The Van Buren press., 1876-10-03
Vol. l4.---No.. 26..

ise not to speak Of what should pass, and
then send this person to lecture him
True, he had " this persons" pernission
to talk it over with Annie, II he could
not make up his mind to follow her ad
vice but he had done SO, and there Was
an end of that part Of the case. He had
made sacrifice much against the grain,
and tharefore-man like---le hedged, BY
getting cross with woman.
He wandered about from one room to
another, fretting, fdgetng, unsettled.
He tried to read He opened one book,
and it was too heavy another, and 1t
was too flippant lie went out into the
garden, aud the chirruping of the birds
annoyed him
He returned to the house, mud made
for Mr.. Anneslcy's study. His host was
~. sartp riser. aud he wanted some ona
to talk TO. Mr. Annesley was not down
yet On his table lay black leather case
with silver clasps, that Frank had not
noticed before. lie uidii the clasp and
opened II. 1t contained n photograph OF
tile woman who had visited him the night
before. Now can iiad out all about
you he chuck.ei, without breaking any
promise. As lie gazed at the picture,
and took In its details, recollection rose
which puzzled him. Man as he was, he
remembered that his visitors dress,
though Of costly materials. and in excel
lent taste, was made in fashion which
had long since gone out. The dress OF
the picture was in the same style. How
was this As he mused, Annie tripped in.
CAV and bright as ever, and laid soft
little hand on his shoulder. Up so ear
~ she cried gaily. Then, as shes saw
what he held, her face became suddenly
sad Whose likeness Is this 2 he ask
ed, not noticing the change. Poor
dear Mammals she replied with q sob.
Then bis heart gave groa. bound. and
cold sckcning s.apor fell-upon him.
Annie, dear he said, when, after .
mighty effort. he reyained some command
over his suspense she, poor child, only
thought he was sharing her SORROW,
which the sight Of that loved and long
lost face had awakened You must give
me back my promise.
What promise 2
That rade you the day you rods
over to SEQ the Melyiles a5
i don't remember your promising any
thing that day. What was it2'
To remind you would be half break
ing it. Surely you cannot have forgot
temp 4 n
Let me SEQ. You read me How San
Ia Claus came to Simpsons Bar. out OF
Bret Harte,' and pretended that il did
not make you cry 40
That was after dinner
In the morning you and papa we're
talking about fishing, and l listened
II was not in the morning or In the
evening that made you that promise,
Annie 1t was in the twilight, when you
returned from your ride.
Why, Frank | went straight to my
room. 1t was SO late, hardly had time
to change my things. never saw you
from the time sou mounted me at eleven
o'clock. till when we met at dinner.
What are you dreaming about !? Oh, Frank
darling what is the matter Are you i'll =
Again the cold sickening stup0r ran
through him, and he fell forward over the
table, speechless.
/, who tell this story, was a surgeon In
the navy, and spending short leave Of
absence as visitor 10 the house, where
the scene have attempted to describe
took place. Annie's shrieks called her
father, who called inc, and betwesn US we
restored Frank to consciousness. / did
not like the look Of this seizure; but said
nothing No one consulted me. Still
watched him closely, and at breakfast,
when the mail came in, and he read his
correspondence, noticed that he rcceiv-
= sscoDd shock. A @
That afternoon he called me into his
own room, and told me what had hap
pened to him. almost as it is worded here.
He added evidence acquired that morn.
iug which proved beyond the possibili.
ty OF doubt that Annie was away from
The house when what he took for her
spoke in the library. heard him out,
and male the usual reply. He had been
dreaming--his nerves were out OF order.
They are now, be said, but suppose
any one had asked you about them the
day before yesterday; what would You
have said =
Had been obliged to reply, ] must
have admitted that less nervous person
in the sense of being likely to give way
to delusions. could hardly be found, but
he did not wait for all answer but went
on. IA
As for dreaming--that s-excuse ne
doctor-absurd was vide awake on
Tuesday evening, and did not go to bed
| for an hour at least after my visitor feft'
me Thursday night Now let us consid-
the surroundings. was warned of .
warning Warned id the kindest, gentle-
est manner. Why II had been unprc.
pared for the second manifestation Il
would have startled shocked me. Why
was "a hale, strong man, as you and
all the rest thought me,--to be guarded
against Il shock Why was to lie turned
from pursuits which yon and all the rest
would have said yesterday had made ne
so hale and So strong, by supernatural
means? Read that
lie handed me letter; the one be had
read at breakfast. TWAS from the secre.i
tary OF life insurance company, thank.s
ing him for the preference he had shown
the society, but declining his proposal.
The week before last, be continued.
. l was examined hy their medical officers
--as matter OF form, they said. lie
measured me round The chest, and tapped,
and stetaoscoped me and this is the re-