Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1871-02-15
LIFE IN DEATH.
A LEGEND OF THE RHINE.

THE legend 1 am about to relate dates
back to the period when the Castle Of
Scharfenstein was in possession of Bar
on Anton Eselwicke. His wife, the
Lady Shredder, had been for long time
in declining health. The Baron and his
lady had been long married, and their
union had been as happy as is possible
in this world. The latter was still
young, she had been beautiful; and dur
ing her malady her husband had re-
mained day and night by her bedside.
During the latter period of her illness
her sufferings were less acute, but her
fainting fits became more frequent and
longer. Upon recovering from one of
those, she begged her husband to bring
her the gold chain and locket incIosing
his hair, which he had given her before
their marriage. This she hung round
her neck, and solaced her weary and
painful hours by contemplating it, and,
by force of the association of the ideas
it excited, living again in times gone
by.
One evening she beckOned the Baron
Anton, who was sitting in her chamber,
to her side, and said:
Reach me your hand, dear husband.
I am growing much worse; I feel that I
am sinking, and death appears to be
lowering about my couch. IF this be
nothing more than womanly timidity,
bear with it, dearest, for my sake, and
give me courage by staying with me
throughout this weary night of pain
and sUffering.'
BE comforted, my love- replied the
Lord of Scharfenstein; this weakness
is common enough. Cheer up: YOU will
be better in the morning; in the mean
time I will not stir from your side. You
will talk to me in different manner
when, after a refreshing slumber, I
shall show you the glorious sunlight
stealing over the distant hills. 7 see
even now your eyes are closing. Com
pose yourself, therefore, and strive to
sleep.
The chamber was hushed, and the
patient lay still and seemed in such
profound repOse that her breathing was
scarcely perceptible. The curtains were
drawn round the bed of the invalid,
and Baron Eselwicke, happy, and full
of favorable Omens in the idea that his
wife had at length, a remission o. pain,
took book, and fixed as much atten-
ton on it as he possibly could command
and the hours wore slowly away. Ev-
erything within and without continued
in deep stiffness, broken only toward
morning by the pleasant sounds of
rpvuT 1A-snn Trar TsI l.
heard in the silent sick chamber of
Schafenstein; the mathis of the feath-
cred songsters, the wheeling hum of
myriads of bees in the garden below,
and the leaves of the vines dallying
with the morning breeze. These, to-
gether with the strong, white lines
which intersected the shutters, admon-
ished the Baron and the nurse of the
time their patient had slept. The light
was therefore, admitted into the room,
and then both of the watchers cast
troubled looks toward the mOtionless
and wan figure on the bed.
sShe has not stirred mUrmured the
Baron. in a voice little above a Whis-
per; she is in the same position, and
can not have moved a hairs breadth
since we saw her last night
The nurse heaved deep sigh and
wrung her hands.
How now% exclaimed her master.
what means this look of blank de-
spair%
Alas, my lord,' calculated the old
nurse, I fear the worst! My mistress
sleeps, but it is the sleep of death
The Baron made no answer, but at
once hastened to send off one of his re-
tainers for physician. The arrival of
the latter confirmed the fears expressed
by the nurse. A feather was placed OH
the lips of the inanimate lady. The Ba-
ron bent, with keen eyes, over it, but
failed to detect the slightest motion in
! the feather. This, in the days ofwhich
we are writing, was deemed sufficient
proof of death in all cases.
Heaven be merciful! said the Baron.
The gente spirit has passed away
Vain and delusive hope! Last night !
was felicitating myself upon the change
that had taken place, which has proved
| but precursor of dissolution
she must have stirred during the
night observed the nurse, though heI
movement was so gentle as to De scarce
" perceptible. Poor lady! her hands
| firmly clasped round the lOcket.'
The Baron Eselwicke was utterly
prostrated with grief when this touching
instance of his Iady's love was made
known to him. He brOOded over il
night and day. He saw in her action
/ the wish she had not the power to utter
in words; and determining it should not
be violated, he gave directions that she
should be placed in her coffin without
disturbing the lOcket in her hand.
It will be readily imagined that so af'
! fecting circumstance could not escape
comment; and as, in these cases, no par.
ticulars are ever omitted, the value O
the trinket, which was set round with
very fine brilliants, found a place in the
story. The husband of the fllfated lady
determined upon paying the greatest re
sDeCt to the ramnins of his hnlnNnl