Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-01-06
grave clothes! She must not see them
must never know of this ~

must never know of this ~
The girl sighed, shivered-tbcn.
with wild, unnatural burst of laugh.
ter, reused herself from her stupor.
Then, as suddenly, flood of tears
came to her relief. All was right now.
she followed me into the next room,
united the white satin ribbon that con.
iined the delicate wrists, unloosened
the linen bands on her breast, so that
Dy the time the young bride opened
her eyes she was lying as if she had
sought her bed for pleasant slumber.
And now, the most terrible excite.
ment over, l breathed freely. And We,
another important task remained TO be
accomplished. BY my orders the Door
husband had been briefly Informed
that the ceremony would be detained
moment. He was so distracted with
his g>ief that all news was alike to
him. They led him where they liked
lie sat in little room just across the
entry; so deadened were all his senses
he had not heard the confusion.
L went in, closed the door and stood
beside him. He glanced up but once
then buried his face in his hands with
an unearthly moan that went to nv
very soul. Oh, such joy, such pure
exquisite joy as flooded my whole be.
ing as | felt what heaven l should
soon awake him to! Only angels can
tell how sweet it is to bring blessings
to the wayworn and hope TO the de
spending
Frederick" said l, placing nv arm
around his neck, "my dear fellow"
"Dont try 10 comfort me, DOCTOR
his broken voice responded; .my heart
is torn up by the roots"
What should 1 next say2 A thought
occurred to me.
"Do you remember what Christ said
about the little maid? 'She is moi
dead, but sleepeth.'"
My peculiar accent, my intonstion,
struck him instantly. He shook sud
denly and raised his trembling hands,
while a strange expression shot over
his face. There were tears in nv
eyes, but L smiled broad through them
at the same time; | tried to command
my voice, as | stammered, "Did you
did you ever hear of people falling
into rancesf-and'-
He sprang TO his feet, clinched nv
hands, breathed hard through his shut
teeth. His eyes glittered.
"Whatl" he cried, comprehending
the hopeful faces looking in upon us;
"dead?-in trance ?-laid out p
lburiedf-alive-aliv - Great Godl
Do You tell me she lives?-my NAV P
who gasped in my arms?-lay cold on
this bosom? Oh, have mercy don't
mock mel"
He staggered against me, almost
helpless.
"Frederick," cried, tears raining
down my cheeks, "She lives she lives
your precious May is savedn
Another second and I was in his
arms, he dancing deliriously round
with me.
"God. bless youi God bless you'll"
he cried.
"Oh, il is too beautiful, too good !
My dear God how | thank theel" And
he lifted his streaming eyes heaven
ward. 'Let me see her." he continued,
locking my arm in his. al will be
| calm-very calm. And, DOCTOR" he
exclaimed, 'If at any time my life will
buy you precious boon, it is yours. :"
He did not dream, poor fellow, that
he had been my rival.
The mother hung over her child, the
husband bent over his bride, full of
thanksgivings. She, with her blue
eyes moving languidly, but fondly
from one to the other, whispered: II
am better, stronger. l shall soon be
| well again. | have been i'll SO long"
Frederick kissed her white brow in
reply, and smOthered his sobs in the
pillow. And then left them, hap
pier being-a better man!'
May and her husband still live, a
fond, beautiful pair, even now.
/ am an old bachelor; but have the
satisfaction of knowing l rescued her
/ loved from the grave.