The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-05-01

@A@s SA-
saw her only sister, a girl of sixteen,
standing as if riveted to the floor, her
cheeks hollow and CHASTITY, her eyes fixed
and frightfully glaring. seized her by
the arm, but she stirred not [ shook her
rudely, saying :-"Unless you help me,
Marie, she will really die; quick come
cut off her grave-clothes she must not
see them-must never know of this"
The girl, sighed, shivered, then with a
wild, unnatural burst Of laughter, reused
herself from Ter stupor. Then as sud-
denly, flood of tears came to her relief.
All was right now. She followed me into
the next room, united the white satin rib
bon Chat confined the delicate wrists, un-
loosencd the linen bands on her breast,
so that by. the time the young bride
opened her eyes, she was lying as if she
had sought her bed for pleasant slumber.
And now, the most terrible excitement
over, / breatbed freely. And yet another
important task remained to be accom-
.plished By my orders the poor husband
had been briefly informed that the cere-
mony would be detained for q moment.
He was so distracted with bis grief that
allnews was alike to him. They led him
where they liked. He sat in q little room
just across the entry; so deadened were
all his senses, he had not heard the con-
fusion. I went in. closed the door, and
stood beside him. He glanced up but
once, then buried his face in his hands
with an unearthly moan that went to my
soul. Oh, such JOY, such pure, exquisite
Joy as flooded my, whole being as l felt
what heaven 1 should soon awake him
to- Only angels can tell how sweet it is
to bring blessing to the wuyworn, and
hope to the desponding.
''Frederick," said I, placing my arms
around his neck, "my dear fellow"
"Don't try to comfort me, doctor" his
broken voice responded "my heart is
torn up by the roots" !.
What should 1 say next? A thought
occurred 10 me. "Do you remember what
Christ said about the little maid I? "She
is not dead, but sleepeth."
Nv peculiar accent, my intonation,
struck him instantly. He shook suddenly
and raised trembling hands, while a
strange expression shot over his face
There were tears inmy eyes, but | smiled
broadly. through them at the same time;
/ tried to- command my voice, as STAN
mered: "Did you-did you ever hear of
people falling into frances? and"
He sprang to his feet, clenched my
hands, breathed hard through his shut
teeth. His eyes glttcred. "Whatw he
cried, comprehending the hopeful faces
looking in upon us, "dead Pin trance
laid t. buried p alive alive y
Great God! Do youstel me she lives
MY May? who gasped in my arms ?-lay
cold on this bosom ?-Oh, have mercy
don't mock mel"
He staggered against me, almost help
less. 2
s.Fredcrick," I cried, tears running
down my cheeks, "she lives; your pre-
cious May is saved" :
Another second, and l wasin his arms,
he dancing deiriously round with me.
'"God bless you God bless you p he cried.
"Oh, it is too beautiful, too good! My
dear God how thank thee" and he
lifted his streaming eyes heavenward.--
aLet me see her" be continued, locking
my arm in his 81 will be calm-vcry
calm" "And, DOCTOR" he exclaimed, if at
any time my life will buy you a precious
boon, tits yours"
He did not dream, poor fellow, that he
had been my rival
The mother hung over her child--the
husband bent over his bride, full--full OF
thanksgiving. She, with her large, blue
eyes moving languidly but fondly from
one to the other, whispered: 81 am better,
stronger. I shall soon be we'll again. l
have been sick so long"
Frederick kissed her white brow in re-
ply, and smothered his sobs in the pillow.
And then l left them, a happier being, a
better man.
May and her husband still live, fond,
beautiful pair, even now.
[ am an old bachelor.