Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-08-19
A SHATTERED HARP.


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 ns little children, and
their hopes and plans had grown together,
but Sellner's uncertain position forced
them to postpone for a long time the full
flllmont of his hopes. At last he received
his 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
they spent the beautiful evenings together,
with no third person TO claim and share In
their joyl Plans for coming days filled the
hours They were both of them fine mu-
sicians, and Sellner's flute and Josephe q
harp made sweet music dtring tho en-
chanted evenings, which sped all too
quickly. The deep harmony Of their In
struments was an auspioious omen for
their future.
One evening after they had played long
together Josophe complained Of O violent
headache. 1t had begun In the morning,
and the days work and the evening 8
pleasure had wrought seriously upon her
delicate nerves. Sellner sent at onoe for a
physician, who assured them that she
would recover in the morning. But after
an extremely restless night, during which
she raved necessarily, the doctor found
poor Josephe with the symptoms of a nerv-
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 live much
longer. She awaited the end with gentle
resignation.
"Dear Edward" she said to her hus-
band, with deep sorrow leave this beau
tiful earth, where have found thee and
highest blessedness; but, though may
not linger longer in thine arms Josephc's
love shall be round about thee until we
meet again above"
She sank back and fell asleep. Il 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
yigor. Deep melancholy fastened up,
him. He haI left Josephe's room as 1t
was before her death, and every evening
he made pilgrimage to this sanctuary of
his love. Hither on 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
breathed his yearnings toward her who
had gone Suddenly from q neighboring
tower the watchman cried the ninth hour
As II struck by light spirit hand, the
harp answered to his flute Overcome
with awe, Sellner ceased playing on the
flute. The strains Of the harp also ceased.
With deep emotion he now began Josephe's
favorite song, and the strings sent forth
strong, loud notes In accompaniment to
his melody. He sank to the floor, with a
shudder of joy, and stretched out his arms
to embrace the beloved shadow. He felt
himself breathed upon as by the warmth
of spring. and q pale, shimmeFing light
shone round him.
"I know thee, blessed shadow Of my
aainted Josephe" he cried. "Thou didst
promise In love to be round about mel
Thou dost keep thy word feel thy
breath; thy kisses upon my lips! Thy
glory shines upon mel''
Again he took the flute, and the harp
again sounded forth, but more and more
gently until It's whisperings were lost in
one long, final chord.
Sellner cast himself upon his couch. In
all his heated dreams he heard the whis-
perings Of the harp. He awoke late, wea-
ried from the emotion OF the night. He
felt the touch of a supernatural hand upon
his life, and within him there was q
strange voice. 1t prophesied the speedy
victory Of the soul over the body.
With unutterable longing he waited for
the evening. At twilight he betook him
self to Josephe's room. Playing upon the
flute, he lulled himself into still dreams
until the ninth hour. Hardly had the last
clock stroke ceased before the harp again
sent forth its strains to meet and blend
with the flute tunes In perfect accord.
Again the pale, shimmering light shone
round him. Again he cried out to his
loved one: "Josephe, Josephe! Take me
with theep' Again the harp strains took
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 life
long friend Of Sellner. The physician
found him in a 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
sician 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 be taken into Josephe's room. They
did his bidding. He looked about him at
each beloved object with tears Of Joy and
spoke with certainty Of the ninth hour as
his last upon earth. The fatal moment
drew near. He said farewell to all who
were gathered around him and asked to be
left alone with the physiciaE.
Nine hollow strokes groaned forth from
the castle tower and Sellner's face shone
with heavenly light.
"JosepheP' he cried with ineffable Joy,
as IL Gods hand had touched him. "Jo-
sephe, greet me once more ere go, that
may know thou art near and may over
como death by thy lovei'
Then the harp strings vibrated In splen-
did, triumphal strains, like peans.