The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1868-02-13

l. ~ lV.A 81 -n-D - ~
there were no lights in any Of the bed
chamber windows--none In any, save
one. Something told me whose that
one was,--it WAS my darlings. The
window itself was not twenty feet from
the ground, and, as yow may often sec
! in such oldfashioned mansions, Hight
Of stones stairs led directly up to it.
l'pou this the window sclfopened in
to kind of balcony. And now it was
left ajar, in order that whatever breath
ofwind there happened to be stirring
might watt GOODNESS and rcireshmeh'
over the face Of the sleeper in thc SUI
try July night. For more thar an no"I
did l linger beneath her window
held my breath quite closely, and l ala
not move muscle or limb, so fearful
was that might disturb her slumbers,
20 so fearful! The window itself was
guarded by the gauziest OF curtains, but
Still my eyes coull not penetrate
through them.
| At last made up my mind to ascend
the stairs. l felt quite sure that my
darling was still asleep, and l longed
to look upon her features once again
only lust thi. once. How noisclessly
crawlcd up them! the serpent himse',
creeps along less silently than l dld
then. Presently Preached the top, and
my breath was hot against the glass OF
the window. Still / stood there fearing
to move step. Then I pushed back
first one side of the window, then the
other, % 50 cautiously! for ! dreadeo
to wake the sleeper. Next listened
but all was quiet. Quiet as death"
said to mysclf--"yes, as DEATH anc
as repeated the word, started anc
my foot Jared against the WINDOW
and my ears could tell me that my OAR
ling, surprised by the sound in h1'
sleep, had moved. think must have
waited half al hour; but | heard nc
further sound. So / pulled aside the
light gauzy curtains, and thrusting for
ward my head, I could see that my dar'
ling lay stretched out before me in q
sweet, deep sleep Cautiously,-ho"
cautiously II advanced forward ster
to let my eyes rest once more on neI
dear loved face. I was close beside
her. / then perceived that she must
in sheer WEAKNESS Of delight, have
thrown herself ON the couch directly
she left the company of her friends tol
she still had on her robe of white mus
him. and her dear golden hair was still
bound with the blue ribbon that she al
ways loved. Yes, she was just as in The
olden time. Not a trace Of difference
had four years wrought upon that love
Ily face since / used to call it mine
Mine I repeated the word She wa:
mine no longer. But why should sh'
not be
Still gazcd down upon her; an(
still she remained wrapped in slumber
/ thought I heard a noise OF som'
one behind me. looked, but ther
WAS no one there, 1t was merely th
wind lightly rustling tie gauzy cur
tains but as I looked towards the win
dow, | could descry in the distant hor
izon the first faint strcaks which spca'
of the coming dawn, and then kney
that my time to lnger there was short
Still I gazed down upon her--upol
that angel face, upon that wealth o
golden hair resting upon the most spot
| lest of white robes. Suddenly the Wis
ion of the morning seemed to appear t.
me again. a robe ofpure white, dye
with crimson spots. What did it mean
: had not known before, but knew the
Il well enough.
White and crimson; rare colors rich
beautiful 0, the contrast; the crimson
of passion and the pallor Of death
Still I gazcd; and as gazed my lif
blood came and went, now at fever
: now at freezing point. My whole fran
5 trembled, for I had interpreted the i'm
, port ofmy vision. My hand clutche
r in my pocket a knife purchased lon
since in foreign land, containing in
c u daggcr-blade opened by q secr'
c spring. drew it forth, touched til
!. spring, and tho dagger was bare.
Ii wild, mad kiss, an uplifted hand, m
t then the dagger was plunged hitting
:. in my darling's bosom. The rudd
s. torrent gushed forth, and my visit
" was accomplished.
d "A shrek in the agony of death, r
h sounding through the low vaulted co
is ridors of the mansion, and the hous
II hold rushed to the chamber. HI
l bolted the door; it was burst open, al
8, there they saw my darlings murder
g form-the robe of white stained wi
1t the crimson of blood.
ct But they saw not me. | had NOV
,r behind the window curtains-O
le cautiously and l could see from i
le station all the attendants, the father n
le the mother weeping and wailing +
! her who, in a few hours time, was
l. have been bride. Last Of all he, t
e. betrothed, came; and when he saw t
/ sight, he swooned in dcsolation and 0
L. ony of spirit And seeing him, a
c. hearing his cry of woe from where
g. had so cautiously stationed myst
n, there came from me, by know i
ot what impulse, q long loud scream
o. laughter; and the laugh betrayed Il
so But in death, though not in life. l b
q made my darling mine.
as --~s--
-, In recent debate in the House