Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-12-16

we're generally orgotten--treasured only in
the heart Of that desolate and decrepit old
creature.
you maryeed at hearing such words from
my lips, no wonder. for many a year has
passed since these things have been aught
to me save idle dreams. But the time has
been when I. too. was young-loying and
loved-blesslng and blessed. Ny brother,
your grandfather and myself were left, you
know, In early life as orphans in the hands
OF strangers. and although we had no claim
on them except that OF helplessness, and
could only repay their kindness by our
own exertiond. We had no reason ever 10
complain OF harshness or ill-treatment
among our kind and simple people. ! was
older than my brother, and as | grew up
to be a tall handsome lass. the young men
OF the village strove which could make
themselves most agreeable TO the light
hearted and beautiful Ursula. | know II is
folly In me TO talk so now, and you can
scarcely believe 1t, but eight years hence
II you should live so long. your cheek may
be wrlnkled and your eye bleared like
mine. so that your laughing boy will scarce
~ credit the tale OF your former beauty.
Heaven forbldv'
And II not." resumed the crone, the
change may be far more fearful--but where
was 1? oh-a merry romping lass OF is,
with blue eyes, fair curling locks and red,
Alpt llbss pN dAl Aut NliiorSt 49,
above all the favored choice Of young Al
bert wessenbery. the handsomest. noblest.
hravest belngi ~ wish you could have seen
him, Mary in all his pride OF vast strength
aud perfection OF manly beauty. Words
cannot express the love with which loved
him. A lifelong loneliness has proved 1t.
Well as | told you. | was his choice. and
consequently the envy OF all my acquaint-
ances. for no one thought OF denying that
Albert Wessenbery was the pride OF the
village. 40 powerful. so stately, sc de-
voted to me. Well, well, our wedding day
was fixed. and the bridemaids appointed.
A week before--yes, just seven days before
our wedding was to take place. babe
farewell to Albert for a day only, l be-
leved. Just such a day as this It was
and perhaps that is the reason why the sort,
clear sunshine and the sweet sounds in the
air have called up all these old memories so
freshly. He pressed me in his arms and
babe me farewell TIL evening.
81 dreaded his going out TO work that
day, for there was dangerous duty to be
done; but he went In spite Of my entreat-
les and frem that hour to this have never
seen him yeturn. | remember but dimly
what followed. stunning shock az II
an avalanche had overwhelmed me, Death
to him was worse than death to me. They
told me no had perished In the mine,
know not whether they spoke truly. have
known nothing clearly since that time
remember only that the light was removed
from my PATH and that the blRckness OF
madness gathered round me Tor awhile.
How long this lasted know not. When
arose from my bed Of sickness my heart
and my flesh failed me. and was as useless
and decrepid as II years had passed over
my head. Since that time | have strug-
gied on through long life Of darkness and
misery dragging on useless and tedious
existence"
oh say not useless. my good friend;
have you not, while you had strength, givol
to others the happiness which fate denied
to you?"
My brother gave me a home in his
chimney corner. and here have ! lived
more years than can count. and for what?
God knows. Perhaps | may yet live to see
Albert return. l cannot fancy him altered
as | am. l cannot help longing to see
him once more as he was OF old. Vain
as the hope may seem to you, that hope
has been the only happiness l have known
since he leit Inc, the only hope. OF what
other use am l in the world? Why should
l live? What other user what other HOPPER
So speaking and shaking her palsied head.
she relapsee into her former hnlf-conscious
state, occasionally muttering words to
which her young companion listened with
strained attention. but she could hear no
more. neither did she succeed In again
rousing the old woman from her apathy.
The artist sauntered idly onward until
he reached the mines. Here finding tnat the
reflection OF the noon-tlde brllllancy from
the crystals was painful to the eyes, he de-
scended into one OF the deepest excavations.
where he found his acquaintance Of the
morning and a fellow laborer at work.
The days work was a heavy one. for they
were opening communication between the
mines and In heavlng up the massive rocks
there was great danger Of being buried
alive beneath their crumbling weight. Such
things had often happened,
Here is a mass which requires more
strength than we can furnish said Philip,
and he shouted for help,
The desired assistance arrived, and after
an hours severe labor, the huge rock was
heaved upward. This removal disclosed a
sold stratum Of tho salt for which they were
tOiling; but the attainment OF the object OF
their labor called forth no expression OF
pleasure from the beholders, for the atten-
ton OF every one was riveted upon a strange
and unlocked for apparlton.
Extended upon this singular couch lay the
form OF young man, apparently not more
than 20 years Of age; his limbs were ex-
quisltely nodded. and he looked as II but
yesterday he had been hushed In the deep
sleep OF death. II was evident TO the minds
OF all that many years must have elapsed
since the being they had thus disinterred
had been overwhelmed with destruction in
attempting to move that massive weight:
for many years had passed since that por-
! tlon OF the mine had been worked upon. But
was his destruction Instantaneous? or did
he llnger on, day after day, In vain hope
| for the help that came not? How long had
| that crystalll2ed rock been his mausoleum ?
| Who was he? Where were his klndred7
| Here was wide field for conjecture. Could
no one remember that form. which might
have passed for sculptured Image OF An
/ tln0usg But stranger than all this, the body
seemed utterly untouched by the hand OF
| time, The very pllabillty Of the flesh re-
NAMED. Destruction had passed harmlessly
/ by that glorious form, aud decomposition
had not come near H. There he lay-he,
whose existence none could remember. llfe
| like and beaudful-embalmed as IL were in
/ the solid rock The SNOWY and rounded
| limbs told Of the strength and beauty which
| lad once been theirs, and the long black hair
/ curled wildly over the clay cold face ana
nerveless shoulders. He was In his ordina,.,,
mining dress. and by his spade and nieksx
beside him gave evidence OF his Anal and
| fatal occupation
| The body was removed and laid upon tha
| thick green sward for further inspection ana
/ perhaps recognition, The news spread ran
Idly, and tbs Inhabitants quickly cro,cJsa
around. None recollected him. altbnusb
some OF the Oldest among them told storiss
| OF such an accident which mad h,nn.ss
4 when they were little children: but nnns
could remember the circumstances. After n
while general murmur broke from The
| crowd, for they behed their oldest ylllayer
Dame Ursula, approach with totterinr ~;
I 80