She seemed
perfectly calm and collected in her excess of sorrow; she only sought
with her robe and her hair to cover Carlo's wound and stop the flow of
blood.
A happy smile played upon Carlo's blue lips.
"I die," he murmured, "but I die for thee! Thy _vapo_ has kept his word,
he has defended thee until his last breath! How good is God! He lets me
die in thy service!"
"No, no, you must not die!" cried Natalie, her calmness giving way to
the wildest sorrow. "No, Carlo, you must live! Oh, say not that you die!
Ah, you love me, and yet you would leave me alone! Only live, and I also
will love you, Carlo, as warmly and as glowingly as you love me! Do but
remain with me, and my heart, my life shall be yours!"
"Too late! too late!" murmured Carlo, with dying lips. "Remember me,
Natalie--I have dearly loved you. I die happy, for I die in your arms!"
"No, no, you shall live in my arms!" sobbed she. "I will be yours--your
bride!"
"Kiss me, my bride," he falteringly stammered.
She bent over him, and with hers she touched his lips, already
stiffening in death. She laid her warm, glowing cheek to his cold and
marble-pale face; that full, fresh life pressed that which was cold and
expiring to her bosom in an ardent struggle with death! In vain!
Death is inexorable.
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