Fort Lafayette or, Love and Secession by Benjamin Wood
page 51 of 200 (25%)
page 51 of 200 (25%)
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anxious look.
"He has but fainted from loss of blood," said Beverly. "Harold, where is my sister?" As he spoke, Oriana, who, in the fresh night air, had recovered from her swoon, pale and with dishevelled hair, appeared at the cabin-door. Harold and Beverly sought to lead her out before her eyes fell upon Arthur's bleeding form; but she had already seen the pale, calm face, clotted with blood, but with the beautiful sad smile still lingering upon the parted lips. She appeared to see neither Harold nor her brother, but only those tranquil features, above which the angel of Death seemed already to have brushed his dewy wing. She put aside Beverly's arm, which was extended to support her, and thrust him away as if he had been a stranger. She unloosed her hand from Harold's affectionate grasp, and with a long and suppressed moan of intense anguish, she kneeled down in the little pool of blood beside the extended form, with her hands tightly clasped, and wept bitterly. They raised her tenderly, and assured her that Arthur was not dead. "Oh, no! oh, no!" she murmured, as the tears streamed out afresh, "he must not die! He must not die for _me_! He is so good! so brave! A child's heart, with the courage of a lion. Oh, Harold! why did you not save him?" But as she took Harold's hand almost reproachfully, she perceived that it was black and burnt, and he too was suffering; and she leaned her brow upon his bosom and sobbed with a new sorrow. |
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