Page 486 of 896

At first, there were times, though she was a perfectly happy

young wife, when her work would slowly fall from her hands, and

her eyes would be dimmed. For, there was something coming in the

echoes, something light, afar off, and scarcely audible yet, that

stirred her heart too much. Fluttering hopes and doubts--hopes,

of a love as yet unknown to her: doubts, of her remaining upon

earth, to enjoy that new delight--divided her breast. Among the

echoes then, there would arise the sound of footsteps at her own

early grave; and thoughts of the husband who would be left so

desolate, and who would mourn for her so much, swelled to her

eyes, and broke like waves.