Page:Tales of humour and romance translated by Holcroft.djvu/324

 morning, and what was at first a very trifling fever, had on account of the weakness of her nerves been greatly increased by the excitement of the music, and the consequent straining of her feelings:—she concealed it no longer, and Sellner full of anxiety sent for a physician. He came, treated the matter as a trifle, and promised a complete recovery on the morrow.

But after a very restless night, in which she raved continually, the physician found the poor Josephina labouring under all the symptoms of a nervous fever. He tried every mean, yet Josephina's disease grew daily worse.—Sellner was in agony. On the ninth day, Josephina felt that her tender nerves could no longer endure the disease,— the physician too had previously acquainted Sellner of it. She foresaw her last hour was at hand, and with quiet resignation she awaited her destiny. "My dearest Edward," said she, to her husband, while she pressed him for the last time to her bosom, "with deep sorrow I quit this world where I found thee, and the greatest earthly bliss upon thy bosom, yet, though I must no longer be happy in thy arms, yet Josephina's love shall hover around thee as a guardian spirit until we meet again in heaven!" As she said this, she fell back and softly sank to rest. It was about nine in the evening. What Sellner suffered was inexpressible; he contended long with life—sorrow had destroyed his health, and when after many week's