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Dodge's Witerary Fuseum.
69
thyself? Ican read your future best. O,
Jael, itis a strange one. Bitter trials will
be yours. No woman ever lived a stranger
life than the one you are about to enter
upon. You will think of me often—you
will long to lie down Leside me and rest;
but your. prayer will not be granted. You
will enter heaven through a patient endur-
ance of sorrow. God be with you, my lit-
tle ewe lamb.”
“Tell me more of that future,” said Jael,
eagerly, as she listened to his words with a
strange feeling tugging at her heart.
“Tam not a soothsayer. I can only tell
you what [have already said. Of course,
the particular events are beyond my knowl-
edge. I only judge from your organization
and character. No woman, constituted and
endowed like you, could live a quiet, un-
eventful life, if she wished to. An cagle
might as well attempt to burrow in the den
of the ground-squirrel.”
“Leonard, do you think I shall ever be
great—famous ?”
“T cannot tell. I should say, however,
that’ your whole existence will be a vain
struggle. You have talent and genius
enough to make you great, but there is no
order or method in its arrangement. You
will do too many things well to become fa-
mous by one. I wish I could read you a
better fortune, darling.”
“T know it will all be as you say. I can
see my fault myself. VPerhaps I can rectify
it, by a more systematical lif. I shall re-
member your words, and try to profit by
them.”
“ Spare yourself the trouble, Jacl. I tell
you, it will be of no use. You were born
under a shooting star, I believe. You can-
not create yourself again. The clements
of order are not in your nature. You had
better live as happily as you can. You
will have trouble enough, my child, without
checking and killing your imagination and
fancy, in order to make yourself prim and
methodical as all the rest of the world.
You area wild flower: You were never
intended for a hot-house plant, or for a
climbing vine. You are independent, and
will stand alone, let what will come.”
“ Alone, with my memory of you, Leon-
ard!”
“Yes, for a time. Then new loves and
new sorrows will come to you. Your heart
will only die when you close your eyes for
the last time. Your capacity for loving is
large, and, Bedouin as you are, if your tent
is torn up by the wind in one spot, you will
pitch it in another place—never despairing
—and, above all, never forgetting. Jael, 1
shall watch your future.”
“Like Cain, I am to be-a wanderer on
the face of the earth.”
“Yes. The brand will not be on your
brow, but on that warm heart. Ilow it
throbs beneath my hand! How it will
throb in other years, when another head
lies here!”
“Leonard, does it never grieve you to
think I shall love another?”
“Why should it? I shall be far from
you. The heart must love, and the beauti-
ful will attract it to itself. All that is good
and agreeable to you will not be buried in
the grave with me. You will mect others,
possessing in a greater or less degree the
qualities which have attracted you to me.
lonly wish you might be happier in your
heart-life.”
“ Must each one die ?”
“Change or death will always haunt
you. You are one of the order to whom
the martyr’s cross is assigned.”
“Why was I born, then, to see all that
T love leave me?”
“You were born to suffer. It isa great
lesson, Jacl. Cheer up.’ If you bear the
cross, you will also, one day, wear the
crown.” .
“T said once I was willing to endure the
one if I could obtain the other. But my
courage has failed me. Can I endure the
trial ?”
“What has become of your old doctrine
that human will is above all things ? ”
“That has gone from me. I have been
taught that God only is mighty.”
“Then He will protect you, and strength-
en your heart to bear all things. 1 will
guard you, too, if I can. I shall be with
you at all times, and in all places. O, Jael,
death is strong, but love goes beyond the
tomb. We shall never be separated, even
for a moment.”
“Then how can I love another, if you
are with me?” .
“You will be living—I shall be dead.
You will require a material love, but the
spiritual one will refine and purify it.”
“ And lessen it, also.”
“Tt may be so. I donot imagine another
will ever be so dear to you as lam now. I
will only say you will loveagain. No aflec-
tion that you may feel hereafter will be as
delightful to you as this. The freshness of
your heart has been given to me. Thank
God for that, my Jael!. Such a Jove can
better bear to be buried than one of your
later years, for it will be so beautiful to look
back upon, that the happy past will be some
recompense for the dreary future which will
weary your spirit and sadden your soul.”
