American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-05-10
over my face, approached. unheedee
and upobserved. while silently | knelt
and placed my garands on the tomb.

ly. beheld the kneellng bgure oil woman
completely enshrouded In thick veil,
weeping beside new-made grave.
Although unable to distinguish her
face, the figure appeared youthful, and
interested in what conceived must be
tale of heartfelt anguish. | observed 10
silence her motions.
She bore beauteous wreath OF orange
blossoms upon her arm. and. while slow
" raising her veil TO bestow the usual
kiss, ere she placed it on the grave. dis
closed face of surprising beauty.
Blu. quickly again. almost before l
could discern the features. the Jealous
veil was lowered. while. drawing forth
her rosary. she seemed entirely uncon-
scious Of those around, and apparently
absorbed in earnest prayer.
Sympathy with her grief detained me
there, while in fancy's dream | pictured
her romance.
Perchance she was some fair young
creature, whom cruel death had robbed
Of all her hopes and love
Perchapce she had been welded, and,
while in the enjoyment of connubisl hiss
stern death had rudely snached her
happiness away
ImpelIed by sympathetic influence, l
approached the mourner. who had. IN
q frenzy of grief, thrown herself ACROSS
The grave, and, addressing her in her
own soft, Spanish tongue. endeaVored, by
soothing words, to induce her to leave
the spot. Reluctantly she yielded to my
influence, and permitted me to lead her
away. After wandering for some time
through the GENET terry, her poignant grief
became more calm, and we returned TO
the grave, whereupop, while soft tears
tricked down her cheeks. she related to
me her short, but heart-rending history !:
Beneath that mound. just one month
day was inferred my husband. We
had been welded but one short year.
when, in the full bloom Of health and
life, he was suddenly attacked with cons
gestion of the brain, and died uncon-
scious of her be loved so well. Oh the
desolaton Of my heart is indescribable.
Il have seen but eighteen summers.
and yet it seems rs though bad lived a
lifetime. I have grown aged in spirit,
and the future seems so dreary and desc
late. Were it not for the solace it affords
me 10 visit this spot and spend long hours
in hopeless sorrow, communing as it were
with his spirit. which l feel accompanies
me every where, would retire at once
and forever from the world, for there is
no Joy or hope for me-"
Thus saying, she arose, and bidding
me "adieu." left the cemetery. while
| remained for some time longer in the
same spot, absorbed in pensive thought
upon the sad recital to which bad been
a listener, until the gathering shades of
coming eve warned me that it was time
TO retire Wishing to retain some re-
membrane Of this scene, l culed from a
small rosebush, which grew at the foot
Of the grave, but one white blossom, and
turned my footsteps homeward.
Upon reaching the portals Of the GENE.
terry l noticed upon large placard,
which | had not observed upon my en-.
trance, the words : "Touch not the flow
ers on the graves the flowers are the
property Of the dead"
/ felt an inward tremor Of remorse up
on reading these words, and wished 10
return my blossom 10 the spot from which
| had taken it, but the darkeHing shad-
ows Of night and the now silent and de-
serted graveyard, filed me with fear,
and | resolved to proceed on my way.
Still, however, | found it difficult 10
quiet the still small voice Of conscience.
which accused me of having committed
sacrilege in bearing this flower away
from the grave.
Upon entering my chamber placed
nv rosebud in small vase uFon the
toilet, and after passing some hours in
meditatiug upon the exciting events Of the
day, retired to rest; but sleep had fed
from nv eyelids, the contending emotions
through which bad passed producing
nervous excitement which found ii i'm
possible to subdue. Having. at length,
toward midnight. after many futile efforts.
fallen into kind Of stupor. l suddenly
became conscious of a presence, while a
dim, unearbly light rendered visible
every obj ct 10 the chamber. Upon START
. ing up | bebed a tall figure completely
tnshrouded in a long. white robe. APP
preached my bedside.
Awe struck and trembling | watched
its motions, as. with a silent gesture, it
pointed with its long, bony finger toward
the flower and mo,ioned me to arise.
Spell bound. and mpelled by fascina
ton which | could not resist. | obeyed
the summon, while mechanically took
the flower from the vase, and bore it with
me, following the figure, which glided
before me from the house, and through
the silent and now quite deserted streets
OF the city.
On, on, il went, and paused not until
we bad reached the cemetery which |
had visited that day.
The portals opened noiselessly. as if
BY enchantment, and we entered, while
the spectre turned and pointed at the
pIacard, which now seemed emblazoned
with FIRE. Proceeding through laba-
rvnth of maths. We arrived at the new