The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-09-18
Selfrt Stnry.
IT'LL Death Us Do Part y

"Till death US do part" rang out the
low, clear voice of the officiating minis
ter throughout the quiet church. And
"Till death US do part" spoke the man
who knelt before him; and It'll death
US do part" 10 her turn repeated the wo-
man.
Thus they pligh,ed their troth in the
face of the world and before Heaven
that man and woman, Humphrey Car
honel and Emma Crane They bad
promised to love and cherish and honor
each other, and he 10 comfort her and
she to obey him in sickness and in:heaftu:
for better for worse, for richer for poor,
er, until death did them part!
May bre.z,s stole softly in through
the open porch; May violels filled th,
air with perfume; May birds were sing
ing; May dews yet sparkled on the jew.
eled grass 1t was true bridal morn.
ing; and, amid the almost Sabbath still
ness and the spring tide loveliness, the
vows were exchanged that made then
one
Until death! The lover husband
glanced down upon the timid girl whose
hand lay in his, feeling suddenly how
terrible was that wurd-death! Why
should the thought have come to him
He clasped the trembling hand closer as
if he felt already the chilling OF those
warm pulses Even in the midst Ct the
solemn service, his imagination Travelled
forward to dsy when those solemn
promises would have heen fulfilled, Ind
death had ended ALL her death. 1t did
not occur 10 Captain Car bonel to think
that 1t might be his own.
The young girl, happy and smiling in
her bridal robes, never once thought oi
death at all. How should she2 And
how-still lees, hov-cou'd either OF
them call up picture OF something
worse than death to break the marriage
vow2
A young couple they, supremely hap
py on that May morning Sunshine, and
glis,ening dew, and opening flowers, and
The joyous song OF birds-they do not
put forth notions OF winter chill and
gloom. No, nor portend it.
What God hath joined together let
no tnan put aAunder. !"
The tremulous voice OF the clergy
man. for he was agitated, pronounced
those words very solemnly The smile
upon the hridegroom's lip echoed but
that OF his heart. Who should have,
power to put asunder two who loved SO
we'll? And Emma! She thought only
of the strong. manly form by her side
1t was the old, old story of the oak and
the vine. The present happiness wss
perfect,a and the future would be like unto
it; nay, much more abundant.
So reason we IN our blindness, in the
inexperienced youth Of our early morn
ing. when the glamour OF hope is upon
US and all looks radiant Later, stand
ing before the calm-iaced teacher, whose
name is Life, we learn that no earthly
existence is perfect; that the sunniest
life hath shadows, and that the sweet
spring time, the brightest summer, must
give place TO faded flowers, to dying
leaves.
"You cannot have Emma unless you
retire altogether from the army or ge,
put upon half-pay," had said Enms
Cranes stern Did guardian to Captain
for she had neither father nor
mother, brother nor sister And Hum
phrcy Carhonel, tiled perhaps OF SOL
dier's lite, for all the world seemed tel
have been at peace for ages and likely
TO remain so, got put upon nalf-pav.
Sure never did couple begin life uu-
der more promising auspices! They
had a pretty homestead Of their own
It was Enma's, not his-amid a small
COLONY Of other pretty homesleads, and
they had between them handsome com
petency, and there was pleasant society |
around; and life was as delightful as
dream.
A child was born to them, hut it died. |
That brought sorrow No other child
came, and time went on. Aud here some
ines that | met with in periodical in |
youthful days occur to me. l don't |
snow whose they are II knew then
rave forgotten:
ALAS, that early love should fly,
That friendships self should fade and die;
Ind glad hearts pine with oaukering fears,
Ind starry eyes grow din with tearsI
'or years are sad and withsred things,
Ind sorrow fingers, aud Joy has wings;
Ind falsehood steals into sunny bowers,
Ind Times dull footstep treads on flowers,
Ind the waters of life f,w deep aud fast,
Ind they bear to the sorrowful grave at last"
Why shouli the lines be put in here ?
Because they just express the altered
condition OF things that fell upon Hum
,brey and Emma Carhnnel. They grew
,-tranged from each other, hardly know
ng how or why. He said she no longer
'sred to please him, her husband she
aid he liked other wives better than
ler-that he gave them all his attention
md gave her none. And again tine
vent on
Sven times had the MAY viole,s Open
ID their blue eyes in the mossy dells
nnce that lovely day when he and she
lad vowed TO love and cherish each 9TH
IT until death did them part sevrn times
he May dew-drops had made The green
neadowo all aglow with sparkles: and
lie en- times the sweet spring flowers had
AIDED beneath The scorcbing heat OF sum.
ner. Ah, IL v,olets had been the only
hings that had died out in these seven
ears!
Il was May again now; but It brought
10 cherished bridal towers to Humphrey
;arhon"l and his wife, no clasping OF
ands, no fu'filment of loves glorious
prophecy. Encouragement had but deep.
ned and they were parting in pride and
niger. Tired with the state of affairs
t home--the nnbending coldness, the
esentful tones, the cruel chickering's in
which both fndulged->Captain Carbonel !
ad got placed on full service again. He
7as going out to be shot at, If fate so [
1illed I for we we're at war now.
The day of departure dawned and they /
arted with bitter words. Heaven ard
heir own hearts knew how much or how !,
title they suffered. there was no out
'ard sign OF It. People, who had ceas- L
d to wonder at the suspected estrange.
1ent between Captain and Mrs. Carbo-
- Ia i.