The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-23
BY ALICE CAREY.
CHAP. VIII-Concluded.

should not be there, and that the old beauty
with her beardy mouth should spoil all but
gracious sakes! What am saying? Well,
was just talking to myself; | was not talking
tor you to hear. Are you asleep?" she asked
presently; and when answered "no," she inquir
ed if | believed in dreams. / replied "yes," and
so encouraged, she said, 4" / had one onct, and ]
knew right away that it wasn't to be-" Rose
doubtless believed she soltened the truth very
much in that she substituted 81 it wasn't to be y
for the impoSsibility of my marriage with Mr.
Richards
| Il dreamed that you were walking with Ger
tain person in the garden, and that you were
dressed in white, and that certain person had
a new coat ON and you were talking and smil
ing /; and then it seemed to me that you were in
the woods, and not in the garden at all but
still you were dressed in white, and all at onct
Mr.. Richards's coat fell to pieces, and thought
| could see his feet through his shoes, they
were so ragged, and | have always heard say
IT was a bad sign to dream of a mans feet
and then it seemed to me that YOU were Just
going to be married, and that Mike was the
preacher, and that | saw him standing on the
top of haystack, tying his neckclOth and
| then it seemed to me that the neckcloth was a
sheet, and that the ends blew back in the air as
he walked and TO dream of white things in the
air is a bad sign. Well, thought he was hurry
ing to marry you and all at onct there came a
mad dog and tried to bite you, and Mr.. Rich
ards ran away, and You tried to run, it seemed
| to me, and that you fell right down and then
1t seemed TO me that the dog had a woman 5
head, and that it had parasol in its paw; and
then | thought that YOU were taken away,
didn't know how, and that called you, but you
didn't answer; and then it seemed to me that
your father was crying, and that his shirt was
made of Martha's calico apron, but he couldn't
tell where you were and then | seemed to be
IN strange place, and the sun had horns like
a bull, and everything about here was gone,
and there was big house here, and couldn't
find anybody knew except Mr. Richards, and
he was just as thin and pale a ghost; he
was sitting by little Harry's grave, and afraid
to go into the house, | thought; and then it
| seemed to me that you were there, and then all
grew like n shadow, and awoke-and when
thought it over, | knew it was never to be- But
what fool | am for telling such dream
dreams don't mean nothing, don't spose but
when l saw that woman to-day, ! couldn't help
but think about it,
| | affected to Sleep that she might be induced
to desist but she shook me by the shoulder,
and saying, "are you asleep oil this while {?
and didn't you hear tell my dream well,
it's good thing you didn't hear it, because it
would have made you feel bad, like enough.
Now let's have little cheerful talk, about
Charley or something. i wonder if he has any
place to sleep tonight, or if he lies on the
ground, without any piller or blanket gracious
me, hope no snake will bite him. But mabe,
after all it would be for the best, if one was to
bite him, and he was to die. A body don't
know what is best, and | shouldn't wonder if
Charley were better off dead than alive, for you
know he had no inergy, poor fellow"
/ And so, now heaping the bcd-clothing, and
now urging me TO take food and drink, and con-
stantly talking, Rose remained with me all that
long night Ny eyes kept open wide, except
when she placed her hands upon them, vainlv
urging me Ia sleep.
1t was a relief when morning dawned and
her duties called the wel-meaning girl away.
All that day lay alone, did not cry nor rave.
! saw my destiny, and with all my power strove
to take it up.
My hands fell listless-my eyes gazed at va
cancy, and my heart beat slow and heavily. No
sooner was | left alone than wished for Rose
to return. And when she said what Mr.. Rich
ards was doing and saying, wished her still /;
and when she was silent, | longed to have her
speak. | would know Just where he was, Just
how he looked, and every word he said. These
restless, maddening feelings alternated with
| the despair of which | spoke. Every step |
listened to as it fell, for | could not think Mr..
! Richards would not come to inquire personally
how did; but step after step turned in a di-
rection opposite to my chamber, and grew faint
and died in the distance, or proved to be only
that Of Rose. When it was within an hour of
night, learned that Miss Holly had departed
/ could scarcely keep down the cry of delight,
but it was only the last Pickering of the candle
Of hope-Mr. Richards had gone with her.
Seating herself beside me, Rose put me in pos
session of all that she had CLEANED by obscrva-
ton and eaves-dropping, and Of what she fur
| thermore suspected, the amount of all of which
was, that there had been good deal of walking
| in the garden and conversation in the parlor
| during the past day, between the lady and gen
| tleman-that the lady was travelling in pleas
| IRE party-that she had advised Mr. Richards
| of her approach, and desired him to meet her
in the adjoining city, but that in some way the
letter failed Of its destination, (which perfect
| ly understood and that, in consequence, " the
beauty leaving her party, had presented her
| self unexpectedly at our festival.
| Mr.. Richards seemed to have made no prep
| arations for prolonged absence, but further
she knew not.
Timothy was busy, taking leave of his friends.
While we talked, or rather while she talked,
| there was slow and heavy step along the hall !;
| my father had heard of my Illness and come to
| see me.
When his rough, honest hand pressed mine,
| and when ! saw the tears on his sunburned
| cheeks, felt a strength given me. must live
| for his sake.
| had not the good news to communicate
| which / had hoped to have. But felt that
would not be utterly bafiied that in some way
] would battle fate, though even yet the old
| hope was not dead quite.
When about to leave me, | said | would 90
| home with him, and remain until better; though
perhaps hoped Mr.. Richards, finding me gone,
would come and fulfil his promise. j hardly
know what induced me, but | went, leaning on
my fathers arm, and striving to seem stronger
than was
Martha was sorely dispeased, but / cared
not for that in truth, cared for nothing that
was left me - that fragment of dream
all.
Nv bed was placed at the window which
looked toward my old home and, with my head
raised on the pillows, gazed out intently, nor
once withdrew my eyes till the well-known form
was recognised. Then l slept, and awoke
little refreshed, insomuch that | began to take
interest in the things about me-to watch the
spiders, as they spun from rafter to rafter, and
to revive the old playtimes which Charley and
had had there, to watch the mice as they
peered from their holes. i tried to persuade
myself that l was growing indifferent but
truth was, it was the strengthening of the old
hope. Two days lay so, counting the rafters,
and the number of boards in the floor, and
watching the flies as they netted themselves in
the spiders webs, and struggled, and struggled,
and died. and were eaten up.
The third day could endure the close walls
of the chamber no longer and though | had
Il g. Il 7 a,,Iu ia
hour after hour-pouring out all my heart; and
when II was done and had sealed and written