The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1879-07-09


i distinctly heard the voice Of an infant, ana
| the dove,like tone Of the mother bird ID soft
endearment. Claude returned, still agitated.
" Are you married ~ asked, abruptly,
land shall be intrusivean
No, no, but can you bear d surprise ?
Come with me p''
Before I could answer was drawn hastily
within the inner room, and presented to the
wife and mother.
"Graciotis God ~ exclaimed, and sank
down in terror before Bertha.
"Philip p and the living form of Bertha
folded my neck in her embrace and her lips
pressed my icy brow. Don't be angry,
Philip" she pleaded, as @ept. 500
Angry o, God of Heaven, thank thee l''
I cried, AMI madly kissed back the JOY Of my
heart Bertha ! darling, low could yoti de-
ceive as so %
She gently disengaged herself, and with
glowing face and fearful eyes, stretching her
hand to Claude, said !. @
"He saved my life, Philip My Claude
How could I hslp loving him ?" and the fond
arms of Bertha folded his manly form, and
her head sank upon his breast.
MY Bertha my own wife e whispered
Claude softly. ai.ss aA' sA
"Truly, my beloved p she murmured back,
"else had not been here Philip, my brother
my cousin nothing more, but that all
that /" holding friendly hand to me.
"Blest sister blest cousinl' / cried,
Philip asks no more, SO that Bertha lives
and is happy wife,"
Thanks, thanks, my brother I" and
Claude extended his generous hand.
The beautiful baby of happy love was
folded to my heart--Bertha's baby--and while
Claude listened with joyful eyes, Bertha re-
lated and experience of her supposed death
and recovery first asked of her bereaved
father, saying that her fear was greater than
her love, or she should have revealed herself
after her resuscitation, for he had better think
her dead than rebellious to his wishes, and
her life belonged alone to him who had pre-
served it. h
But, oh, Philip" she went on, her face
assuming look of terror and her dark eyes
deepening, how can believe all this real
myself living, and not dead and transported
to Paradises Bit for the assurance of Claude
and baby, could not realize It and yet, be-
heve me, cousin Philip, never for moment
lost sensation. | knew all--ali that everybody
said and did. seemed to suddenly freeze to
an iceberg. Mr.. Clinton, my affianeedS took
my hand and the minister was about to per-
form the rites, yet did not love him p
Bertha hid her face on the bosom of Claude.
lie softly smoothed her mar and ncr brow
saying tenderly
Don't love, III IL pains you 700 sadly
fhilip WIN excuse you.
NO, dear Claude, no. Phiiip is waiting J
II IS but a dream, now, ana TINS is reality
froze, Philip, that was the sensation. Ev-
cry pulse ceased throbbfng. They thought I
had tainted for long time, and tried every
means to restore me. l tried to speak, to
move, but could not: thought myself dead,
and was so convinced when l was laid upon
the couch and the physicians said unanimous
ly that was dead past a doubt and all fur
thef applications were useless that had sud-
denny fallen victim TO an organic disease OF
the heart aggravated by an uncommon ex-
citement' This believed, and thought
with horror on the coffin aud grave. with all
the consciousness OF life. Oh, Philip, can
not dwell upon those awful terrors, and but
tor Claude nothing could have saved me-"
"God sent me, darling We know that,
bertha,-you ana 57 Il
"Yes, yes, Claude God sent you to care
for me in life and in death r Then she
went on, How tried again to speak as my
poor father rained his tears on my senseless
face But no, could not break the ICY
bond which citcled my brow and heart and
shrank further away and grew colder when
Mr. Clinton approached me. There was no
love in my heart for him, and knew then,
Philip, that we never could have been happy,
and Il was far better to be lying dead than
living life of mockery." se
"Then they bore me to the bridal chamber,
and arranged me for the picture. Ibeard Mr.
Clinton speak TO father about it before had
been dead two hours. 1t was very strange to
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