The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1860-01-26

speaker, illuminated by memory. kindled with
passion and energy.
| 'Vivia, my wife, died at midnight She had
been my wife just one yeaF@.We were married
on New Years Eve, and on the last night of the
year Grace 1885 her soul went forth from me,
and left lying upon the pillow, sealed eyes that
co uid not look back my love, pale lips that could
not thrill at my kisses, hands which no pressure
could warm heneeforth., s
'Yivia was beautiful. / had seen many fair
| women, but until met her had never loved
She was not yonng. Thirty years had her spirit
shOne through those azure eyes, her unquiet
spirit thirty years Of thought and aspiration and
longing had chiselled those delicate features into
their perfect beauty-a beauty not of form or col,
or, though these were faultless-not of the earth
earthly When looked at her l seemed TO see
her soul, pure yet passionate restless vet bright;
a light shining through transparent vase a
butterfly, Its wings poised for fight. When
11rSt saw her knew that she belonged to me- |
asked nothing concerning her past loves or life.
was content to claim her--to hear her acknowl-
edge me as her mate. ...-..-
| 1T was winter when brought her home. The
snow lay white and bright upon the earth. To
an old-fashioned, rambling country house, the
property OF my family for five generations, we
came together, after our marriage. liked it !;
so did viva. No thought Of loneliness entered
into either heart. We had each other. There
was no third on earth who could have enioyed
our company and not been an intruder 80
| 1 was happy. 1t was not feverish restless
delight which felt in Viva's presence, but a
fullness of content as calm as it was deep For
months / shut the. door on care and sorrow. Then
the only fear that could have disturbed my rest
| entered into my heart, and would not be hushed
| back to slumbeT. From the Yely hour of our
marriage Viva had undergone slow and gradu-
al change. She had not faded-that implies a
dlminution of loneliness, and every day seemed
TO bring to my wife an added grace But her
skin grew transparent, her hands thinner, and
more than ever seemed to see her soul with its
wings plumed for flight. She was not consump-
tive. There was no medical term by which to
characterize her slow decline. Before our mar
rage shezhad been strong though delicate now
she passed many hours ofevery day lying quiet
ly upon her sofa and thinking, always thinking,
for could see the thoughts come and 90 in her
eyes. I-..D......-3 ..s.. - 1.'I.7 -
!" Has she any secret grief? asked the medi-
cal adviser, whom had summoned with pre-
sentiment that his skill would be of no avail. NO
80 MO- lsanswered; Viva is happy AZ
Any, beg your pardon any regrets or re-
"Regrets-none. Remorse, my Viva, whose
lie was the purest thing on earth
! still she grew more feeble When the sum-
|
with vivid green, breathing over the world mu-
sic ana freshness and perfume, its voices spoke
ialntly to her ear its sights came to her dimly AS
sne lay still all day, and looked out over the
hills. 4f3 7'r1 80 Mo l'7>S>-ee - : :
The autumn kindled the trees with fire, and
LETT crimson glow, which told not of life but OF
death, upon her cheek. I struggled with the
strength of desperation against the secret enemy
who was stealing from me my own, Physician
4 MI S,aIo hxa,, 1. a.
Ter prescription she tried patiently for my sake,
until at length, looking up into my face one day
with her sad eyes, she said
" have but few weeks more to live, Rich.
ard. Nothing will help me. My wound is NOR.
tai May l be at peace? Learn to believe that
must leave you and spend the time that remains
IN terrifying yourself for the parting
After that until the day before she passed
away, brouget her no more doctors-I urged
with her toward the confines of the invisible
country. .a.tfe... 5.s.-
ION the last evening ofthe old year, she lay
waiting for death. The physician, whom had
summoned once more, had left us-tbsre was
nothing that he could do. When the morning
dawned | knew that should be alone, but not
YET DID feelthe bitterness of separation. My
passionate longing, now, was to 60 with her into
the land of mystery, or falling that to win back
S"S 'oICe from the sllence some cry winch SnO q
pierce through the veil and tell me my beloved
who was mine here would be mine hereafter.
told her this wild prayer of my heart.
Viva, said, promise me, for the pledges
OF the dying have power, promise me to come
back. will wait for you, look for you, llisten
Tor you. Promise to come to me hereto let
me have some knowledge of your fate-some link
to grasp which shall bind me to you. Viva, you
must come. Make a tryst with me and keep it,
even with death and the grave between u.s.
49, 'She looked at me long, sadly, and silently
linen the light of aconscious power and purpose
kindled in her eyes, She put forth her hand and
TOOK mine in firm clasp.
=" Richard, | ,oiH. Ifeel now that can Give
me one year. Twelve months from tonight, on
New Years Eve,I will come, if you have strength
to call for me, You must think of me, wish for
me, long for me with lougings that cannot be ut
tered, for it must be your will rather than mine
which shall cleave the barrier Except your
spirit has power to summon me l cannet come
W ait for me here
After that she lay for long time in silence
Outside the rambling old house the trees shook
IN the blast-the winds walked and vailed
Their voices were strange and full of might
They seemed like the tones of spirits calling for
the spirit which was to go forth with them soon.