Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-09-22


though no clouds swept over the sky, anC
the haze never paled until lost in the Grim
son glow of morning, that night, to me
was the blackest night of my life, whose
vision sometimes yet rises before me, ever
at noon day, with appalling reality. All
why were The sky and stars beautifully O.
cruel skyl o, cruel stars! Was the sor.
row on earth nothing to you, that you gave
no warningP
We had walked perhaps two squares
when Reinhart stopped just as suddenly as
If he might have come In contact with O
stone wall, invisible to me. Alarmed, ]
said, quickly, "wLat is the matterP Are
you i'll ?"
mo-" he replied, still standing motion
less. Then, in moment, without another
word, he turned and began relracing his
steps.
'Are you going home already p / in
qulred, puzzled by bis strange conduct.
"No; l am going 10 the Cathedral"
We had just passed the Cathedral, when
he had made no motion TO enter; but now
tried in vain to dssuade him from It. /
told him that there was no service al this
hour that we might as well not have left
home as 10 go inside of any house. All 10
no purpose; he was just as determined as
at first, until finally he turned fiercely up
on Inc and said, with a strange emphasis in
his tone,-
II will go; must go; feel something
within me that compels me TO gop
Nag ihia n IN OF r,F hoI
bic chord in his nature--that terrible chord
that threatened to destroy forever the har-
mony OF his life?
Powerless to turn him from his intent,
together we crossed the northern portal and
entered the nave. 1t was so dim that the
heavy shadows clustered in a rayless cloud
among the arches, and at the end, far off,
they looked like stars in the gloom lick
cred few tapers at the altar, while higher
up swung the sacred but sickly flame that
bad been burning for centuries. There was
not a stir, not a sound. trembled all over
with a singular sensation Of weakness that
came upon me as followed Reiubart, who
went steadily down the long aisle to where
the transepls met, then stopped as abrupt
in the street.
1t was, as l have said, just where the
transepis met. There. upon a low platform
or dais, stood a low bier covered by a vel.
vet pail, whose heavy border fell in wave
less folds. And upon ii rested casket
with silver moun;ings. Beside il two Ia
pers burned, one at the head and one at
ba 10, lie
lesS. Beyond the choir saw the gleam of
the organ-pipes, wavering, come and CO.
The altar lights circled about each other
and they, too, receded in infinite space ;
they grew dim; they vanished they
sprang again; they fed again. The great
tombs loomed out and faded the figure on
an ebon crucitix, inspired with life, wiithed
in fearful agony, then once more became
transtixed, aud the weak, trembling sensa-
tlon under which had been laboring was
gone.
saw that we were Standing by the dead
Of sone noble family. for the repose of
whose soul the monks were offering up
their prayers. l drew a little nearer. Up
on the snow-like cushions within the cas-
ket young girl lay sleeping the last deep
and solemn sleep. Or was it a vision one
OF that mystical land, whose white portals
are beyond the sun; that land where there
is no shadow, no stain; where there is
beauty celestial, peace everlasting? No, it
was all the future We ever see it was still
this side the gates of eternity; it was
death.
A chaplet of flowers crowned her brow,
all colorless as marble, and garands of
flowers wreaihed her robe, that was purer
than fleece; but her hands held no lilies,
no jasmine; more sacred than these they
held a small golden crucifix, an emblem
imperiShable, holy. The burning tapers
threw not over the face, turned slightly
toward the altar, that beautiful dreamlight /;
it was the last inscription written by the
spirit, even after 1t had seen down the ra-
diant vista of immortal happiness.
All why offer prayers for a soul beyond
the troubled sea, beyond the dread valley
frail humanity Even then beside the
pail, where rested the solemn silence no
voice could break, stood one for whom the
kneeling monks might have told thous.
and dVes.
Reinhart raised his face suddenly.
Strengthening himself, he extended his arm
with wild gesture, uttering laugh that
grated clear up to the dome.
"Did not tell your he cried. "Did
not feel the mysterious summons that
brought me to the spot? Do you see her?
II is she! 1t is her soul and mine that will
abide together through all eternity"
The startled monks rose TO their feet.
The great arches of the Cathedral threw
back his voice In terrible groans. Quick as
thought / sprang toward him, but was
hurled off with the ease of giant. He
stopped for a moment and put one hand 10
his head, as If a sudden faintness might
have swept over him ; but he did not touch
the casket. Then dropping on one knee
beside it, he raised his face and said softly,
so softly that the last word seemed to come
to us from a great distance
80, beautiful soul, part Of my spirit,
will not keep you waitingr
We gathered around and raised him up.
1t needed no force now; and when they
laid him down again, with great throb-
bing in my breast I folded his hands. He
had taken his life.
o, Germany like this fair day yo1 lured
bird high up into your sunshine, a bird
with brilliant plumes in IFS wings then,
before it had sung one song from the pin
nacle where 1t rested, blackenlng sudden
ly into a storm, you killed it. Reinhart,
poor Reinhart! you lured high up into the
fantastic light of psychology; then before
he had reared one mlnaret upon the tenn
pie where he climbed, you darkened sud-
denly into gigantic gloom that, rising up
like storm overwhelmed him.