The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-12-10

His brain is in a confused whirl; only
hall. conscious Of what he is doing, he rises
% his feet and ~endoavors to stagger on
ward, In vain. A yawning abyss opens be
meath his feet; q roaring sound is In his
ears, lighted flashed before his eyes; he
sinks In utter Inconsistencies.
A million OF devils caught him into their
strong arms and we're forcing him over a
prscipice. He fought, he struggled, he
prayed for mercy, but only dersive laugh
ter answered him and the torment was ro-
doubled. They picked his flesh with sharp
needles; they burned his brains with hot
irons. At n moment he seemed plunged
into q burning lake; the next, he wandered
through interminable fields of ice and snow
nothing but the fierce glare OF the sun
upon blocks and mountains OF polar ice
met his aching eyes. And everywhere,
sand of sailed in a phantom ship amid the
icebergs Of a polar sea, q blood red banner
tapped before his eyes, inscribed with the
word "Murderl"
At last there came q day when the ban
ner no longer tapped in his ears, and she
Hoated upon ON odorous summer lake sweet
with the perfume Of lilacs. He reached
out his hand to grasp them. and a human
touch mel that hand. He opened his eyes,
and was conscious that he lay in Widow
Danforth's best bedroom, whose moreen
curtains Tapped in the soft spring air, which
bore to his bedside the odore of early flow
ers.
A sepulchral sigh sounded in his ear,
and Widow Danforth bent over him, the
old time motherly-look on her woe-beRone
face rs she turned her blue eyes to his.
"What am I doing here?"
She lifted one of his thin, wasted hands,
which lay upon the %coverlit and held It be-
fore his eyes.
He drew a long breath. His memory was
coming back, bringing the old sting ofpain
10 his heart.
where is Robina2'
No answer.
He burst into a passion ofchildish tears.
| His mother tried to soothe him as one
would soothe a fretful child.
"Where is she2'
'She has worn herself out watching over
you. One night, when you were raving in
d%elerium, you said something which SC
frightened her that she has not been her
self since. DIR. Gray thinks that her MIND
was in q weak state. She moumed q good
deal for her brother who was not killed il
the army, as was supposed, but came HON,
q few days before you did, and wandered
off the edge OF the deep cut on his way e
the village. and was dPshed TO pieces, ia,
same night that you cane so near freezinl
to death on your way TO Eagle Crag."
Her brotherl The only tie of relation
ship she had ever known-the brothe
whom she had loved with such idolatry.
Escaped from death in India, and seek
ing the sister who mourRed him as dead
only TO be stricken down by the jealOu
hate Of one who should have been his guard
ian and protector.
He turned his face TO the wall with
groan that seemed bursting his heart.
From that day he failed rapidly; and on.
bright morning when the flowers bloomeu
and the birds sang blithely, he called, il
his weak voice, for Robina.
They brought her in, pale and helples
as a child, and laid her on the bed besid
him.
"My little Robin" he whispered fondly
touching her hand reverently, 81 hav
heard the call, and l obey. Only before
go, l have a confession TO make, for / car
not go till you have forgiven me-"
She laid her little hand in his.
81 know all, dear John. That night whe
|, you lay i'll in your delirium yourevealsd al
May He forgive you, John, as fully as l Dc
Let us pray together"
\ golden robin, swinging on the mnpl
r bough outside, at that moment began HI
clear, warbling song.
Long ere the MARBLE was ended, the
lips had ceased to move, their hearts la
, ceased TO beat.
! In the little garden Of Eagle Crag, wheI
q birds revel in the wealth OF bloom, Han.
now II strong hale man, spends a part
every spring in pruning and training Il
q flowers she loved, and which they tende
? and trained together. They lay side !
side in the village cemetery.