Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1895-09-03
a SHATTERED HARP.

a SHATTERED HARP. :
The secretary and his young wife were
yet in the glalnor of their honeymoon. No
considerations of convenience, no passing
inclination had united them. Love, ar
dent and proved by years Of patient wait
Ing, was the seal Of their union They had
known each other as little children, and
their hopes and plans had grown together,
but Sellner's uncertain position forced
them to postpone for long time the full
dllment Of his hopes. At last he received
bis appointment, and on the following
Sunday he led his bride into their new
home. When the long summer days of
congratulations were ended, how gladly
hey spentthe beautiful evenings together,
with no third person to claim and share in
their joy! Plans for coming days filled the
hours. They were both of them fine mu-
sicians, and Sellner's flute and Josephe's
harp made sweet music during the en-
ohanted evenings, which sped all too
quickly. The deep harmony of their In
Struments was an auspicious omen for
their future.
One evening after they had played long
together Josephe complained of q violent
headache. It had begun in the morning.
and the days work and the evenings
pleasure had wrought seriously upon her
delicate nerves. Sellner sent at once for
ply stefan, who assured them that she
would recover in the morning. But after
an extremely restless night, during which
she rayed necessarily, tho doctor found
poor JOsephe with the symptoms of ncrv-
Gus fever. He devoted himself zealously to
the case, but Josephe grew worse daily.
Sellner was beside himself On the ninth
day the physician lost hope, and Josephe
herself felt that she could not 1.-Two much
longer. She awaited tho end with gentle
resignation.
Dear Edward" she said to her hus-
band, with deep sorrow leave this beau
tiful earth, where have found thco and
highest blesscdness; but, though 1 may
not linger longer In thine arms, .Josephe's
love shall he round about thee until we
meet again above"
She sank back and fell asleep. It was
In the evening at the ninth hour
Sellner's SORROW was unspeakable He
struggled long with life. His grief de-
stroyed his health, and when after many
weeks he arose from his sickbed he was
without vestige Of his former youthful
vigor. Deep melancholy fastened upon
him. he had left Josephe's room as 1t
/ was before her death, and every evening
he made pilgrimage to this sanctuary Of
! his love. Hither on a clear moonlight
night he came and stood as in the time of
his happiness, leaning upon her window
Into the sweet tones OF the flute he
II hVAos Ind III
| had gone. Suddenly from a ncighboring
| tower tho Waterman cried tho ninth hour
| AS If struck by light spirit hand, the
| harp answered to his flute. Overcome
with awe, Sellner ceased playing ON tho
| lutte. The strains of the harp also ceased.
With deep emotion he now began Josephe' s
tavorite song, and the strings sent forth
strong, loud notes in accompaniment to
his melody. He sank to the floor, with q
shudder Of JOY, and stretched out his arms
to embrace the beloved shadow. He felt
himself breathed upon as by tho warmth
shone round him.
II know thee, blessed shadow Of my
sainted Josephe!' he cried. "Thou didst
promise in love to be round about me!
Thou dost keep thy word! I feel thy
L
glory shines upon me!'
Again he took the flute, and the harl
again sounded forth, but more and mort
gently until its whisperings were lost in
one long, final chord.
Sellner cast himself upon his couch. II
all his heated dreams he heard the whis
perings of the harp. He aHoke late, wea
ried from the emotion of the night 81,
felt tho touch of supernatural hand upo1
his life, and within him there was
strange voice. It prophesied the speedy
victory of the soul over tho body.
With unutterable longing he waited fo7
the evening. At twilight he betook him
self to Josephe's room. Playing upon tn,
flute, he lulled himself into still dream.
until the ninth hour. Hardly had tho las
clock stroke ceased before tho harp AGAR
sent forth its strains to meet and blcnf
with the 1uto tunes in perfect accord
Again the pale, shimmering light shons
round him. Again he cried out to hi.
loved one: "Josephe, Josephc! Take me
with thee!" Again the harp strains tool
leave of him in gentle whisperings
Sellner tottered back to his room. His
looks terrified his faithful servant, who
fastened, in spite of his masters prohibi
lions, to the physician, who was also a life
long friend of Sellner. The physician
found him in q fever, with the very symp
toms that had appeared in Frau Sellner's
malady. The fever increased during the
night. He raved ever of Josephe and the
harp.
In the morning he was quieter; the
struggle was over. He felt assured OF
speedy release. He revealed to the ply.
sioian the occurrences Of both evenings,
and no arguments of cold reason could
dissuade him from his belief. AS evening
came on he grew weaker and asked at last
to bo taken into Josephe's room. They
did his bidding. He looked about him a,
each beloved object with tears Of joy and
spoke with certainty Of the ninth hour as
his last upon earth. The fatal momen,
drew near. He said farewell to oil who
were gathered around him and asked to he
left alone with the physician.
Nine hollow strokes groaned forth from
the castle tower and Sellner's face shons
with heavenly light.
| "Josephe!'' he cried with ineffable joy,
as II Gods hand had touched him. $40.
eephe, greet me once more ere 60, that
may know thou art near and may over
come death by thy love!''
Then the harp strings yibrated in splen-
did, triumphal strains, like peans.
Il come, I comet he cried, and sinking
back, struggled with life. The harp tones
grew soft and gentle, but lost no sweetness
nor clearness. Suddenly Sellner's struggle
ended and the strings snapped asunder.
We're they torn by a supernatural hands
The physician was bowed down in an
ecstasy Of awe. He closed the eyes Of his
friend and left the house. After years Of
| silence concerning Sellner's death-a 81