oking out at her from the eddying waves.
lis body had been found some miles below,
, the day following.
Time came tS both. wifi heaiinu in his
ines, but the brightness has passed from
uth's life forever And now, as she passes
her holy mission through the needless
lrong, many are the faces that look into hers ..
r sympathy. unconscious of the deaththroe
lat sanctifed her heart, and made her one of
lose "who profess godliness and adorn them I
Ives with good works. 6