The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-11-02

rection, so that if any such person had
been on board the steamer I should,
thought, have certainly heard of it
My half-wakihg condition, was now
convinced had miSled me. | had imag-
ined | saw the face l had sooften pictur-
ed to myself, but it had only been the
countenance Of one Of the many sympa-
thiZing, fearful women, who beheld me
carried, as it wassupposeda corpse along
thedeck of the steamer.
Two years later, was returning from
visit to Scotland. The railroad train
was behind time, and the engineer was
running at his highest speed to recover
lost ground. The carriages jolted and
bounced along along oscillating from
side to side. Wehadjust emerged from
tunnel, and were whirling round a
turn between high rocks, when there
was crash as of two comets meeting, a
thousand flashes of light in my brain,
and then darkness and oblivion.
After long blank, it seemed as if /
were being dragged from among splin-
tered timber. opened my eyes, wildly
and saw faces looking on me. The most
agonising pains following, / seemed to
be on fire in nerve, and lost conscious
ness again.
After that remember nothing ex-
cept a succession Of the widest dreams,
and of immitigable suferings. Twas
Tantalus in water to my chin dying Of
thirst, yet unable to drink. / was
Prometheus, chained to rock, while ia
miliars came, with red hot tpincers, and
tore out bits of flesh. Then the visions
changed. Pitying, Womanly faces ho-
vered about me. Soft, womanly fingers
bathed my brow. Oh latter such sights
Of torture, what bliss merely to feel the
ice-c0ld water moiStening my burning
lips. Among these faces, sometimes
came the which had haunted me for
years. And once, looking furtively a
round, it stopped suddenly and kissed
me, tear falling on my chcek.-Then
the dreams ofhorrOrca came back, and the
wheel of fire, on which | was broken
limb, by limb.
Atlast, one day, Iwokeperfectlys
In dim way was conscious of being
in large and elegant apartment, cool
and airy even on that sultry summer
noon. l was to weak to rise One of
my arms was bandaged. My chest felt
as if crushed in. Feebly turning my
head, though not without pain, | saw,
reading by the window, a graceful fig
ure. The slight noise | made instantly
attracted the readers attention; she
glanced hastily around, started up, and
glided from the room. But not before
| had recognised the face which had
haunted me for years; the face which
had looked outof theembers of the fire,
which ! had seen on board the steamer,
and which had gazed on me with such
ineffable pity in my dreams.
Immediately after an elderly matron
entered, whose dress and manner We're
those Of a lady rather than of mere
nurse. She came directly to the bed,
lifting her finger on seeing / was about
to speak.
my niece told me you had wakened
up" she said in a soft motherIy voice.
''The doctor said, last night, the crisis
was passed. Therenota word yet your
life depends on silence.-But l Will tell
you, or else, l fear, you Won'tgo to sleep
again, that you are with friends. | am
Mrs. Burgoyne; this is my house, and
you were providentially here from the
scene of the accident close by. Your
injuries are all doing we'll; with rest
and perfect quiet, you are sure to recov-
er. And now try to sleep. But first,
drink this"
She gave me cooling draught, asshe
spoke, arranged the pillows and bed
clothes deity, drew the window cur
tains so as to shut out the glare, and
took the seat which had just been vaca-
ted. saw that it was useless for me to
attempt engaging her in conversation;
and, in truth, my brain was already
dizzy with the slight mental effort |
had made. was not sorry, therefore,
to close my eyes and obey her instruc-
tions.
From that hour Imended rapidly.
But never saw the faceI most wished
to see. Once ortwice, early in the morn
ing l fanciedI 1 heard a strange voice
whispering, out Of sight, at the head of
my bed; but could never catch sight
of the speaker. At last came the day
when | was allowed to rise; and from
that time | counted the hours till had
the freedom of the parlor. The first
glance about the room, as / entered,
showed me what | had waited for so
long. There, blushing and embarrassed,
but more lovely than ever, was she who
had crossed my path so romantically
twice before.
"My niece, Miss Grayson," said Mrs.
Burgoyne, little fancying all the intro
duction meant to me.
How beautiful she was! Just nineteen,
with great, brown eyes, a broad Greek
brow, and that willowy figure which the