The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-11-24
DID SHE DREAM TT?

"If I stand here, I saw itp Such
is the utterance of Afacbeth's passion
ate, profound conviction that ne saw,
actually saw, with his own eyes, the
awful shape none else could see, and
the sight of which blanched his cheek
with fear. "If I stand here, I saw it,
innocent, suffering Julia Challoner
might have said-mentaHy did say
as she stood at her window, and gazed
with pale. face startled, wondering,
longing eyes out upon the grass and
trees upon which the moonlight was
shining. She trembled but not with
fear, nor, yet with cold; only with ex-
citement, wonder, bewilderment, and
something almost like a feverish
hope and JOY. 81 did see itv' She
said to herself. I" am not dreaming,
or deluding myself, or out of my sen
ses. 1t was he; saw him.
1t was after midnight, andsJulia had
been lying in bed, not asleep but wide
awake, and thinking earnestly and
anxiousIy. The window of the room
was opposite the foot of her bed; SO
that, as she lay awake, her eyes natur-
ally rested on the window and the
foliage which broke the rays of the
room and darkened the chamber. Her
mind was much disturbed by an agi-
tating question, such as, perhaps, no
woman ever ought to have to con-
slider.
"Shall 1 marry him ?n That was
the question and when say a wo-
man never ought to have to consider
such question, I mean that the mere
existence of doubt, the mere neces-
sity of making the inquiry and think
ing over it, ought to be decisive and
prompt replyss Where there is doubt
enough 70 ask. there ought 10 be- No
doubt of the answer. Some thought
of this was in poor Julia's mind, and
disturbed her conscience.
Can I-ought marry him? Can
I help myself? Can avoid marrying
him? I do not love him, 1 never can
and he knows it. But he loves me
and he has SO long been faithful and
true, and he is SO good-and Lionel
loved him. Oh, I don't see how ], can
draw back-and yet l feel SO tortured.
If Heaven would only send me some
hint OF guidance! wish I were a
Roman Catholic, that might pray to
the Virgin"
She tossed on her head and turned
her face to the wall. At that moment
the room seemed to grow dark and a
cold air breathed over her, and she al
most thought she heard low, faint
sound, like sigh. She looked toward
the window, and saw, or thought she
saw, something which caused her to
spring up in the bed and stretch out
her arms-and she was about to utter
a wild cry, of surprise and JOY, but
with a strong effort she controlled
herself, and was silent. She gazed al
the window fxedly for some seconds
then she left the bed noislessly and
crossed the floor, and stood at the
window. and stroye to follow witt
her eyes something that seemed to
1 disappear as she looked. And it was
then that she said to herself the wordi
already given: 1T was he; saw
him !"
What she saw, or thought she saw
was the figure of young man witt
dark hair and bronzed cheeks, and {
manly, open expression, genial des
pite the deep sadness that covered hi
face. The eyes rested on hers, anG
were full of love and pity and tender
ness. After few seconds the figure
seemed to withdraw =; and it was ther
that Julia rose from her bed and fol
lowed it with her eyes until it disap
peared, or was lost to sight somehow
among the trees and shrubs.
One thing had amidst all her won
der and beWilderment, made clear
distinct, and predominant impression
upon her mind. She was indeed con
vinced that she had seen somethin,
which could neither have been createt
nor explained byany ordinary and ia
miliar processes of nature; but ye
the face which looked on her, tn
eyes which gazed into hers with sue
tenderness unspeakable, did not shoy
like those of the dead Not a ghos
COME from the grave seemed to hav
stood at her window, but the spiritua
] eidoton of living man. - q
8 "Oh, Lionel,' the girl murmured
falling on her knees and bursting int
a passion of tears, " do not leave m
in this fearful state of doubti Sen
me some. other signl Come to m
again! You are still living-I kno7
it! Do not leave me to this distrat
ton and misery, but make me som
# clear sign that may know where yo
are, and if we are never to met
again!
That night, however, she saw notl
o ing more; and the dawn came b.
It fore she fell asleep. For she had no
more than ever cause to- torture he
self with doubts, and to weary hi
mind by thinking what she must d
: But although she had slept so litt
% she arose carly and promptly. FL