Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-01-06
mot DEAD But SLEEP ETH"

mot DEAD But SLEEP ETH"
There are some seasons when the
graveyard seems peculiarly beautiful.
When hushcd twilight wings her noise
less way from heaven to wrap the
TEMPLES of the dead in her soft, trans
psrrnt drapery-uT the pleasant moon
lights mp the mosSed graves, making
luminous the white sculptured marble
it is sweet to march up the shaded
s,les Of the slumLrous city, and muse
pon the holy i tmOries of the de-
parted.
The Stars burn with lustre peculiar
10 summer skies 4 clear. mild atmos-
phere gave a refreshing elacticity to
my spirits. ] wandered along [
scarcely knew where, and found my
self. after leisure walk, near the old
fashioned burial ground at Dallston
Falls was happy man; for having
that day received diploma, was
really and professionally an NJ ID.
What directed my steps to the rural
burying ground | cannot now tell, but
| believed at the time O was romantic
and an enthusiast them that some
mysterious agency shaped my course.
= drew near the rustic gate was
open. The walks glittered in the
strong yellow light; the shadows lean
ed 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
Il knew they were buds and flowers,
for their fragrance betrayed them)
seemed whispering in their silent
language to the beautiful dead below.
Ia my youth | was fond of symboliz-
ing. Every inanimate thing had its
type in some ideal of oriental fancy.
This evening | felt particularly poeti-
cal. My imagination was as fertile
yes, thought as fertile as Millions, if
my thoughts were not as grand or my
images sublime.
l sauntered carelesslv along the side
where a hawthorn hedge twined its
firm tendrils together, dragging my
cane after me, and musing in n careless
reverie. Suddenly paused. leaned
by huge, hoary elm, and closed my
eyes, as the magic breathing of flute,
skilfully touched, floated through my
dreaming brain. As ] look back it
seems to me that that was the most
blessed hour of my existence, for,
mingling with that plaintive melody,
came Il gentle face, with sparkling
eyes, serene brow and cheeks just
crimsoned enough to resemble two pale
rose leaves flushing the purest snow.
o, how ] loved that sweet MAY
Kendall Lovedl Forgetting my
God, idolized her, and egotist that
was, fancied that my unspoken pas
sion was returned. But [ will not
hnger In those few moments i was
pouring my very souls depth and fer
yOr into the heart that | fondly
imagined as youth will sometimes
was in sort of spiritual presence,
syeT beside me.
My reverie was broken by the ap-
prOach Of a stranger, and light, sill
very laugh shut out the music of the
flute, for il WAS so like my love, Mays
so ringing, so Joyous.
Presently, as n fine, manly form
drew nearer, l 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
arrested my attention that 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 confidingly through
that of her companion, and when she
turned her beaming face arodnd to-
ward me N was concealed by the
shadow ] recognized, in the full food
of the mOOnlight-MavK 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 Fubdued and happy tones. A death
iY falntness came over me as ] gath
cred from their own lips the knowl-
edge that they were betrothed; and,
when that passed away, a fierce re
venge sent the blood boiling through
my veins. / could have leaped upon
him, and demanded my May, my love,
without whom life would be q cuI sc,
and the world a dread, decd blank.
but then by what right could l call
her mine? True, she had been most
knd to me, but never more than maid
emily modesty might warrant t,waI d
the most intimate friend. Now [ knew
-Iod forgive me for the rage that
'usged at my heart rt-strings as / thorghi
eIh!-why she haG talked to Fred
e'lGF y, fool that | was not to con-
prehend beforel She had smiled on
me because was his college mate
because l had ever some sweet re c-ol-
iectlon to tell, some comcly virtue o!
MS to praise; and blinded by my Owl
'ondncss, fancied she loved me.
HOW l stood there, weak, passion
So and painting with the violerce o1
my emotions, even till | learned tae
usy when the wedding would take
pace, know not, for cv.ry rerv, in
my Dody seemed changed 10 an in tru-
ment of Ecen torture. Fortunately
u'ey dlN not pass me, but retraced theil
Steps and |, bending low with almost
Dleahing heart, slowly left the T'sGs.n
si'Feyard, now only valley cf dry
zones TO me, and walked toward my
,u.N"eillns, too wretched to think de
noeratHiy, or feel all the crushing
weight of disappointment.
Inc next day, before sunrise, ] wa,
Un my way to neighOoring city.
vas IN strange tumult, that / knew
' out might prove fatal 70 mo.
a.. a. ready for almost any desperate
heea' and had, more thsn once