New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-04-09

LII III uCI arms anu ClalSBGu hGI COuNul'
sively to her heart, with s0bs which seemed
bursting up from a breaking heart. She
prayed God to dea mercituly with her
stricken child; then carcssed and soothed
her with mothers tender love until,
quieted aud still, she allowed her mother to
lead her back to her room. No servant
must pry into the grief of her child, so ten.
derby and lovingly she prepared her for bed.
Then quietly folding her arms about her
she lay all night watching the open glazed
eyes, fearing to move lest she should startle
her into consciousness which would
awaken passionate grief. For days Mrs.
Bedford dared not sleep lest on
waking something dreadful should
have occurred. As days passed slow
eyes of Monitta, which were growing
tearfully brilliant, while a bright scarlet
spot flushed up on either cheek and the rich
olive complexion paled each day. Not a
sigh, not u complaint ever escaped her pal
lid lips; but she chung closer and closer to
her mother each hour.
Chapter IIT.
Six short months ago Monitta was beauti
full, strangely, wildly beautiful in the full
ness Of life: now she was very thin, and her
once elastic step was feeble; yet she was
beautiful as an angel in the sweet spiritual
ity which was daily stealing over her. She
had grown cheerful, and but for her rapids
increasing love of God and the angels G,
mother would have believed that her great
love had stayed the hand of death aud thai
the child Of her heart would be spared &c
her.
And Edward Montray. Had her brilliant
image faded from his heart? Far from
it. In every hour of Loneliness she was
before him. In the crowded room of fash
ion and fair-faced beauty his heart longed
for the old hours with this child of nature
in all the witchery of her imprisoned love.
And tonight, of all the nights, her great
liquid black eyes haunted him; for tonight
another WAS to become his bride, aud he
could not silence the cry of his heart for the
only woman he ever loved. And in the
hushed agony of his soul he almost cursed
himself for the choice he had made. But
now another was involved; that other
would soon be his wife. She, too. must moi
fall victim to his sel6shness. She must
never suspect the wandering of his heart
from her. So he wore a smiling face, and
all thought him happy groom.
The guests had assembled in the spacious
halls OF Norwood home. The scaa
was q brilliant one. The bride was Il
queenly woman. All eyes were bent
upon the bridal group as they arranged
themselves before the minister. Just as he
was prOnouncing the FIRST words of the GER
emOny stir was in the hail, the group
parted, the minister paused and an Indian,
beautiful as vision, entered, cast an APP
pealing look upon the group, tottered for.
ward, uttered u faint ejaculation, and fell
at the very feet of MOutray with the dark
blood gurgling slowly through the pallid
lips.
The bride drew back but her white slip.
pered feet were dabbled with the blood OF
the dying girl, and slow horror crept
throughout her heart as Montray sank be
side the dying Indian, raised her in his
arms, pressed passionate kisses upon her
BROW and face, and called on her for love OF
him to come back to life, aud that he would
make her his bride in that very hour
AS he swore that his heart was hers alone,
and that death should not part them, Ellen
Norwood felt that even should the beautiful
Monitta die, Edward Montray could never
be more to her. From that room she
turned to pray, to struggle, and to conquer.
Monitta never spoke but AS she felt the
passionate kisses of MOntray and heard him
swear that it was her alone whom he loved,
"A glad smile broke over her face, her trcm-
bling hand pointed heavenWard, dropped by
her side, aud the pure spirit had taken its
flight.
Edward Montray waved off every helping
hand, raised the lifeless form of her whom
he now knew to be dearer to him than all
the world beside, stepped into the carriage,
and bade the man drive rapidly to Mrs
Bediord's. As he raised the now stiff
fleming form in his arms he stag
gered under the weight, but no
other hand save his own and her
mothers should touch the form so
hallOwed by his love. His soul
seemed burning with indignation against
the world, whose fiat had induced him to
break the heart of the only woman he ever
loved.
As he stood by the dead, hard lines of
grief settled in his face, and his wretched-
uess was too deep to admit of word OF re-
prOach, even from the mother whose heart
seemed breaking in her woe. Mrs. Bedford
raised one raven lock, severed it, and
dropped it in the hand of the stricken, re-
pentant mOurner.
edward, from tonight we are friends.
Our griefs unite US. God gave, and
he hath taken. Her pure spirit is in
heaven. know that che awaits us there:
your spirit bride and my spirit child. Let
1t be so. 1t is well.h
No word gave back response, but the
mouth twitched, and the hard lines quiv-
cred.
Edward Montray left the state the day
after the burial, aud never from that night
saw Ellen Norwood; indeed no thought of
her seemed to enter his mind, but years
atterward when he heard of her as happy
wife, a heavy weight seemed raised from his
heart, and he became almost cheerful.
Thus it was that the ia euted, wealthy
and nObe-loOking Edward Montray came to
live and die a bachelor.