The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-03-29

loved? l was alone in the world; I
knew not the dear companionship of
brother or sister; but strovc to beat
down my love with the strong iron
mallet of duty. I might be wretched.
but would, at least, have the conso-
latlon OF knowing that was not sin
full
Two months [ passed in this
weary battle Of conquering self. One
morning, picked up the newspaper.
GOOD heavens. it dropped from my
hands. Natalie had been found mur-
dered IN her bed on the very night
her husband went to Paris! There
was no clue to the murderer. The
poor lady had been stabbed IL the
heart. These were all the particulars
given, aud | almost tainted from ey-
cess Of feeling.
ga few days after this terrible
catastrophe, Edouard visited me. He
looked thin and wan; but, though
supdued, he made no prctence-at
least to mc-of a grief he did not
1ecl: Tie had no apology to make, he
sad, Tor coming. / could have no
reason for not seeing him now; it
was natural that in this dreadful
hour he should turn to me. We sat
by the fire and talked quietly of the
terrible calamity He had offered
large sums for the arrest of the muir
derer, whose motive appeared to have
been plumber, as several valuable
Jewels were missing; the bridal ring.
too, was gone.
''After that night, he never revert
ed to the subject; and eight months
after. stood before the altar to take
the place of the murdered woman as
the wife OF Edouard De Foe.
But my pen drops from my nerve
less fingers. How these memories
sadden me! Oh, I am wcarv-so
weary-of bearing the great burthen
of dreadful, a narrowing, secret
Nemesis, thou stern avenger, it was
not always in Greece that thou didst
live. OH the mysteries of life. the
greater mysteries OF death. Dread
ing to live afraid to die. OH Mercy.
white winged Mercy! carry me to the
foot OF the Cross. and leave me there.
repentant. handled, pardoncd. Oh,
for one fash from the light Of the
Divine face. Turn it not from ne.
my Saviour. Thou who didst look
on Peter, look on me, shat my heart
may be melted by that look, that /.
too, may wcep-yes, weep, even as
the repentant Peter bitterly.
There are certain events in life
which remain forever daguerreotyped
upon the memory-we cannot. if we
would, forget Such was the fearful
event that attended my marriage with
Edouard De Foe.
We shall be So happy he said,
as we stood in the parlor, awaiting
the carriage to take us to the church.
so happy / echoed, as l laid
my hand contidingly upon his arm.
1 will make you as happy as I
have made you miserable, dear Geral-
dine.
81 have no fears for my future
happiness. love and I trust
And you are beloved and trust
ed, he responded; and lie drew nv
arm within his, as We proceeded to
the carriage.
'The sun sllone down goldenly
upon the large bridal assembly ga
thered together in the church. Be
fore the altar l stood with Edouard
De Foe, and the words making us
husband and wife were spoken. AS
the priest uttered the last word. and
we were about turning from the altar
a terrific shrek rent the air. 1t froze
the blood within my veins, and /
clnng convulsivcly to the arm of my
husband. He said soothinglv.
Don { be alarmed. 7 looked ND mt
hlm-he was pale, but calm. I trem-
bled violently, and q cold shudder
ran through my frame. He hurried
me out OF the church, scarcely return
ing the situations of the company.
Constcrnation sat on every face, and
there was low whisperings. All had
heard that territic-that unnatural
shrek, but none could divine from
whence it had proceeded.
$50 powerfully were my nerves
affected by the mysterious sound.
that on reaching the carriage I burst
into tears. My husband put his arm
around me and soothed me with the
deepest solicitude; and thus in tears
l entered my new home.
1.-Two months elapsed, and the
remembrance of that horrid shrek
had almost faded from my mind.
was happier than l believed it posi-
bic for mortal to be; my life was
one long burst of glorious melody.