The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-06-26
less. I could not accomplish such an

ness, cOulu no1 ao0oAnP
object. tho
Presently he lifted his head, and tne
blue eyes looked once more into niue.
With an effort, he seemed to tnIow
aside the transient CLEAN which for tnls
brief space had Swallowed his features
and to warm into a more geniai hu-
NOR. And yet there was trace OF salu-
ness lingering in his eyes, and his voice,
when he spoke, was tinged with a nali
grateful melancholy.
"No doubt you consider me strange
being" he said, with faint smlle
struggling to his lips for a second, ana
dying away again as he continued, :" 1
have lived a lonely life for years, and am
scarce fit for companionship with my
fellow-beings. But 1 think the time IS Is
drawing near when my loneliness shall
end. 1t has almost come. think,
perhaps, it is even here"
1t was not that his words contained
any remarkably mysterious import, Dut
it was his manner, and the wild look
which seemed to dwell at intervals In
his eyes, that filed me with vague
alarm. l watched him more narrowly
than ever with increased curiosity, and
a vain effort to fathom the peculiar
character of his disposition. For few
moments he remained quite silent again,
wrapped in that gloomy abstraction,
which seemed to draw line between
him and me, and which I dared not ap-
proach or attempt to destroy.
Suddenly he turned to me again and
said ahr11ntlv. ~
' &c An evil Fate is brooding over me. L
can not escape it, strive as may
His look, his words, his manner,
startled me violently, but endeavored
to laugh, and answer him lightly.
"You are wrong, my friend. 1 do
not believe in Fate. Each man pos
sesses the power to rule his own destiny,
whether for good or evil, as he wills
it,
"I doubt it. Could you rule an i'm
mortal spiritP Could you destroy an
invisible phantom, that hovers continu-
ally about you in the ARP Could you
Danish hideous recollection that has
haunted your memory for years? No,
you could not. And that spirit, that
phantom, that memory, combined, is
the silent and memorable fate that has
gathered over my life and awaits to tri-
umph over me in the end"
He had started to his feet, and was
walking the floor rapidly, back and
forth. A bright crimson glow had come
to each pale cheek, and from his eyes
seemed to flash some inward light that
burned with scorching flame. But,
even as / sat watching him with min
gled wonder and alarm, he Gained him
self with a sudden effort, and resumed
his chair opposite mine. Looking at
me, with the mild expression once more
returned to his eyes, he held out his
hand, as he said, in a subdued voice:
cat least, let me thank you for the
kindly interest you have manifested in
me tonight, and for the kindly words
you have spoken to lonely being like
myself to me when kind words
are the greatest earthly blessing ! could
have received; when kind friend is the
boon l have prayed for and hoped for so
long in vain. Though you may forget
them, | never shall; they will dwell in
my memory through the brief space OF
life that yet remains"
l sat looking at him as he uttered
these words, in perfect stupor OF
amazement; for they were almost TIE
exact repetition of those which the young
girl, whose face was perfect counter.
part of his own, had appeared to deliver
to me in my room that evening. What
unaccountable coincidence was this
which placed the words of my apparent
vision in the mouth of this strange, this
singular manP was lost in unutterable
wonder, while that sad, pale face seemed
to shine upon me with the serene and
gentle expression which had first be-
held in connection with the young CIR
of my dream.
Was it all, all dreamp Was 1 in
deed awake even now, and possessed Of
my senses? Yes. This, at least, l coulG
not doubt. And so 1 babe him good
night, turning back for last lingering
look at the sweet fair face and the calm
blue eyes, and then returned to my room
bewildered, mystified, amazed.
But | was in no mood for quiet rest
So 1 lit cigar, and strolled out for 9
night walk, bordering over the strange
adventure which the evening had
brought me. The air seemed hot and
close, and the dark, invisible wings Of
the night brooded over the earth in
deathly silence. l walked heartlessly
and aimlessly about for a short time
and when was nearing home at last
stopped for moment at street corner,
to look after a slender figure with q
muffled face, which fitted by me like 8
phantom of the night, noiselessly and
swiftly. 1t disappeared in the dark.
ness, and l turned home.
The following day brought with il
new incidents and other subjects de.
manding my attention. l had almost
forgotten my strange neighbor, until
once more in my room at night l was
startled and shocked at the perusal Of
the following paragraph in the evening
paper:
FOUND DRowNED.-Early this morning o
bOatman discovered human body floating
in the Bay, off North Point. 1t was Sc
cured and conveyed to the Coroner's office,
where it was discovered to be the remains OF
young GIL, about twenty years OF age.
clad in male garments. From papers found
upon her person it was ascertained that fol
a long time previous she had disguised her
self in masculine attire, and lived under the
assumed name of Robert -, occupying
room No. SO, in g lodging-house on -
Street, in this city.