The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-09-06

was unconscious many days there
after or my heart must have broken
under its trying ordeal.
The cheerful blaze of winter had
been replaced by the flowers of spring,
when first opened my eyes to con-
scionsness in moment 1t all flashed
over me.
Myrtle was dead
Dead and buried away forever from
the heart that would eternally mourn
her loss. The cold flowers would
bloom and wither between my own
and the lips had refused to kiss-but
| could never pain my darling again.
Days grew into weeks and months
before again gathered mp the broken
tear-stalned threads of life. and w0pe
them into shroud of penitence and
abSolution.
Only one Of Clayton Holmes many
notes did | peruse-it was a passionate
appeal to be allowed to come to me In
my loneliness and sorrow. | loved
him then more than ever-I was 80
miserable and lonely.
The past loomed up and Knocked me
with its ileeting happiness, while the
future, stretching out its wild barren
eyes, laughed at my calamity.
0aig the love of this man could light
up and brighten the paths through
which my weary feet must tread. |
loved him, oh God. how well and
my heart cried aloud for his protecting
love and devotion. Yet | put back
this great treasure of love--this mighty
nece ssity of my nature, and wrote
'CLAYTON HOLMES: There is an
impossible barrier between us, and
we are as widely severed now as
though an ocean rolled between us.
The grave of Myrtle stands between
us, and | cannot walk over it erea to
reach the flowers Of love that may
blossom upon the other side. Neur
will listen to another tale of love;
aerer shall my hand again lie within
the grasp, or my head upon the breast
of another; or my heart again thrill
with the rapture of love. Nerer seek
my presence again! We are dead to
each other. Respect the solemnity Of
death, and the silence Of the grave.
Farewell forever. That the garlands
of hope and love which have forever
faded from out my life, may find d
continual renewal In your own, Is the
wish Of LILA"
Long years have passed away since
then; years Of light and shadws, joys
and cares.
''Loved one, though lost to human
sight
l feel thy spirit lingering here.
As softly as | feel the light
That trembles through the atmos-
phere."
My heart has often yeamed for the
endearing ties that render home a Par
adise.
| have often sighed as remember
ed the noble form That would 80 gladly
have fingered by my side; and tears
Of weakness have stained my cheek
when | dreamed of the small baby
hands that might have wandered over
my face; the tiny heads that might
have nestled upon my bosom.
Clayton Holmes has been husband
many years.
God knows best! | bow my head
revercntiaIly and repeat it: God
knows best.
My Myrtle crossed the river before
the cruel thons of life had ever pien,-
rd her tender little feet.
God Stilcd the innocent heart ere il
had ever throbhed to the dirge OF sor-
row or sin. He caused the wnxen
hands to be pulseless before they had
ever plucked the beautiful flowers Of
love, to throw them aside with blood
stained and waning faith.
Pure as He presented her to me did
she 20 back to blossom upon the saint
~ garments of the redeemed. | shall
find my loved ones again within the
walls of that city to which and all
the weary pilgrims Of time are hasten
Ing.
God knows best! Mine is a con-
tented Old age. | might have been an
wife or unblessnd mother.
have sinned, but by suffering expiated
all guilt.
My nut brown hair is streaked with
silver, but my heart is calm and MI
rutlled, and | feel that when | shall
stand upon the shores Of deaths river
with smile upon my faded lipS, wait
ing the reunion of those crossed over
before, shall then say: God knows
best
freshmen on THE WARPATH.-The
lrislimcn OF Virgo county, Indiana,