The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-28


been drowned Two or three times the vision
was repeated; but the persons face was always
turned from her, 30 that she could not see his
features. She has never seen it since we came
here, until the night before Gerald told her of
our love. Then it was repeated even more
distinctly than before for this time the face
was turned toward her, and she says con.
tlnued the terrified girl, nervously clutching
my arm. Oh Mattee, she says the face was
that of Gerald Rivers She firmly believes it
warning from Heaven, and that in separa.
ting me from Gerald, she is saving me from
death ~
why, it's a dream, or an optical illusion ::
nothing more or less !" cried
$50 think" she replied, sadly; but it is
none the less hard that all our hopes must be
sacrificed to a dream. For who can convince
mamma
al can" | replied proud of my recently
gained knowledge on these Subjects, flor had
been reading Brewsters Natural Magc) 81
had always stood of Mrs. Morris, | added, or
if | cannot, old Parson Smith can, and she
will hear to him.
Yes if to any one; for he is the only one
who possesses much influence over her since
ohC hho eohNh cuCh u W utIdlN. Shlu
Annie, looking up and catching hope from my
tones rather than my words "Poor mamma ~
she added, after a pause, she thinks she acts
for the best; and were there no one but me
concerned would try 10 bear it--but-Ger-
ened by a dream!"
Old Dr. Smith was not the minister of the
parish at the time of which write. though he
Id loo.. q. Al,
a number of our people had become strongly
imbued with the modern notion, that wisdom
and usefulness, especially among clergymen,
are to he found only with the young, and the
old man had vacated his pulpit in favor of MIR.
L. But had been brought up with all man.
ner of old-fashioned notions so to him went
with my troubles. He heard me in silence,
until mentioned the fact of my bearing mes
sages from Gerald to Annie, when he slowly
raised his index finger, as was his custom when
about to utter words of rebuke or censure but
as | kept bravely on with my story, it began
to droop, and when ceased, he laid his hand
ON my head, and commended me for coming
to him. saying that such matters were alto
gether too serious for such young heads as mine
to manage that Mrs Morris was doubtless
laboring under some disease, which ought to
be looked to; and moreover, that he liked
Gerald Rivers much, and would see what could
be done.
1t was the last of October, and the next two
weeks were as rainy and dreary as mid-autumn
weeks could be. AS was necessarily confined
at home, | saw nothing of Annie until, to-
wards the last of the second week when, as
the rain had ceased, she Unexpectedly made
her appearance at our door. and asked if |
could accompany her to the west side of the
town, on an errand for her mother | was soon
ready, and we took our way along rather
unfrequented road fringed with wet black,
draggled stalks of what had been late autumn
flowers, and overhung by forest trees whose
rusty brown leaves tapped idly down, and car
peted our path, sticking to our clothes and
shoes, as If anxious to wrap us in q mantle OF
decay. 1t was dreary time, and our CONVEX
sation unconsciously took the same tone. We
reached our destination, however. performed
our errand, and were more than half way home,
when Annie remembered that she had failed
to leave ut the house of the farmer some money
which her mother owed to poor woman who
lived some way further on and who expected
to find it at Mr.. Green's
Knowing her mothers exact business habits
she decided % 90 back 81 am confden
mamma would rather should do 30, than dis
appoint Mrs Mead who doubtless needs tn,
money even if we do not get home till aftel
dark, !" she said, with q glance at the declining
sun.
SO we turned to retrace our steps, but had
not gone far before she stopped and proposed
taking footpath through the fields saying
that we might have saved nearly half the dis
lance if we had gone that way before that
she had been that way with Ellis once, but did
not think of it when we went over.
knew the path well, but knew. also, that
in going that way we should be obliged to
cross that mountain stream, which Annie had
once referred to as not being deep enough to
drown a kitten. 1t was, to be sure, shallow
enough the greater part Of the year but at
that time it was swollen by the heavy rains,
and though | had no fear for myself, somehow,
the strange tale which she had told me of her
race haunted my imagination, and | did not
like to venture with her. ! mentioned this,
but she replied, with laugh which had some
thing of the cheerful tone of old" Why, we
have crossed the old pole dozen times, at
least this summer Besides" she added while
an expression Of pain contracted her beautiful
mouth, there is no danger, now that they
have parted me from Gerald"
! made no further objections, but climbed
the fence, and led the way along the narrow
path to where pole spanned the stream, and
gave access to the other side. Though the
volume Of water was much increased, its depth
was not over two feet in any place but the
channel was narrower here than above and
the current very rapid and strong
"Go on" cried Annie, seeing me pause at
the end Of the pole, it will be dark before we
get home, if we do not hurry, and they will
rouse the neighborhood to look for us ~
crossed with a steady step, and, springing
to the ground, turned to watch her progress
turned just in time to see her waver and pitch
headlong into the middle Of the stream. For
one second stood stupefed; then, with loud
cry for help, rushed into the water, but the
strong current almost lifted me from my feet
and as grasped an alder TO save my own life
the body of my poor friend swept past, just
beyond my grasp, and onward some rods TO-
ward place called the Deep Hole, where her
dress caught in some projecting snag and held
her fast
Before could reach her, young man, the
son of farmer in the neighborhood, who hap
pcned to be in the fields, heard my cry, and
came to my aid He plunged in, and drew the
poor girl to the shore. Without needing my
frantic cries rs hung over her, he pointed to
a dark bruise on her temple, and said, with a
face almost as white as her own, as he took
her in his strong arms
See, she must have struck stone as she
fell. We are az near her mothers house ~
any, if we take the cross road and perhaps
we had best carry her there, for what is done
must be done soon. You 90 on, Mattee, and
kinder break to 'em what's coming"
Like one who walks in some horrible dream,
crossed the fields until came in sight Of the
old farmhouse, where Ellis stood leaning over
the gate, watching for our return. Something
in my face and manner must have warned
them Of evil Tor, before ] reached the gate,
Mrs. Morris had Joined her, and to the ques-