The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-10-04


loved me deeply and tenderly, and we
exchanged VOWS of eternal fidelity.
con the eve ofmy departure for my
northern home as we were taking our
last stroll under the sheltering
shadows of the stately magnolias, l
observed shade of sadness on the
countenance of my charmer, and
wishing to dissipate it, spoke of my
speedy return, and of our approaching
| nuptails, 1--WE were to be married in
three mOnths.)
''She looked into my face and as I
returned her loving gaze / saw that
her blue eyes were swimming in
tears.
81 pressed my lips to each in turn,
and whispered, what is it darling?'
"Suppressing her emotion, she
answered:
s'Dear Walter you might think me
silly if | told you that I had a
presentiment that this is our last
meeting on EARTH
''NO Lillian. I could never think
you silly, or be Indifferent to your
words, but l beg you to believe that
your presentiment has it's origin in
your sensitive imagination
"Heaven grant it may be so, but
fear the worst. How can I shake off
the impression that our next meeting
will be in spirit only?
''DO not say in spirit only; for if we
are immortal, land that we are, can
not dovbt, for only mortals can love as
we CAM we shall be united in Heaven,
and there our love and bliss can
surely not be less
sThanks, dearest, for those sweet
words of comfort, and please indulge
me in my mood, and allow me to say
If my presentiment is a prophesy, I
am to die before our appointed we'd
ding day arrives
''Deliberatly taking her hand in
mine and looking full in her eyes, I
said.
"By all that is sacred in earth or in
the Gardens of the God, / swear to be
true to you for time and eternity, and
if you should del first, l shall live
true to your sweet memory, till per-
mitted to rejoin you in the Land of
the Leal."
''Thanks, dearest, believe you will
keep your oath, but / must be permit
ted to join you in it; it were incom-
plete otherwise"
"When in more cheerful voice
she said:
"Walter do you believein guardian
angles1
''Ye s," / replied, i cannot think
that all the prophets and sages of old
were deceived, and they% teach this
doctrine--most of them-from perso-
nal experience; Socrates for example,
professed to be guided at all times, by
his good demon or guardian spirit.
"Then when / die, shall become
your guardian, and if it is possible l
shall sometimes make you conscious
of my presence.
"Thanks, sweet one; of all the
angels that dwell on earth, or lave
their wings in the balmy atmosphere
that bathes the brow of Olympus, you
are my souls first choice. Thus
''The golden hours, on angel wings.
Till at length the hour of parting
came, when
''Wi monte locked and fond embrace,
Our parting was fu tender,
And pledging Oft to meet again
We tore ourselves asunder."
Returning to my northland home,
informed my parents of my good
fortune and at once set about prepare
tiOnS for my return to the South. to
claim my bride.
s'In the meantime, love tokens in
the form of billit deux were exchanged
weekly until but two weeks remained
of my period of probation.
ssThe Wednesdays mail always
brought me letter, but this week it
failed, was impatient, of course, but
attributing the failure to the neglect
of the postmaster to get it in the first
mail, | felt sure of my letter on
Tuesday. Again was disappointed,
and by this time l began to be serious
ly alarmed. so much that | did not
close my eyes in sleep till long after
midnight on Thursday night.
about two O'Clock / resolved, if
possible, to forget my anxiety in
slumber, and with that intent, reso-
lutely closed my eye lids and drew
the sheet over my face.
Il soon fell into dreamy state,
which is indescribable. / did not
seem to be asleep or awake. This was
succeeded by total loss of con
seriousness. from which / was aroused
by brilliant light, which illumined
my chamber, like the full beams of
the summers sun.
my first thought was that / had
over slept. but Immediately the LIGHT
lost its brilliance, subsiding into a din
twilight.
ssThis strange phenomena greatly
interested me, and / rose to a sitting
! position and began to look about me
On turning my eyes to the right. ]
saw my bethrothed standing full
length and motionless in the center O.
the room. was not alarmed. vet OF
reflection. wondered at her presenc,
thus in my chamber.
s.I uttered her name, intending t,
ask for an explanatory when sh
Immediately approached the bed. ans
seating herself upon it she took m
hand in hers. and said: