The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-11-20
FROM THE TOMB.
A Young Doctors Victory over
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 a 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. was a happy man, for, hav-
ing that day received q diploma, | was
really and professionally an NJ. d.
What directed my steps to the rural
burying-ground can not now tell, but
| believed at the time { | was romantic
and an enthusiast theD that some
mysterious 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 tho trees and fres-
coed the smooth gravel with quaint
tracery; 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 whispering in their
silent language to the beautiful dead
below. In my youth was fond OF
symbolizing. Every inanimate thing
had its type in some ideal OF Oriental
fancy. This evening felt particular
ly poetical. My imagination was as
fertile-yes, 1 thought, as fertile as
Millions if my thoughts were not as
grand or my images sublime.
| sauntered carelessly along the side
where hawthorn hedge twined its
firm tendrils together, dragging my
cane after me and musing in careless
reverie. Suddenly Ipaused. leaned
by huge, hoary elm and closed my
eyes, as the magic breathing Of flute,
skillfully touched. floated through my
dreaming brain. As 1 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
crimsoned enough to resemble two
pale rose leaves flushing the purest
snow.
Oh, how l loved that sweet May
Kendall! Love! Forgetting my God,
| idolized her, and, egotist that was,
fancied that my unspoken passion was
returned. But l will not linger. In
those few moments | was pouring my
very souls depth and fervor into tile
heart that I fondly imagined - as
youth will sometimes-was, in a sort
of spiritual presence, ever beside me.
My reverie was broken by the ap-
proach of stranger, and light, sill
very laugh shut out the music of the
flute, for it was so like my love, Mays
so ringing, so joyous.
Presently, as fine, manly form
drew nearer, recognized the features
of one who had been my college mate
two years ago. 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
a 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 confiding
ly through that of her companion, and
when she turned her beaming face
around toward me q was concealed by
the shadow l recognized in the full
food of the moonlight-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
subdued and happy tones. A deathly
faintness came over me as | gathered
from their own lips the knowledge
that they were betrothed; aud when
that passed away, a 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 curse, and
the world dread, dead blank. But
then, by what right could ! call her
minep True. she had been most kind
to me, but never more than maidenly
modesty might warrant toward 1.-THE
most intimate friend. Now / knew
God forgive me for the rage that
tugged at my heart-strings as thought
of it!-why she had talked to Freder-
ick. Oh, fool that | was not 10 COM
prehend before! She had smiled ON
me because | was his college mate
because l had ever some sweet recol-
lection to tell, some comedy virtue of
his to praise; and blinded by my own
fondness, fancied she loved me.
How stood there. weak. passionate
and pantina with the violence OF my