The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-01-26

that long ssit of rooms. On reaching
their terminus, she opened door, enter.
Ing spac'ops apartment which she had
appropriated to her own use. and care
fully secured the fastening after her.
Now for y few hours Of solitude, OF
wild, wild happiness = she exclaimed, Ms
she lighted tie gas.
That flood OF light re- ealed q scene
which seemed the result Of encha. ,ment.
The velvet carpet looked like one soft bed
OF moss. ln,erninyIing vines, SO tue To
nature that one was tempted inyoluntari,
y to gather those clustering roses and
luscious grapes, covered the walls and
ceiling. Luxurious chairs, cushions and
ol'omans were ranged ,emptinglv around,
inviting TO rppose ; and near one Of the
latter were harp and guitar, on both Of
which Minnie was sk'I;iuI pertormer.-
In deep recess was large book case
filled with choice volumes. Tables Of
richest mosaic stood here and there; on
one OF them was music box, which the
young girl wound up, and then passing
to recess opposite that containing her
books, she took from its secret hiding
place key Of peculiar shape, aud open.
ed pair of rich y carved rosewood doors,
which swung nolseles>ly back. A pain,
ing hung within, aud rapturous eXcIa.
NATION escaped her as she gaSed.
The painter had arrived to perfection
IN his art, for that youth and the scenery
about him, seemed actually TO exist. The
young man was standing on the border
of stream. which, far above, was leap.
tng in laughing cascades from rock to
rock. gnily tossing its spray in the sun.
light, ill at last il came with long
bound over M nlmos, perpendicular hight.
down into tha. darkly wooded glen where
1t flowed by him with not even ripple
"n lis tI"ch"ncd surface. a CLEAN Of
Eight had fnunI is way through the sur
rounding nights, enveloping his noble
t"rm with its sof, sheen, and clearly re
vesling each lineamen, OF tha, peculiarly
handsome couutenance. The brow was
broad and high ard clustering about it
was soft, wavy, golden ian. The eyes
we're large and nf II deep blue; the nos"
was decidedly Greciau in form, and the
well shaped moulh was slightly shaded
l'y siken moustacbc. The expression
denote! character manly, and vet fal,
# h,e gtntler emotions.
Minnie had thrown herself upon All OF
tJman. The sot murmur of the mrsic
she had awakened rippled through ;he
nparlme''. and she smiled rs she cortin
ued her earnest Caze.
None she exclaimed, none save NY
self shall ever look upon Aim, Far, far
III The depths OF my soul this secret lies
forever buried. Al, would tha, like Pvp
mnIi0n Of OLD. my wild love migL; also
inspire ITS oil tct with life But, alas,
am doomed forever to pour forth my de-.
vCti"n to this ideaI which never, ah nev-
er. can become the Real !"
She sighed aud tears filed her eyes.
1T is cold, clieer'ess, dcsolate world "
she At 'pug'! resumed why can We not
meet with such In actual lite Why is
II in The artists vision alone that these ere
atIops exist! wou'! give all possess
10 meet such a being and become the ob
jet of his love
S.ower and slower came that waiblin.
music. and at length, as it died away,
Minnie fell asleep. 1t was bli,sful s!um
Der, for she d, ,eaned that her wild wish
was realized. Her ideal lover was sud.
denly endowed with life, aud together
they moved amid All actual scene like
thst presented in the picture. She awvke
"'h nn exclamation Of joy. Her eyes
met those L"king down on her from tina,
richly ,ided frame, and for moUer, The
Illusion continued, only moment. how
ever: hut the smile did not vanish and
she muIInuTei-
Yes. twas but q dream; and yet no
waking moment WAS ever bali SO blIsslul
PeIhaps-a,e, may he that he did
once live. and a spirit now has at last
come AT M, call. 'Tis q shadowy land,
that land OF dreams, and believe hor
d-rs Oh the spirit world. And now, he
loved. good nignt-good night, and ., it
possible, come again, and yet again. and
always come to me in my hours Of slGin.
Der
She east long. lingering look, and
then gently closed the doors, locked them,
and carefully replaced the key in its hid
ing place, aud Ii,,le later she sought her
chamber. in hopes thai the nights slum
Der would renew the happiness which
she but now had experienced for the first
time.