The Washington times., 1895-05-26
Her Last Lotfer.
Copyright, 1887

Copyright, 1889
When Claribeil had been gone from earth
a month went to her mothers house to
ask some questions had not asked before.
] sat down in the room where she had so
often received me and looked aboutlne.
The place was in the cruel order of dis
use, all the curtains drawn, the piano
closed, her music books in a pile upon the
staDd-none of those little tokens Of ner
presence that 1 loved so well anywhere
to be seen.
Had all been as she left it, the sheet of
music on the rack, her bracelets lying as
she pulled them off, rose from her bosom
dropped upon the carpet perhaps might
have wept, but this biankness dried the
tearsandfrozet the heart twithinmybosom.
Claribell was my betrothed wife, and
she died very suddenly. so that she was
gone before / could answer the telegram
that told me she was ill. She was only
eighteen, the loveliest thing God vermade,
/ thought.
Never shall forget the night met her,
a night when the full moon shone and
great jewels of stars hung in the heavens.
1t was the night of the Athertons' great
ball, and we two stole away from the heat
ed rooms cut into the garden.
1t was early spring, and the perfume of
the green things growing filled the air. /
wrapped her close in her white cloak and
drew the hood over her head. l thought
then that she had an angels beauty I
know now that she was never meant to
live long on earth.
Before we parted / had almost told her
that loved her.
/ am very rich man-one of those
whose fortunes come TO them without an
effort of their own. / am not Unlocking
nor Is there anything against me in the
minds of men, An idle fellow enough
but why should 1 not be Idle? And so
Claribell's parents welcomed me when
told them my hopes, and in a little while
Claribell gave me her promise.
six mouths engagement followed, and
then she died.
She died! L could scarcely believe, as
sat there in the old place, that should not
hear her step upon the stair, and see the
door open and know that / had only fallen
asleep and dreamed a dreadful dream as l
saw her smiling on me, and clasped her in
my arms
But instead, the door opened and her
mother, clad in sabes, entered, gave me
her hand. and burst into tears.
"Oh, Frederic,' she sobbed, what a
woeful world this is. My child, my little
girl!' l turned from her and hid my face,
and we Were silent for along, long while.
''Sbe sat there at the piano, when, as
we supposed she fainted,'' said the mother.
''She had been singing. The last song was
that beautiful thing she was so fond Of
Farewell, farewell, we meet no more.
Then she went and sat near the window
with the music book in her hand-that red
one yonder. She still held it fast when we
found her on the floor
could not answer, but I leaned forward
and took the red music book IN my hand
and laid my face against it and kissed 1t.
Then l furled the pages softly. and found
the song of which Claribell's mother spoke
Loves Farewell
Across the poem lay a sheet of note paper
covered with Claribell's S delicate handwrit-
ing.
asked.
"A letter." said I.
Perhaps she was writing to you when
she grew ill., said the mother.
For a moment or so could see nothing.
Clarihell's mother arose and left the room.
Perhaps she thought l would prefer to be
by myself when / read my little loves last
letter. She was always very kind and con-
siderate OF my feelings.
Indeed the first words moved me great