Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-11-20
FROM THE TOMB.
A Young Doctors Victory Over
Passion and Death.

"a 4O0u6 OOCLO1 VAClO1y ~V04
Passion and Death.
There are some seasons when the
graveyard 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 luminous 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 pecul-
lar to summer skies. A clear, mild
atmosphere gave refreshing elias
ITCHY to my spirits. wondered along,
scarcely knew where, and found my
self, after leisure walk, near the old
fashioned battle-ground at Dallston
Falls. I was happy man, for, hav-
ing that day received a diploma, I was
really and professionally an M. ID.
What directed my steps to the rural
burying-ground ! can not now tell, but
believed at the time q was romantic
and an enthusiast then) that some
mysterious agency shaped my course.
AS I drew near the rustic gate was
open. The walks glittered in the
strong yellow light; the shadows
leaned down from the trees and fres-
coed the smooth gravel with quaint
tracery; the buds and flowers grouped
in dark masses upon the gently-curved
mounds Il knew they were buds and
flowers, for their fragrance betrayed
them>, seemed whispering in their
silent language to the beautiful dead
below In my youth I was fond of
symbolizing. Every inanimate thing
had its type in some ideal of Oriental
fancy. This evening felt particular
~ poetieal. My imagination was as
fertile-yes, thought, as fertile as
Milton's if my thoughts were not as
grand Or my images sublime.
I sauntered carelessly along the side
e where hawthorn hedge twined its
firm tendrils together, dragging my
cane after me and musing in careless
reverie. Suddenly Ipaused. leaned
by a huge, hoary elm and closed my
eyes, us the magic breathing of a flute,
skillfully touched, foated through my
dreaming brain. As I look back it
seems to me that that was the most
blessed hour of my existence, for,
mingling with that plaintive melody.
came a gentle face, with sparkling
eyes, serene brow and cheeks just
erimsoned enough to resemble two
pale rose leaves flushing the purest
snow.
Oh, how I loved that sweet May
Kendall! Love! Forgetting my God,
idolized her, and, egotist that was
fancied that my unspoken passion was
returned. But I will not lineer. In
those few moments I was pouring nv
very souls depth and fervor into the
heart that I fondly imagined - as
youth will sometimes-was,in sort
of spiritual presence, ever beside me-.
My reverie was broken by the ap-
proach of a stranger, and a light, sill :
very laugh shut out the music of the
flute, for it was SO like my love, Mays
80 ringing. SO joyous.
Presently, as a fine, manly form
drew nearer, recognized the features
of one who had been my college mate
two years ago. I would have sprung
forward to meet him. His name was
trembling on my lips. when sight ar
. rested my attention and chilled my
blood and made my teeth chatter with
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 confding-
ly through that OF her companion, and
when she turned her beaminp face
around toward me q was concealed BY
the shadow | recognized in the full
flood OF the moonlight-May Kendall.
do not like, even at this late day.
TO review the feelings that shook nv
frame when heard them murmur such
words of tenderness to each other in
subdued and happy tones. A deathly
faintness came over me as gathered
from their own lips the knowledge
that they were betrothed; and when
that passed away. fierce revenge
sent the blood boiling through my
veins / could have leaped upon him,
and demanded my May, my love. with
out whom life would be q curse, and
the world dread, dsad blank. But
. then, by what right could ] cali her
. mine3 True, she had been most kind