Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-07-10

my face to hers, while she laughed and
cried in reci6ng to me in broken words
the prayer OF her love, while she spoke
TO me as fervent devotees to God, I
felt thns had given to one human be
ing the equivalent of lifetime of hap
piness.
Iwin not tell you how arranged TO
obtain the consent OF my guardian. I
did not ask that of my tiancee-I knew
she would pardon me afterward. The
banns were published, and made all
preparations for regular marriage.
During the weeks which followed she
lived in ecstasy. Her malady seemed
relentng, A miraculous beauty seemed
to shine about her like an,aureole She
dazzled me; she filed my heart with q
sad love, like that of mothers for frail,
beautiful children who cannot live.
had her placed in special room at the
hospital, where she received tho care of
the best physicians and had sister of
charity to watch over her night and
day. / passed the greater part of my
time with her. could not satiate my
self with that adoring gaze, with that
beatitude which each word, each ges-
ture of mine bestowed. How well re-
member the twilight hours when I
would sit beside her, watching her pale
face blend harmoniously with the shad-
ows, while she murmured to mo her
words of love like the verses of song:
Better than Godl Better than the
Virginl Better than my life and the
life of the universer'
Thus time flowed by, and the we'd
ding day came After the civil mar
riage they sat up an altar in her cham
ber and dressed her in rich bridal robes.
She seemed to live in an atmosphere of
perfect bliss. She was as beautiful as
a day in springtime when it draws to-
ward sunset and misty glory rises
over the hills and lakes and the drowsy
flowers droop their heads in sleep She
lived 30 years in that hour. have but
to close my eyes, and sec her again.
! Her eyes were SO large and bright that
they seemed to efface her pale visagc.
A sanity smile played upon her lips.
Her little hands We're clasped as she lis
tened to the voice of the priest. Our
! fingers Joined, and she trembled when,
at last, she pronounced the great Yes, :"
for she put in it all her religion, all the
force of her being; then she sank back,
her strength exhausted. But what do
hcious fatigue, what blissful wearinessl |
Tenderly she whispered as she dreamed
and drew me near her lips The muir
derous shadow of death crept rapidly
onward. Her spirit wandered in the
farof land of twilight. I saw her
cheeks grow leaden hued and her tenn
pies hollow. She felt not the approach
of death, but continued to love, to be
happy, to forget herself in her dream
divine. Her head was pillowed on my
arm, and watched her dark eyes grow
wider, wider yet. Her hair shone upon
the pillow like mesh of gold. The
silken bridal robe enveloped her like a
cloud.
The sun had set, and the daylight
was fading, when she murmured:
Thou lowest me, Jacques? Thou low
est the poor girl? Mon DieuI We will
live long. feel that cannot die.
cannot die now.
Her voice sounds as if she had turned
back at the entrance of that mysterious
land to call to me once more-it is like
bells heard far off upon the sea. Flor
body grows cold in lis rich winding
sheet, but she no longer suffers. She
repeats:
81 cannot dier'
a vague smile hovers over her face,
which always wears that look of inf
mite love, of happiness without a shad-
ow. My heart is still. At that moment
am all that loves in the world-I am
mother, a father, lover. She muir
murs again:
'.I love thee. We will live in the
country-the violets"--
Her lips part with smile of inefRa-
BILE joy, and she is at rest forever.
1t is evening, and gaze through the
gathering shadows at the outline of the
slender figure in its bridal robe. My
sorrow is as profound as it is sweet, for
I feel that much will be pardoned me
because have soothed one poor, loving
little heart and sweetened with happi-
ness the bitter cup of death. h.-Translat-
ed From the French of ]. d. Rosny For
Once Week.