The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-08-09
BERTHE AND RODOLPHE.

uest OF the girls oil Mayence, found
themselves alone together. Rodolphe
and Berthe were engaged, and yet they
were going to be separated the next day.
Rodolphe was to depart for distant
drovince.
Berthe, said Rodolphe, "let us play
once again together the air you like 80
much. When we are separated ht the
close of the day, the hour OF grave
thoughts, We will play our parts, and
that will bring us nearer to each other -
They were faithful to their promis &.
Every evening, at the hour when they
had seen each other for the last time,
Berthe seated herself at her harp, Ro-
dolphe took his flute, and they played
their parts.
One evening Berthe was with her
father beneath the arbor of their little
garden. 1t was the hour sacred to souv-
elirs; Berthe was playing her favorite
air upon the harp, but suddenly she
stopped 10 listen,
All was silence; even the wind had
ceased to aRi;ate the foliage. Berthe re.
commenced the air and again she heard
Rodolphe's flute accompanying her.
1t was Rodolphe who had returned.
Two years afterward Rodolphe and
Berthe possessed charming littl,
dtughter, the cherished fruits of unior
that Berthe's father had blessed befor,
drawing his final breath.
Then the infant died, and Berthe ex
pired of grief few months aflerward.
When she felt her end approaching sh
said to Rodolphe;
'In vain have sought to prolong
existence by my prayers; must rejoil
our child; must abandon you and wal
for you in better life. II the dead hav
power to reappear upon the earth 20,
will see me again; my shade will wande
about you; for my heaven is the plac
where my Rodolphe is When the da
shall arrive in which we can be reunite,
l will come to seek you. aud our tw
souls, melted together, shall rise ol
high, no more to descend upon earth
where they will not have a single tie
Every year, on my birthday, happy o
unhappy, beloved or abandoned, sad o
gay. at the hour of sunset, play the al
that has so long charmed for us the grie
of absence"
Then she Kissed him and died.
Rodolphe lost his mind. They mad
him travel for some time. On his returl
his head was more calm, but a sobe
melancholy took possession OF him an,
did not not quit him, He shut himsel
up in his house, would not receive an,
Que there, would not leave it, would no
90 anywhere. He left Berthe's chambe
as it had been at the moment OF he
death, the bed still unmade, the harp il
corner.
When Berthe's birthday arrived he pu
on his best garments. thing be had no
before done. He filled the chamber wit
flowers, and when evening came be shu
himself up there and played upon th
flute the cir they had SO often played to
gether.
The next day they found him stretche
out stiff on the floor. When he recover
Ell consciousness be had again lost hi
mind; it was once more necessary 70
HIM to travel. At the expiration of
year he returned to bis house; his brai
appeared to be re.established, only b
was sad and silent.
Again Berthe's birthday arrived; b
filled the chamber with fresh flowers, IAN
toward evening he shut himself NJ
dressed as on his wedding day; then
played upon his fiute-still the same ali
The following day they again foun
him extended on the floor.
/, Now this is what had happened
him:
e On the first anniversary, as soon as
I had begun to play, the strings of Il
e harp had vibrated and OF themselves hs
i accompanied the flute.
j. When lie had paused the sounds of Il
harp had paused also.
On the second anniversary, thinkil
he had been the victim of an illusion,
recon- nencea aud the harp played
part. He placed his hand upon 4
, strings aud his hands felt the last Vibl
D tion of those strings.
On bsth occasions be had falle
stricken with terror, and had passed /
n night in deep swoon. But be at ID
haaama habituafad 10 fhfa xfol.nt an,