Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-11-27
From the New York Evening News.
SAVED FROM THE GRAVE.

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There are seasons when the grave
yard seems peculiarly beautiful. When
hushed twilight wings her noiseless
way from Heaven to wrap the temples
of the dead in her soft, transparent
drapery-or the pleasant moon lights
up the messed graves, making lumin-
Gus the white sculptured marble-it is
sweet to march up the shaded aisles OF
the slumbrous city, and muse upon the
holy memories of the departed.
The stars burned with luster peculiar
to summer skies. A clear, mild atmos-
phere gave refreshing elasticity to my
spirits. / wandered along, scarcely
knew where, and found myself, after a
leisure walk. near the old-fashioned
burial ground at DalIston Falls. I was
d happy man, for, having that day re-
ceived a diploma, [ was really and pro-
fessionally an NJ. ID.
What directed my steps to the rural
ourying ground | cannot now tell, but [
believed at the time I was romantic
and an enthusiast them that some mvs-
ferrous agency shaped my course. AS /
drew near the rustic gate was open.
The walks glittered in the strong yellow
light: the shadows leaned down from
the trees and frescoed the smooth
gravel with quaint tracerv; the buds
and flowers, grouped in dark masses
upon the gently curved mounds q
knew they were buds and flowers, for
their fragrance betrayed them), seemed
the beautiful dead below. In my
youth I was fond of symbolizing. Ev-
cry inanimate thing had its type in
some ideal of Oriental fancy. This
evening | felt particularly poetical.
Ny imagination was as tertlie-yes, /
thought as fertile as Millions, if my
thoughts were not as grand lor my i'm
ages as sublime.
L sauntered carelessly along the side
where hawthorn hedge twined its
firm tendrils together, dragging my
cane after me and musing in careless
reverie. Suddenly paused. / leaned
by huge hoary elm and closed my
eyes, as the magic breathing of a flute
dreaming brain. AS / look back it
seems to me that that was the most
blessed hour of my existence, for, ming
ling with that plaintive melody, came a
gentle face, with sparkling eyes, serene
brow and cheeks just crimsoned
enough to resemble two pale rose
leaves flushing the pnrest snow.
Oh, how / loved that sweet May Ken
dali: Forgetting my God, | idolized
her, and, egotist that | was, fancied that
nay unspoken passion was returned.
But will not l1nger. In those few mo-
ments I was pouring my very souls
depth aud fervor into the heart that |
tondly imagined-as youth will some
tifnes-was, in a sort of spiritual pres
ence. ever beside me.
My reverie was broken by the ap-
proach of a stranger. and light, silvery
laugh shut out the music ofthe flute, for
it was SO like my love, May's-so ring
Ing, so joyous.
Presently, as fine, manly form drew
nearer, recognized the features of one
who had been my college-mate two
years ago. l would have sprung for
ward to meet him. His name was
rested my attention that chilled nv
blood and made my teeth chatter with
q sudden, freezing fear. The two had
come almost beside me and there
stopped, charmed with the sylvan spot,
The lady held her hat by the strings,
one arm was passed corfdingly through
that of her companion. and when she
turned her beamlng face around toward
me q was concealed by the shadow |
recognized, in the full flood of the
mooniight-May Kendall
do not like, even at this late day, to
review the feelings that shook my
frame when / heard them murmur such
words of tenderness to each other in
sIbdued and happy tones. A deathly
faintness came over me as / gathered
hair he
they were betrot ed; and when that
passed away, a fierce revenge sent the
blood boiling through my veins. I
could have leaped upon him, and de-
manded my May, my love, without
whom life would be curse, and the
world dread, dead blank. But then,
by what right could call her mine?
True, she had been most kind to me,
but never more than maidenly modes
ty might warrant toward the most init
mate TREND. Now / knew-God for
give me for the rage that tugged at my
heart-strings as [ thought of itl-why
she had talked to Frederick. Oh, fool
that | was not to comprehend before
She had smiled on me because | was
college because [ had ever some
virtue of his to praise; and blinded by
my own fondness, / tancied she loved
me.
How stood there, weak, passionate
and painting with the violence of my
emotions, even till | learned the day
when the wedding would take place, I
know not, for every nerve in my body
seemed changed to an instrument of
keen tortures. Fortunately, they did not
pass me. but retlaced their ste DIS, and /,
bending low with almost breaking heart
slowly left the lonely graveyard, now
only valley of dry bones to me, and
walked toward my dwelling, too
wretched to think deliberately, or feel
all the crushing weight of disappoint-
ment.
The next day, before sunrise, was
on my way to a neighboring city. /
was In strange tumu {, that knew rot
but might prove fatal to me- ] was
ready TOR almost any desperate deed,
and had, more than once-I shudder as
think Of it-contemplated selt-de-