Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1894-08-09

| swOre to her that l would. She
smiled up at me with alienation. She
prayed aloud, thanking God for his great
goodness. One day was go moved by
the depth of her love for me that I
wished to give her yet more happiness,
Il you'd cost me 60 little. Alas was
she not irremediably condemned?
lam going to publish the banps,' !
cried.
Her joy was ALMOST terrible in its IN.
sity. Her face shone with a marvel elous
eplendor, and while she drew down my
face to hers, while she laughed and
cried IN reoltipg to me in broken words
the prayer of her loye, while she spoke
to me as feryent devotees to God, l felt
that l had given to one human being
the equivalent of Lifetime of happi-
ness.
Twill not tell you how I arranged to
obtain the consent of my guardian. l
did not ask tbat Of my finanpe-I knew
she would pardon me atterward. Fhe
banns were published, and l made all
preparations for a regular marriage.
During the weeks which followed she
lived in ecstacy. Her malady seemed
releptlna. A miraculous beauty seemed
to shine about her like an aureole. She
dazzled me; she filled my heart with a
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 the care OF
the best physicians and had sister Of
charity to watch over her night and day.
l passed the greater part OF my time
with her. could not satiate myself
with that adorlng gaze, with that beat
itude which each word, each gesture Of
mine bestowed. How we'll l remem-
Der the twilight hours then would sit
beside her, watching her pale face blend
harmoniously with the shadows, while
she murmured to ME her words OF love
like the verses Of a song:
Better than God Better than the
Virgin Better than my life and the
life Of the universe
Thus time flowed by and the wedding
day came. After the civil marriage
they sat up an altar in hel chamber
and dressed her in rich bridal robes
She seemed to liye in an atmosphere o.
perfect bliss. She was as beautiful as
a day in springtime when it draws to-
ward sunset and misty glory rises ovel
tho hills and lakes and the drowsy flow
ers droop their heads IN sleep. She
liyed twenty years ln that hour.
have but to close my eyes and | see hel
again. Her eyes were SO large and
bright that they seemed to etfacs hel
pale visage. A sanity smile played
upon her lips. Her little hands were
clasped as she listened to the voice o.
the priest. Our fingers joined, and she
trembled wi hen. at last, she pronounced
the great eyes," for she put in it al
her religion, all the force Of her being
then she sank back, her strength ex-
hausted. But what delicious fatigue
what blissful weariness Tenderly she
whispered as she dreamed and drew me
near her lips. The murderous shadow
Of death crept rapidly onward. Her
spirit wandered in the far-of land Of
twilight. Isaw her cheeks grow leaden
hued and her temples hollow. She felt
not the approach Of death, but .eontin-
ued to love, to be happy, to forget her
self in her dream divine. Her head was
pilowed on my arm and I watched her
dark eyes grow wider, wider yet. Her
hair shown upon the pillow like mesh
of gold. The nlken bridal robe envel-
,oped her like q cloud.
The sun had set, and the. daylight was
fading, when she murmured:
Thou lowest me, Sacquest? Thou
lowest the poor girl7 Mon Dieu We
will live long. feel that ! cannot die,
/ cannot die now.
X \ y
Mer voice sounded as if she had turn
ed back at the entrance Of that myster-
ious land to call to me once more-it is
like bells heard far off upon the sea.
Her body grows cold in its rich winding
sheet, but she no longer suffers. She
repeats:
i cannot ,die!'
A vague smile hovers over her face,
which always wears that look Of infinite