Phenix Gazette

Dying in Sleep.—The following, from Miss Landon's novel of Romance and Reality, is new and striking:

"Mr. Arundel (the uncle of the heroine) had laid down some time. He was asleep—a calm, beautiful, renovating sleep—and Emily sat down by his bedside. The love which bends over the sleeping is, save in its sorrow, like the love which bends over the dead—so deep, so solemn! Suddenly he opened his eyes, but without anything of the starting return to consciousness with which people generally awake—perhaps her appearance harmonized with his dream. Without speaking, but with a look of extreme fondness, he took her hand, and, still holding it, slept again.

Emily felt the grasp tighten and tighten till the rigidity was almost painful: she had drawn the curtains lest the sun, now come round to that side of the house, should shine too powerfully; a strange awe stole over her in the gloom; she could scarcely in its present position, discern her uncle's face, and she feared to move. The grasp grew tighter; but the hand that held hers colder; his breathing had all along been low, but now it was inaudible. Gently she bent her face over his—unintentionally: for she dreaded to awaken him—her lips touched his; there was no breath to be either heard or felt, and his mouth was like ice. With a sudden desperate effort she freed her hand, from which her uncle's instantly dropped on the bedside, with a noise, slight indeed, but to her ears, like thunder; she flung open the curtains—again the light came full into the room, and looked on a face which both those who have not, and those who have before seen, alike know to be the face of death."