“O, that unknown future! I will meet
it bravely.”
“ And conquer it, my beloved. Then we
shall mect again. A sweet thought, Jael.”
He lay silent for some time, and then
looking wistfully up in her face, murmured,
“Kiss me, Jacl. Draw me nearer to
your heart.”
Jael bent above ‘him with tearful. eyes,
and he continued,
“When I die, Jacl, it must be so. Let
my head lie on your heart, and let no hand
but yours close my eyes. One thing more
T have to tell you. Ihave written to Laura
—to her whom the world calls my wife. I
wish to tell her that all is forgotten and for-
given, before I go. She will arrive to-night.
You will mect her by my bedside, and after
you have both looked your last on me, will
you not be a friend to her?”
“Yes, Leonard. How could you doubt
it?” .
“Your heart is strong, and you will bear
up against my loss.° But she will have the
past to remember and regret. If she ever
mentions it to-you, darling, assure her of
my perfect forgiveness. My property she,
of course, will claim; but there are two
things I wish you to keep—my silver-mount-
ed writing-desk and this watch. Take it
when Iam dying, Jael, and mark the mo-
ment when I draw my last breath—then,
whenever the hand rests there in its daily
journey, let it be as a finger pointing the
way tome. Will you promise to do this,
Jacl?”
“Yes.”
““ Another thing. You must be with me
when I dic. No law shall separate us.
You only are my wife.”
“Leonard, if you have any merey on
me, do not speak of this, I will not believe
that you can leave me. » At this moment
you look better than you have done since
| you were sick.”
“Jt may be a fancy,” said the Professor,
suddenly, “but I believe your words and
your love have given me’ new life. I feel
nearly well, now. © Kiss me, Jacl, and I will
not die.”
She bent above him, and pressed her lips
passionately to his.
His cheeks flushed, his eyes grew bright-
er, and throwing his arms around her neck,
he exclaimed,
“O, Jael! Physicians are but croaking
frogs, after all. ‘That one embrace has giv-
en ine strength. No, I will not die. I will
live to love you. I can separate mysclf
from Laura—she has broken her marriage
vow, and I am not bound to keep mine.
O, Jacl, you shall be my wife—my, own
loved child-bride. We will cross the seas
together—you shall visit Italy, you shall
live in’an atmosphere of poetry, beauty,
passion and love. Watch over me but a
few days longer—then we will be happy!
Jael, will you be my wife ?”
“Yes, Leonard. Earth has no greater
happiness for me.”
“My life-giving love! See! My pulse
is regular, my héart beats slow but steadily,
I am almost well. Who talks of dying?
Pshaw! ‘The grave is a cold, damp bed. I
will lie in your arms—your breast shall be
my pillow. With you near me, I shall soon
be strong and happy. My wife! my own
darling wife, that loves me, and will be all
my own! God, I thank thee!”
“Leonard, you will tire yourself. If I
am to be your nurse, I shall be very strict
with you. ‘This will never bring us to Italy.
You must go to your chamber. See, there
comes the girl after you.”
“Send her away,” said Baner, as the
servant opened the door, ‘and take me up
stairs yourself.” ;
“T will bring him back, Eliza,” said Jael,
kindly ; “do you go before and get the bed
ready for him.”
The girl disappeared, and Jacl turned to
lead her patient to his room. He pleaded
for one little kiss, which she gave him, and
then they ascended the stairs, and entered
his chamber. He laid down as quietly as a
good child, but still held Jael’s hand, that
he might keep her constantly near him, and
at last closed his eyes and fell into a placid
slumber.
Jacl gazed upon him earnestly. Ilis
cheeks were flushed with excitement, and a
smile lingered around his mouth, giving his
whole face a happy, tranquil expression.
He looked better than he had for many
days. ‘ dael blessed him, with happy tears
filling ‘her eyes. She looked at her watch,
It was nearly ten o’clock—the time appoint-
ed for the meeting in Emmie Ansel’s room.
