The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-06-21

denly, tnaI ne mSnC express MS
thanks to her preserver. The ami
NAL reared and threw him with
great violence. He was conveyed
home in senseless state, and sur
gical assistance summoned, but the
force of the fall had inflicted some
internal injury which baflled the
skill of the physician.
1t was beside his bed in that
calm twilight, that the young wife
knelt with scarce a hue of life up
on her features. 5i'
"Oh, Ellen, my beloved, calm
yourselfAthis sorrow unmans me"
murmured the dying man, passing
his hands carressingly over the
head which was bowed upon his
pillow. ''..
| A deep suffocated sob was the
only reply to his words.
at is hard to die" he continued,
"when | was looking forward to
years of such tranquil happiness
with you, my sweet Ellen; but 'tis
the will of heaven, my best beloy.
ed, and we must submit
"Oh, Henry, my own Henry, you
must go down to the cold, cold
grave, where l can see you no
more-neyer more hear the tones
of your dear voice. Oh, ii will
break my heart" was the almost
inarticulate reply.
"My poor Ellen, this is a hard
trial for you, but you are too young
to grieve always. The thought is
torture to me, but-even you may
love again-may wed another p
and his voice was nearly stihed
with painful emotions. aIf
"Never, never Oh, Henry, how
can you harrow my soul at this aw-
full moment with such a supposi.
tions Wed another! Give the
wreck of my buried affections to
another! Oh no, no! the thought
would kill me-" .,.-- - -.
81 doubt not you think so now,
love; but time works strange
changes in this world of ours. We
know not what we may do. / wish
to exact no promise from you. The
thought is bitterly painful to mes
but should your present views
change, ] doinot wish that the re-
| proach of broken promise should
mar your peace of mind"
"Henry, hear me-" said Ellen, in
a solemn tone. "Should ever so
far forget my faith to your ashes as
to lend my ear to the language of
love, my heart to the voice of af-
fection to another, may your form
on my bridal evening come to me
and reproach me for my faithless-
ness" ...... .-.....
A bright smile passed over the
face of the dying man. He mur.
INJURED:
"Repeat those words again, my
Ellen-they take from death its
sting-in Heaven you will be all
my own. Forgive my selfshness,
dearest, but I have so loved you, |
cannot think that another shall
win"- ...,.
His voice ceased to articulate,
and again the deep tones of the
young mourner thrilled the air
with the repetition of those awful
words. AS they passed her lips,
she felt the hand that clasped hers
relax its grasp-a faint fluttering
consciousness seemed to hover a
moment on his features, and in an
other instant they wore the calm
and passionless repose of death.
Ellen Sinclair buried herself in
the seclusion of her own abode
A calm and gentle melancholy
succeeded the first violence of her
grief, but she betrayed no desire to
mingle with the world. Clad in
the deepest mourning, she was
seen no where but at church and
those who looked on her felt deep
sympathy for one so young and so
bitterly bereaved. Vainly had her
own parents sought to draw her
from her solitude. Two years
passed, and after many fruitless ef-
forts they at length succeeded in
obtaining promise Of visit from
her at the annual reunion Of their
family at Christmas, for that season
is still held as a festival in many
parts of Virginia.
Ellen was once more beneath the
roof of her father, and many and
painful were the emotions which
struggled in her bosom when she
looked around and remembered
hat fha 1aef tirna cha stood hacida