The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-01-20
WESTMINSTER, MD SATURDAY, JANUARY 90 1877

any rate before returned home and an-
nounced my cure.
"My cure"-yes, that was what they
would call it, when in truth | was far more
worn and miserable now than at any time
previously. | believe indeed that at this
period was in danger of acute mental de-
rangement, for | caught myself wondering
what there was on the other side of this
life, that men should be loath to leave it.
The blue sea seemed tempting, and often
thought that if this mad passion for a
shadow was to mar my life, it would be
better to sleep in one Of the little church
yards on the coast where the voice of the
everlasting sea would sing my requiem.
The whole of the time | was in France
| was miserable, and in no single dream,
though as usual | had many, did my ia.
miliar visitant appear. Ny search grew
listlcss, and felt myself becoming inf
nitely worse as regards my nervous system
than was before left England. From
what have learned of it since, | am con
WINGED was settling down into confirmed
melancholy; and | cannot think of that
period even now without a shudder at the
recollection.
At last, finding myself at Dieppe, l
suddenly determined to return home, and
took the steamer which was Just starting
for New Haven, lest my will to 90 should
change. Never before within my remem-
brance had | been so glad to return to
England. Never did the white cliffs look
farer to- me, and the rolling down of
Sussex seemed like old friends. Immedi-
ately on arriving | went up to London,
and on reaching the station drove
straight off to Dr..
He was at home and received me with
cordiality.
"Well, doctor" | said II have come to
report myself cured"
Cured p he answered, looking at me
scrutinizingly. "You don't look like it.
Of what are you cured?"
| have had no dreams that is to say,
none of that particular dream since | LETT
England
"Ah, none in France at all, he said.
Exactly"
Any since you returned2'
II only arrived to-day and have not
yet slept in England"
Just so" he said, nodding thought
fully; and then he abruptly asked some
questions regarding my general health,
wrote me a prescription, and seeing that
he was determined to say no more, | left
him.
As | drove away TO a hotel for my peo-
pie were out of town, thought of my an.
swer to the doctors question, viz, that |
had not slept in England since returned,
and the way in which he had received it.
Was it possible that here in England the
vision would return2 | thought the mat
ter out carefully, as far as one can think
subject out which is purely surmise and
having settled in my own mind that being
at home would make no difference, dined
with friend at his club, and spent n
pleasanter evening than | had known for
some months past
Night came; aud before | went to rest
thought as l always did of my dream,
yisitant, but with the hopeless feeling |
had lately had in France, and not expect
ing any change. Indeed had well nigh
made up my mind that she had departed
forever, and went to sleep with sigh at
the remembrance.
The reader will have anticipated what
happened. The night, the very first | had
spent in England, she came to me again;
and owing, suppose, to the rarity of the
vision, she seemed u have gained new
loveliness during the time she had ceased
to bless my sleep. Never, | fancied, not
even when she first appeared to me, had
her face come with greater distinctness;
and woke in the morning with a more
vivid memory Of it than ever. Had |
possessed the artistic faculty, l believe
that on the morning after that dream |
could have painted her so as to be readily
recognizable by any one who knew her if
she had any real existence. 1t is impos-
siblc to tell the length of dreams, for so
much seems to happen in them in a very
short space of time but as far as could
judge, the dream on this occasion lasted
an unusual length of time, and in fact
seemed hardly ever to leave me during the
night
My first feeling in the morning was one
Of delight. | had yearned for her coming,
and now she had visited me again, and
yet, such is the inconsistency of human
nature, felt at the same time alarmed
and startled at her temperance. 1t
seemed so strange that all the time had
been in France had no vision of her, and
now, the moment | set foot in England
again, she reappeared. had no difficulty
in deciding what | should do. | would
commence the search again, this time in
England. The omen was too plain, |
thought to be disregarded but before l
go away l must wait in town to see my
father and mother, who were expected, as
| learned, in two days time.
had the same dream next night On
the day after my father arrived; and
told him as vaguely as | could do, consis-
tently with truth, what had occurred and
what proposed Tor myself.
My father looked very grave, and Gt
was at DESERT played with his wine glass,
seemingly in great state of bewilderment
At last he said
"You know my opinion of all this bust.
ness, Frank, when you left home, it is not
changed But it is much stronger, seeing
that have found lady who would be a
capital match for you, and whom | am
most anxious you should marry. If am
any judge, and l was not bad one when
l married your mother, the lady l propose
is beautiful ="
Stop, father | cried, 81 implore
you not to continue the subject now; give
me little more time, and | will do any
thing you wish"
My father caught at the suggestion of
q certain length of time and the chance Of
my capitulation, and said
SO be it; 90 away, say for a wear, or