She pressed a soft kiss upon the brow of
the sleeper, and after giving the nurse strict
directions to call her if he awoke, disengag-
ed her hand softly from his, and left the
apartment.
The night-watch by the dying! How
solemn and fearful a thing itis! Mow well
do I remember such a one, when I sat
through the long, long hours of a July
night, gazing with hushed breath and anx-
ious eyes upon the face of one whose gold-
en hair is now soiled by the dust and mold
of the grave! The long, white curtains,
moved by the night air, fluttered around the
windows, like attendant angels waiting for
the soul so soon to be given into their
charge; the honeysuckles that climbed over
the low roof of the cottage filled the room
with a faint, sweet fragrance, and the deep
bark of the watchdog in the distant farm-
house, came softened and mellowed to my
ear. The lonely silence of the Night was
around me, and my soul.was overcome by
grief. That face was still pale and uncon-
scious, the eyes gazed unrecognizingly into
mine. The storm-tide of despair would
have its way, and burying my face in my
hands, I wept awful tears—such tears as a
woman can shed but once in a lifetime. A
cricket commenced her song in the old-
fashioned, wide-mouthed chimney. She was
calling her lover—I was losing mine—and
my wild weeping kept time with her ex-
pectant song.
A fresh breeze swept through the room—
the blind swung to with a sullen clang. At
that moment, a hand grasped mine, the dear
eyes looked into mine, not with the wild
glance of frenzy, but with the grief and
love of a soul about to Ieave all it had loved
on earth, for the unknown and far-distant
heaven.
We sat there speechless for atime. ‘Then
the hand that held mine released its grasp,
and pointed slowly upwards. “ There no
parting can grieve us!” The eyes grew
dim, the hand trembled and fell. I sprang
forward—the bright head fell upon my
breast, and the dear lips were lifted to mine
once more, Alas! it was for the last time!
Suddenly, the bell of the village church
peeled out, to tell the hour. Ten, eleven,
twelve! The head rested heavier upon my
heart—time was nothing now to him! All
was hushed and still around me—the erick-
et sat silent upon the hearth, and the distant
watch-dog bayed no more. The breeze
died away—slowly—slowly! At last it
ceased, and not a breath of air stirred the
leaves of the honeysuckles. .
In the silence of the midnight, Death
stood beside me. He claimed my treasure,
and with a despairing anguish at'’my heart,
I closed the soft eyes, and left that hallowed
chamber, forever!
O, that night-watch by the dying! God
shield me from such another!
{To BE CONTINUED.]
Resstan “ Nontemen.”—We commend
the following to those Amerieans who are
odd enough to be captivated with every-
thing Russian, and to hate everything
Turkish—not even excepting their honesty.
It is copied from the Paris Patrie :
“The last letters from different Russian
provinces announce that marked agitation
prevailed both in St. Petersburg and sever-
al of the neighboring towns. Trade was
suffering intensely, and misery was on the
increase. A recent fact strikingly illustrat-
ed both the fears of the Russian _govern-
ment and its method of proceeding. A
tradesman of the eapital having failed,
closed his shop, situated in one of the most
frequented quarters of the city. The’ cir-
cumstance, apparently so ordinary, excited
a@ sensation, and »the government arrested
the tradesman and transported him at once -
to Siberia for having failed at such a time,
and thus betrayed the uneasy state of trade.
The police found, upon inquiry, that the
immediate cause of the failure was a claim
y a nobleman for a sum of money due to
lim. The nobleman was fined 15,000
roubles, and ordered to leave St. Peters-
burg and reside on his property.” :
£> Tuk difficulty of applying rules to
the pronunciation of our language may
illustrated in two lines, where the combina-
tion of the letters ough is pronounced in no
less than seven different ways, namely : as
0, uf, of, Up, Ot, 00, and ock:
Though the tough cough and hiccough plow me
hrong’ .
Over life's durk lough my course I still pursue.
82> A MEDAL has just been struck in
Paris to commemorate the triple alliance of
France, England and Turkey. It bears the
motto: “ Catholicism, Protestantisin, Islam-
ism—God protects them,” ©: .