Heart-Histories and Life-Pictures | Page 6

peace."
"I will not disturb, but calm her spirit," said the young man, earnestly.
"Oh, let me see her, that I may call her back to life!"
"It is too late," replied the aunt. "The oil is exhausted, and light is just
departing."
Edwin started to his feet, exclaiming passionately--"Let me see her! Let
me see her!"
"To see her thus, would be to blow the breath that would extinguish the
flickering light," said the aunt. "Go home, young man! It is too late! Do
not seek to agitate the waters long troubled by your hand, but now
subsiding into calmness. Let her spirit depart in peace."
Florence sunk again into his chair, and, hiding his face with his hands,
sat for some moments in a state of a mental paralysis.

In the chamber above lay the pale, almost pulseless form of Edith. A
young girl, who had been as her sister for many years, sat holding her
thin white hand. The face of the invalid was turned to the wall. Her
eyes were closed; and she breathed so quietly that the motions of
respiration could hardly be seen. Nearly ten minutes had elapsed from
the time a servant whispered to the aunt that there was some one in the
parlor, when Edith turned, and said to her companion, in a low, calm
voice--
"Mr. Florence has come."
The girl started, and a flush of surprise went over her face.
"He is in the parlor now. Won't you ask him to come up?" added the
dying maiden, still speaking with the utmost composure.
Her friend stood surprised and hesitating for some moments, and then
turning away, glided from the chamber. She found the aunt and Mr.
Florence in the passage below, the latter pleading with the former for
the privilege of seeing Edith, which was resolutely denied.
"Edith wants to see Mr. Florence," said the girl, as she joined them.
"Who told her that he was here?" quickly asked the aunt.
"No one. I did not know it myself."
"Her heart told her that I was here," exclaimed Mr. Florence--and, as he
spoke, he glided past the aunt, and, with hurried steps, ascended to the
chamber where the dying one lay. The eyes of Edith were turned
towards the door as he entered; but no sign of emotion passed over her
countenance. Overcome by his feelings, at the sight of the shadowy
remnant of one so loved and so wronged, the young man sunk into a
chair by her side, as nerveless as a child; and, as his lips were pressed
upon her lips and cheeks, her face was wet with his tears.
Coming in quickly after, the aunt took firmly hold of his arm and
sought to draw him away, but, in a steady voice, the invalid said--

"No--no. I was waiting for him. I have expected him for days. I knew
he would come; and he is here now."
All was silence for many minutes; and during this time Edwin Florence
sat with his face covered, struggling to command his feelings. At a
motion from the dying girl, the aunt and friend retired, and she was
alone with the lover who had been false to his vows. As the door closed
behind them, Edwin looked up. He had grown calm. With a voice of
inexpressible tenderness, he said--
"Live for me, Edith."
"Not here," was answered. "The silver chord will soon be loosened and
the golden bowl broken."
"Oh, say not that! Let me call you back to life. Turn to me again as I
have turned to you with my whole heart. The world is still beautiful;
and in it we will be happy together."
"No, Edwin," replied the dying maiden. "The history of my days here is
written, and the angel is about sealing the record. I am going where the
heart will never feel the touch of sorrow. I wished to see you once more
before I died; and you are here. I have, once more, felt your breath
upon my cheek; once more held your hand in mine. For this my heart is
grateful. You had become the sun of my life, and when your face was
turned away, the flower that spread itself joyfully in the light, drooped
and faded. And now, the light has come back again; but it cannot warm
into freshness and beauty the withered blossom."
"Oh, my Edith! Say not so! Live for me! I have no thoughts, no
affection that is not for you. The drooping flower will lift itself again in
the sunshine when the clouds have passed away."
As the young man said this, Edith raised herself up suddenly, and, with
a fond gesture, flung herself forward upon his bosom. For a few
moments her form quivered in