The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-13

my face to hers, while she laughed and
cried in reciting to me in broken words
tho prayer Of her love, while she spoke
to mo as fervent dcvotees to God.
felt that l had given to one human be-
ing the equivalent of lifetime of ham
pilscss.
will not tell you how 1 arranged to
obtain the consent of my guardian. T
did not ask that of my tiancee-I knew
sho would pardon mo aftcrward. The
banns wcro published, and I made all
preparations for u regular marriage.
During tho weeks which followed she
lived i'll ecstasy. Her malady seemed
rclcnting. ~ miraculous beauty seemed
to shine about her like an aureolc. She
dazzled me; she filled my heart with q
sad love, like that of mothers for frail.
beautiful children who cannot 1.-Two. I
had her placed i'll II special room at tho
hospital, where she received the 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. L could not satiate my
self with that adoring gaze, with that
beatitudc which each word each gcs-
turc of mine bestowed. How we'll I re-
member the twilight hours when
would sit beside her, Watching her pale
face blend tremendously with tho shad-
ows, whilo she murmured to me her
words of love like the verses of a song:
''Bctter than Godl Better than tho
Virgin! Better than my life and the
life of the universal"
Thus time flowed by, and tho we'd
ding day came. After the civil mar
riaSe they sat up an altar in her cham
Der and dressed her in rich bridal robes.
She seemed to live i'll an atmosphere of
perfect bliss Shc was as beautiful as
day i'll springtimc when it draws to-
ward sunset and Il misty glory rises
over the hills and lakes and the drowsy
flowers drOOp their heads in sleep. She
lived 20 years i'll that hour. have but
to close my eyes, and [ see her again.
Her eyes were so largo and bright that
they seemed to cfface 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 trcmbled when,
at last, she pronounced the great yes"
for she put i'll it all her religion, all tho
force of her being; then she sank back,
her strength exhausted. But what de-
liciOUs fatigue, what blissful WEAKNESS!
Tcndcrly she whispered us she dreamed
and drew mo near her lips. Tho muir
dcrous shadow of death crcpt rapidly
onward. Her spirit wandered in the
faroif land Of twilight 1 saw her
checks grow leadcn hucd and her tenn
Mo. hnlln,,- G,n f,1 Il 1.
OF death, but continued to love- to be
happy, to forget herself in her dream
divine. Her head was pillowcd OH my
arm, and l watched her dark eyes grow
wider, wider yet. Her hair shonc upon
the pillow like a mesh of gold. The
silkcn bridal robe cnvcloped her like Il
cloud.
The sun had set, and the daylight
was fading, when she murmurcd:
''Thou lowest me, Jacques? Thou low
est the poor girl? Mon Dicu We will
live long. feel that cannot die. L
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
OCiio iic'tiN la Oil UPON tNc Scd 11cr
body grows cold in its rich winding
sheet, but she no longer suffers. She
repeats:
81 cannot diep'
= vaguc smile hovcrs over her face,
which always wears that look of inf
mite love, of happiness without shad-
ow. My heart is still. At that moment
I am all that loves in the world-I am
a mother, Il father, Il lover She muir
murs again:
81 love thee. We will live in the
Countrywide violcts''--
Her lips part with smile of inctia-
BILE JOY, and she is at rest forever
1t is evening, and gaze through The
gathering shadows at the outline of the
slender figure III its bridal robe My
sorrow is as profound as it is sweet, for
] feel that much Will be pardoncd me
because | have soothcd one poor, loving
little heart and swectoned with happi-
ness the bitter cup Of death. Translate
ed From the French of j. II. Rosny For
Once a Week.