"Adversity, sage, useful guest,
Severe instructor, but the best;
It is from thee alone, we know
Justly to value things below."
Somerville.
Roused at last from the stupor in which he fallen, Wilkins rose from the
floor, and taking his infant son in his arms, went out and told the
neighbors what had occurred. Leaving his child with a friend living near
by, he next went in search of a coroner, and returned with him to the
house. All this Bernard did calmly, quietly, almost like one in a dream,
with no thought for his own safety, no idea of danger to himself. The
coroner was a gentleman well known to Bernard, acquainted with both the
good and bad traits of his nature. In looking upon the corpse he readily
understood the whole matter, and pitied the unfortunate murderer, even
more than the beautiful victim.
A jury was summoned, and the verdict returned was: "Died by the
_accidental_ discharge of a pistol, in the hands of Bernard Wilkins."
The sincere and unaffected sorrow which Bernard evinced, served to
corroborate this statement, and if any _guessed_, none _knew_, the real
truth.
Della was sent for, and came hastily. Though almost overwhelmed at the
terrible death of her favorite, she spoke no word of reproach, uttered
no sentence of reproof, to that husband, who, it was plainly evident,
suffered immeasurably. Della's own hands prepared Minny's body for the
tomb. She robed her in one of her own dresses--an India mull, of
spotless white, and folded the tiny hands below the exquisite bust,
clasping a few pale flowers. The fatal ball had left the face uninjured,
and the wound beneath her chin was skillfully concealed. The eyes were
closed perfectly and naturally. The lips, yet red and full, slightly
parted over the pearly teeth, as if with a smile, and the long black
curls floated gracefully down the fair neck and bosom. To have looked
upon her, one would have deemed her sleeping. As long as it was
possible, Della kept the body unentombed. The news of the fearful death
had spread over a goodly portion of the city, and hundreds came to look
upon the corpse, and turned away with wet cheeks, declaring it the
loveliest sight they had ever looked upon.
The day of burial arrived at last, and, bending over the coffin, Della,
with raining tears, pressed her lips for the last time upon the brow of
that being, who had been faithful to her, even to death. The long
concourse moved slowly away. Guly walked at Wilkins' side. As the boy
glanced upon that pale face once more, before the tomb closed upon it
for ever, the memory of the first time he ever saw her, came back upon
his mind--the time when, with the wild glitter in her eye, he had seen
her strike Wilkins that fearful blow, and rush shudderingly past him
into the darkness.
On returning from the cemetery, Wilkins found General Delville's
carriage at the door, and its owner within, conversing with his wife.
She had not gone out to the burial on account of her child, who was not
well. The General seemed overjoyed to find Della the happy wife and
mother, which, under such sad circumstances, she appeared. He told them
how eagerly he had searched the city over, in the hopes of finding them,
since their marriage, but had signally failed, until the papers, in
recording the fearful event which had just passed, had given him some
clue to their whereabouts, which he had immediately followed up.
"I am now," said he, "on the eve of starting for Europe. America has no
tie of kindred for me; I've not a relative living in all this broad
land, and I shall launch myself upon the waves of the Atlantic
to-morrow, no doubt for the last time, before sinking into the vast
ocean of eternity, whose waves are ever loudly beating on the shores of
time. I hope to end my days on classic ground; and to have my grave
swept by those breezes which have fanned the brows of the great masters,
whose works I have loved. Thus, I shall die happy. Sometimes," said he,
taking Della's hand, and smiling upon her the same smile which had so
lightened her heart months before, "sometimes give a thought to the old
man, whose bones will drop to dust in foreign lands, but who, to the
latest hour of his existence, will cherish his love and fond remembrance
of you."
With one more earnest pressure of the hand, he bade them farewell; and
with sad hearts, Della and her husband waved back his last adieu, and
saw him pass from their sight, for the last time, for ever. Upon turning
to re-enter the house, a folded paper, lying on the table where the
General's hat had stood, attracted Della's attention. She found it
directed to herself, and upon opening it found it contained a check for
one hundred thousand dollars, upon one of the city banks, left for her
as a parting gift from him, who, though he could not be her husband, had
proved himself her friend.
"Oh, Bernard!" exclaimed Della, as she realized the fortune which had so
unexpectedly fallen to her lot; "let us at once leave this place. We
have no friends here. My parents, who have disowned me, I haven't even
the claim of love upon; and there are no ties, save Minny's grave, and
the friendship of a few constant hearts, to bind us here. These, sooner
or later, must be broken at last, and I would rather seek some home,
wherein to spend the residue of our days, free from the sad
associations which cluster here."
To this proposition Bernard consented; and immediate preparations were
made to depart for the Isle of Cuba, that gem of the Antilles, whose
sparkling lustre has won the admiration of the world.
Before their departure, Della caused a marble tomb to be erected over
Minny's remains. The design was simple and elegant, and the marble as
pure as the cold young heart it covered. It bore the simple
inscription:--
"MY SISTER."
Della proposed to Bernard, now that they were so abundantly able, to
offer a home to the friendless Blanche, and let her be as a sister to
them. Accompanied by Guly, who was still Wilkins' warmest friend, they
went to the little house, to offer this proposition to the beautiful
brodeuse. To the utter astonishment of all, and to Guly's chagrin and
despair, they found the house deserted, the door closed, and the
familiar card, "_To Let_," swinging from the upper balcony. Blanche was
gone, none knew whither.
Della and Bernard waited several days, in the hope of hearing something
of their young friend; but thwarted in their generous desire, they at
last left the city, bidding an affectionate farewell to Guly, who stood
upon the levee, watching the departing vessel, bearing away those true
and tried friends, till lost to his aching sight.
They bought a delightful country residence, near the city of Havana, and
established themselves there, in the heart of a pleasant neighborhood,
and were soon surrounded by warm and faithful friends. Bernard Wilkins
became an altered man. His habits of dissipation were broken for ever;
and he remained a faithful husband and happy father. Thus, performing
his promises to the dying Minny, her departing words were fulfilled; and
the shadow of her last hour rested on his heart ever holily--holily!