The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-06-16
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Am I the victim of dream? / said,
Did Marie Percival stand by my side q
moment ago, reading the inscription
upon her own tomb? was that true? or
is this true? for mt that moment it did
not seem to mo that both could be trueI
Just as 1 was losing the power 70 solve
this or any other question, the waltz end
ed and supper followed. Shortly after
the party broke up, and Marie kissed me
good night, without making any allu-
sion to the singular episode which had
made such painful impressionSon my
mind -
Marie kissed mo "good night, II said,
I but it was in reality goodbye, for rs
they were to. leave by s O'clock the next
morning, fdid not expect to see her
again until her return..e This would be
in about four .weeks,iand had promised
to remain with her parents until that
time. But fato decided otherwise. A
few lines from an onlyrbrother informed
me that he had just decided to carry out
o long cherished wish, which Was to go
with his wife to Europe. It was their
desire that l should accompany them:
AS we were to start in less than ii week,
L was obliged to hurry homd.' &;
left few lines for Marie, stating
that would write to her as soon as pos
sible, and let her know where to address
n letter to me.
life in Europe-whero We went or what
we saw-only this: My brother could
never understand my dislike to visiting
the tombs Of the dead.
Il do not like rummaging in grave
yards" 1 would say to him. SO, too,
with all moonlight nights; so beautiful
to him, but which were, and always will
be, ghastly horror to me.
] wrote frequently to Marie and her
mother, but my brother had no fixed
plan, and as we were constantly on the
move, it was impossible for me to re-
ceive any replies.
We remained abroad until the follow
ing April, little more than year. The
day after our arrival home, 1 >tarted for
Mr.. Linden's. I cannot exactly tell
what my feelings were as the cars neared
the old town. Certainly was not us
calm us would haze been without that
disturbing vision. But if any one had
asked me if believed in the possibility
of its truth, should have answered,
"No."
1t vas 4 o'clock when I arrived mt the
end of my journey. A few minutes walk
brought me to the house. I rang the
bell, which was answered by an old wo-
man whom had frequently seen during
my previous visits
"Come in" she said; ''Mr. and Mrs.
Linden are in Europe; you did not know
it, rerhape."- )
II have just returned from Europe my:
self"
could NOT ask about Marie but
| arose and went to the window; the one
that looked out upon the church yard.
and saw-yes, reader, ! saw the third
monument; in ten mihutesI stood before
it: With brain too paralyzed to admit
of surprise. or .anyeother. feeling, / read
val, who died February 5, 1S-, nged
nineteen years and eleven MONTHS"
don't know how long it was before I
was aroused by the old woman from the
stupor into which had fallen. Beqom-
ing alarmed at my long stay, she had
come out to find me. From her learn
ed oil shall ever know. I will tell it in
as few words as'possible.
On that day, Marie. with her husband,
and two or three other young friends,
had gone out on the bay, as was their
frequent custom when the weather was
fine. / gathered, from what tho woman
said, that the day had been unusually
calm, but that II sudden squall had thrown
the boat against a low reef of Shiny.
weed covered rocks, which ran out into
the water. 1t did not upset the boat, but
Mrs Percival was thrown out The nc
cident happened on the seaward side of
the rocks, and though Mr.. Percival was
good swimmer, and remained i'll the
water until ho was dragged ont by one
of the party, yet Mrs. Percival was not
found until some hours afterwards.
have only to add, that Mr.. Linden,
who was an Englishman, took his wife to
Europe, hoping that in change of scene
she might recover from the shock. But
she died shortly afterwards and was bu-
ried there Mr.. Linden has never re-
turned to this country.
| OF MIR. George PcrcivalI L know moth
ing. Whether lie married again, or
whether he is still mourning for his lost
bride, cannot say. But, reader. I:have
told you q true story--the solution 1
| Ion va for