Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-05-11

we soon returned home. 1he dlS-
tance was short, but the time seemed
an age till we reached our house. |
would have given worlds to have spoken
and to have told her al-all my sorrow,
all my repentance-but / could not my
tongue Glove TO the roof OF my mouth
nor, indeed, until after she babe me
"good-night," could / utter word.
Then, and only then. | stammered ou, a
request that she would remain for few
moments. She closed the door, aud re-
turned 10 her chair, raising her dark
eyes inquiriugly to mine.
"Fanny," said at last--I had not
called her so for many months before
Fanny, will you not sing those songs
tonight"
"Certainly, if you wish it," she re-
pied, and seating herself at the piano,
she sang them again, in clear, calm
tone.
| had determined, when the songs
were concluded, to seek reconciliation ;
but the demon, pride, whispered, "Will
you be less firm than she? This cannot
last-why humiiate yourSclf?'
went up into my own lonely cham
ber aud sat down and pondered on the
events of the evening, rcgrettiug bitterly
my folly in suffering again my pride to
maste. me.
heard my wife moving about the
room, which adjoined my own, and
then suddenly heavy fall and groan.
| rushed into the apartment, and found
her extended on the floor. raised her
in my arms, and to my horror, blood
was streaming from her mouth The
truth flashed upou me at once-she had
broken blood-vesscl--she would die !!
| sprapg to the bell. In few minutes
minutes which seemed an age-the
servants entered the room, but staggered,
horror-stricken, at beholdng their be-
loved mistress apparently in the agouies
of death.
"The doctor Ia doctor" | shouted.
"She will die she will die!
In second they were all gone, save
her maid, who was sobbing and praying
while she wiped the blood from the lips
of her expiring mistress.
Oh what agony suffered during the
interval which ensued before the arrival
of the physician! l called her by the
dearest names | begged her to speak
but one word. entreated her to for
give me--only to smile once more.
She slowly opened her large eyes ;
slight smile passed over her face,
and she was-dead.
Just then the physicians entered, and
begged and prayed of them to exert
their skill to save her.
''It will be useless to attempt it," was
their passionate reply "no human pow
er can restore lite
| could not believe them. My wife
was not, could not be dead. | casped
her in my arms | kissed her brow, her
lips, and all became q blank
What passed afterward / know not.
When | awoke to consciousness found
myself lying on bed, in a darkened
room. A strange female was standing
by its side, talking, in low tone OF
voice, to another stranger.
"He seems better to-day, doctor" she
said, "much better"
asked for my wife. They told me
to be quet-that | had been very i'll,
and asked how | felt. answered not
for gradually past events came back to
my recollection. remembered every.
thing, even the kiss on her cold lips.
knew that she was dead, and asked
them what they had done with her. AT
first they hesitated but at length they
told me she had been buried.
Buried my Fanny my wife J!
Again l ceased to remember. The de-
lirium which had accompanied my fever
that had attacked me had returned. AL
was chaos.
Several months elapsed ere | recov
cred, and since that time my days have
been passed in tears and in prayers a
her grave, my nights in dreaming of he1
goodness, her love, and my terrible sin
Years have rolled away since she wa
consigned to the tomb-years of suffer
, ing, OF remorse, in which | clothed IN,
spirit with sackcloth, and heaped ashe
on my head. My deep repentance has
! | tervently hope, at length procured for
giveness. Last night she smiled npo'
me in my dreams, and beckoned IN
r away. most joyfully acknowledged
the summons. Ere many days l shaI
= cross the portal of that mystic Iau'
where sorrow comes not and, forget'in!
my crime, l shall abide with my ange
forever and ever.