Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-13

FROM THE LIPS OF THE DEAD.
OR, The SOUTHERN SOLDIER AND HIS AZ
FIANCED.

"Sbe made him promise in return that
if it were possible thing. he would over
come all obstacles, and come back from
! the other world to speak to her-and the
fact that this was never done made her all
her life disbeliever in spiritualism. ~
H. H.
One night, in the spring of 1860 young
man and girl stood on the steps of a
Southern country house in the moonlight.
He was tall and athletic, so tall that
though the steps were deep, and he stood
on the one below, her little, dark head
scarcely came up to his shoulder, only
reached so high as his heart, to which it
was closely pressed. Her soft cheek was
crushed against something so hard in his
breast pocket that the pressure amounted
to pain, (she knew it was her picture, }
and her ear felt and heard the heavy and
anguished throb of his heart, lying against
its tumult.
For they were loyers-they were part
ing-and the next day would see him on
his way to join the army in Virginia, and
she left behind.
Her patriotic enthusiasm had stopped
at nothing. Brothers, lover, and all,
must 90 to share in the conflict impeding.
Her mind was filed only with the ''pomp
and circumstance of glorious war;" so
secluded and romance fed had been her
quiet country life; so secluded, that one
wondered whence lovers could come for
this petted fairy princess, when she should
awake from her dreams of girlhood. But
one came,-from somewhere, somehow
and was received into her harmonious and
sheltered life as a new integral part neces-
sary to its completion. Everything had
come to her that she desired-so love
came; and so she thought must come the
fulfilment of these burning dreams of
glory and patriotism. She would send
| forth her knight to do his deuotr for the
cause they adored, and that the romance
could end otherwise than in a glorious re-
turn. glowing with honors and victory
that was homogeneous, impossible!
This may seem overdrawn, but there
have been just such guided, sheltered
lives; not entirely ignorant of the great
problem of life, but purposelv trained to
an incapacity for their personal applica-
ton. Whether this is wisely or kindly
done is the question; we only know it is
kindly, if not always wisely, meant.
He, knowing her so well, abstained
from forebodings that might shadow her
animated and enthusiastic nature, so I'M
comprehendlng of the crisis to whose
verge they had been slowly dushed, bv
the fingers of an unrestIng and unhasting
fate. But now they had reached it; the
moment had come when he must tear the
bandage from her eyes. and their hearts
must be bare to each other once before
they parted.
The soft lips on his breast were MUIR
murng over and over all their little ex-
quisIte tancies, of the soldiers tent, the
battle, the glory, the pride with which his
career would be watched; the letters they
would write. and then the home coming
He hated the cruel and harsh sound OF
his own voice. as it broke unseemly on
those gentle murmurs, so like a little bird
twittering in its nest.
but suppose | never come back?"
Never come back! You, never come
back to me! That is impossible"
at is. darling, 1t is. Come back will d"
he cried in sudden agony of despair
but suppose | never come as we have
planned. TO happy home in free land
to IA little patriot bride, who loved her
country better than her lover?'
You are cruel she said; 'vou shat
ter all my lovely dreams. For us can
not feel such sorrows possible They are
for worldly people, not for you and L.
They may be for you and L. he said :
land cannot bear to leave YOU till you
realize it, Let our parting be not only as
heart to heart but as soul to soul, that we
may know each other. if it be only as
souls that we meet again "
"Do you mean death?' she asked, shud.
dering.
"A soldiers parting always means
DEATH he said. at is better for me to
tell you than any one else. If my body
cannot return. would you be glad if my
soul could return and watch over, to how
er round youP MY heaven must be near
est to YOU"
But love this body she sobbed +;
my brave young lover, my goodly love
these eyes. and lips, and hands, want to
touch them,' and she touched them as
she spoke, with trembling fingers 81 do
not know your sou.-show it to me. and
may love it as WE'LL
You would not be afraid of mel"
"Never, never'"
IF die while am absent from YOU.
try and remember all am going to say
Once said we will put it by with your
other dreams-but say it must
"If die, and it is permitted me to ex-
ercise my own will, will return to watch
over and love you as | may. 1t may de-
pend upon you to meet my spirit ha
way. for hold that none can come unad.
ed.
IF they could do so the air would be
winnowed with the wings of seraphs how.
ering each around the still beloved on
earth, and our lives would be dreamy
novitiate for tuturity partly realized and
understood. No authentic record is given
that the world will accept. of such return
but there may be certain conditions OF
mental and moral life that may make this
great thing possible.
First of all, perfect love-love alone
is stronger than death-perfect love cast
eth out tear. | mean a love of two pure
and strong hearts, evenly and equally di-
vided. so unselfsh and devoted that it
| anpro,phas divinity in itSalf A ,nothar'c