Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-07-07

1.-Two, DEAR answered. 'fou KNOW
there never was more"
sI count three" she said
turned my eyes upon the monuments,
almost expecting to see third; but to me
there were only two. Yeti felt the hand
which was clasped in mine grow cold and
rioid. while her for face had become like
the marble upon which her eyes We're so
intently fixed. strove to draw her from
the window. 1t was impossible. entreatt-
ed her to speak to me. 1t was Of no avail.
Thoroughly alarmed, said would call
Mr. Percival.
"Not, no, not himp she answered, while
perceptible shudder ran through her
frame.
But his name had reused her from her
strange lethargy or trance or whatever it
might have been.
II was reading the words, she said.
'rWhat words, Marie2" / answered "YOu
know the words ON the monuments; and II
you did not, you could not read them at
such distance.
She replied, II am speaking of the third
one; it is taller than the other two, and the
words are SO distinct; Sacred to the Mem
ory Of Marie Percival, who died February
9th, 49,, aged nineteen years and eleven
months. I"
"Hush, Marisr' said, 81 cannot hear
you talk So" and happily for me, Mr.. Per
cival, who was looking for his bride, dis
covered her at this moment A few rapid
steps brought him to her side.
dWhy, Marie" he said, "yon are as pale
as one Of Horace Walpoles ghosts it
is this chastity moonlight"
He drew the curtains together, and saw
the color come back to her face as he bore
her away. But ! knew 1t had gone from
mine. | knew there was an unearthly pal
lor on my own face, as l sat there with my
back to the moonlight and still the musi-
clans played OMIT was Weber's waltz,
and it seemed as ifthe waltzers would never
tire; my brain reeled, and circled, and qui-
vered, and still they played on, still the
walters waltzed--then Marie and her hus-
band floated by, the merriest among them
all.
Am the victim Of dream2 said. Did
Marie Precival stand by my sdeamoment
ago, reading the inscription upon her own
tomb? Was that trueP or is this true2 For
at that moment it did not seem TO ne that
both could be true. Just as was losing
the power to solve this or any other ques-
ton, the waltz ended and supper followed.
Shortly after the party broke up, and Marie
kissed me good night without making any
allusion to the singular episode which hid
made such painful impression ON my
mind.
Marie kissed me ''good night" said,
but it was in reality good bye, for as they
were TO leave by five o'clock the next morn
ing, did not expect to see her again until
her return. This would be in about four
weeks, and / had promised to remain with
her parents until that time. But fate de-
cided otherwise A few lines from an only
brother informed me that he had just de-
cided to carry out q long-cherished wish,
which was to go with his wife to Europe.
twas their desire that Ishould accompany
them. AS we were to start in less than q
week, / was obliged to hurry ONE.
/ left few lines for Marie. stating that
/ would write to her as soon rs possible,
and let her know where to address letter
to me.
It is not my purpose to speak of my life
in Europe-where wewent or what we saw
only This. My brother could never un-
Jerstand my dislike to visiting the tombs of
the dead.
~ do not like rummaging in grave
yards" would say TO him. So, too, with
all moonlight nights; so beautiful to him,
but which were, and always WILDE, ghast-
ly horror to me.
/ wrote frequently to Marie and her
mother, but my brother had no fixed plan,
and as we were constantly on the move, it
was impossible for me to receive my replies.
We remained abroad until the following
April, little more than year. The day
after our arrival home, l started for Mr..
Linden's. l cannot exactly tell what my
feelings were as the cars neared the old
town. Certainly was not as calm as 1
would have been without that disturbing
vision But if any one had asked me if |
believed in the possibility of its truth,
have answered. "No."
1t was four o'clock when / arrived at the
end of my journey. few minutes walk
brought me to the house. rang the bell,
which was answered 10y an old woman
whom had frequently seen during my
previous visits.
"Come in, she said "Mr and Mrs.
Linden are in Europe; you did not know
it, perhaps.
II know nothing" / replied quickly;
81 have just returned from Europe N.Y.
self.
could not ask about Marie; but arose
and went to the window, the one that look
ed out upon the chuTchyard, and saw
yes, reader, saw the third monument; in
ten minutes stood before it. With a brain
too paralyzed to admit of surprise, or any
other feeling, I read: "Sacred to the
Memory of Marie Percival, who died Feb
ruary 9th, 19-, aged nineteen years and
eleven months"
don't know how long it was before
was aroused by the old woman from the
stupor into which had fallen. Becoming
alarmed at my long stay, she had come out
to find me. From her learned all shall
ever know. will tell it in as few words as
possible.
On that day Marie, with her husband
and two or three other young friends, had
gone out on the bay. as was their frequent
custom when the weather was fine. Igath-
cred, from what the woman said. that the
day had been unusually calm but that O
sudden squall had thrown the boat against
a low reef of Shiny, weed-covered rocks,
which ran out into the water II did not
upset the boat, but Mrs. Percival was
thrown out. The accident happened on.
the seaward side of the rocks, and though
Mr.. Percival was good swimmer, and re-
manned in the water until he was dragged
out by one of the party, yet Mrs Percival
was not found until some hours afterward.
I have only to add that Mr.. Linden, who
was an Englishman, took his wife to Eu.
rope, hoping that in change of scene she
might recover from the shock. Bnt she
died shortly afterward, and was buried
there Mr.. Linden has never returned to
this country.
OF Mr.. George Percival know nothing.
Whether he married again, or whether he
is still mourning for his lost bride, | cannot
say. But, reader / have told You true
story the solution leave for you.
M DS