New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-19

The latter glanced about him dispar-
aginely. HINT is no great ACQUISITION on
baraque, and build good house in it's place. Well
he continued. suppose we go downstairs TINS
room is as cold vault He passed out, followed
by Maitre Jansen. but the other two fingered
Annette nv sweet. do not look so s0rrowful,
Bernhardt said, encircling her with his arm why,
the loss OF this fortune seems to trouble you more
than IL does me-. .,
For your sake, she faltered flor myself am
not afraid of poverty IL is 30 strange SO inexpi-
cable that the will should have disappeared III tnis
way,' she continued. am convinced that ~ Is
in the room at this moment if we only knew where
She moved from his side and cast her eyes
thoughtfully round He shook his head.
It ls not here, or we should have found IL, ne
said TRY 10 think no more of IL, dear; We can
not - The words died on his lips as be looked ~
his companion. She standing Ia the middle OF
the room, her hands hanging at her sides, her eyes
fixed and dilated gazing into space Every trace OF
color had faded from her face. lie sprang 10 her
side. "a, A rou
mr m,
She drew a long breath, and looked at him IKE
one awakinR from dream. No, / am not ILL.,
she whispered, but have the strangest feehne.
Az if-as if there we're someone else IN the room
with U.s. She shIvered aud glanced neryously
round the long shadowy apartment which was only
haif-l GIFTED by the lamp on the chimney piece,
Bernhardt nvoluntarily did the same, Dut bhey
You see that we are alone he said. You are
tired and Overexcited, darling you need rest III is
showing heavily that you cannot leave the mouse
at present Go and lie down, and L VIII send Ur-
Sae acguiesced mechanically, and allowed him TO
lead her 10 the door, Her hand was deaaty coluii
her cheek and detained her moment,
looking into her face with ANXIOUS
tenderness: but she turned from INN
without another word and mounted the stairs 10 the
little room she had called her own.
When the moons silver disc rose behind the Beiiry
Tower one broad ray Of cold ethereal light streamed
70 tha hpdtv here
sleeping profoundly. For several hours her rest
was tranquil and oblyIous. but toward midn ght sue
was visited by a strange dream.
She seemed TO be sui lying on the oei, IN Tue
half-conscous state between sleeping and waking
Her eyes were open, but she was only vaguely
aware of surrounding objects, OF the moonlight
streaming on the bed, aud the glimpse OF white
house roofs seen through the window opposite.
Suddenly she was reused, she thought, from this
dreamy ethargY, by voice IN the room, close 10
her calling her name, She started and sat up
thrilling in every nerve, but not with fear Draw.
ing aside the curtains, she looked toward the spot
from which the voice pr0ceeded
The room. save where the mOOnbeams lighted IT.
was lost in shadow, yet she fancled she could as
cern the outlines of figure, standing near the
hearth AS she looked, it moved forward INTO the
RAJ of light by the bedside and, then with sudden
shock of startled recognition, she saw that it was
Monsieur Vanderhaven, VINO stood looking h her
with eyes full of urgent purpose.
'Annettep the low but lmperious voice re-
peated d" the will must be found. Come " and ne
beckOned her toward the door. 80 -
After the first moment she seemed, with the
curious insensIoilIty of the dreaer, 20 feel neither
Ir,yIsa nor ear She rose Wild hesitation and
followed HIM down the stairs 10 the banquet-room
The door was partly open, and the room within was
lighted by a lamp, as when she had seen 1t last.
Her conductor crossed over 20 the hearth ana
extended HIS hand 70 the portrait of his ancestor,
which hung on panel to the lett Oh the chimney
piece -, ....., l., .,;d ,itb
the grave smile so familiar 10 her: 'you would
never have Thought of searching here. Look
She pressed forward eagerly as ne tonched the
Dcrure but mt the same moment hand was lald en-
her shoulder, and another voice exclaimed Ah-
nettep Il, =.
earnest this time-to find herself standing IN the
Banauet roOm with Bernhardts astonished face
bending over her She looked round bewllderedly'
trembling with vague terror. lhen, as renle.n a
brance returned an expression OF Dlank dlAappOlht-
ment crossed her face.
oh was 1t only dreamT
We're Won asleepg' he exclaimed. II had
known that / should nOt have ventured 10 wake
vou | was sorting and destroying some old sketches
IN these foli0s Ii took me longer than | had ex-
pected but had Just finished and was about 10
eve the room when you entered. You walked
straight to the fireplace and looked lntenty az the
portrait. You were stretching our your hand 70
wards il when touched YOU Ola you dream ABOUT
Yes. Oh. Bernhardt. such a strange dream
What was i'll tell me- he said making her sit
In low. awestruck tones she related it, glancing
now and then over her shoulder az the snaaowy
room behind them. vi real so VIVID, she
concluded chat | can hardly believe 1t was merely
He had listened with GREATNESS interest and grow
ing excitement. When she had finished he started
W Dream or not he exclaimed. / believe It has
gwen us a cIew to the hiding place Of the wlil. II
never occurred 20 Us that there might be cupboard
behind that portrait 80,
Hold the lamp will take the picture down he
sa1d g. INT he found this was impossible. as 1t was
fastened with cramps to the panelled wall.
There NUT be- a spring some where, he nut
terad nassIng his hand down by the side of che
frame. or ese-stay, what IS thIsf
lis fingers had encountered slight obstruction
IN the polished woodwork; small metal KNOB or
button which etfectualIy concealed by the
A. messed H. and immediately the panel with the
portrait upon it started open. disclosing deep
square cupboard The lovers looked at each oGher
too excited to speak.
Hold the lamp higher, he whispered, putting
his hand into the cupboard.
The tirst thing brought to light BUNDLE of
old letters tied with faded ribbon, and still RETAIN
ing the ghost of their first perfume ; then came
miniature in a case of Bernhardt father when boy,
and fnaly-a folded sheet OF letter paper inscribed
IN Monsieur Vanderhaven's clear, commercial hand,
This is MY last Will. -
Annette placed the lamp on the table. and looked
over his shoulder he the paper One glance
showed him that the contents were as she naI sta
ted. The business lett To hIs cousIn and all the
rest without reserve or condition, was lilo own.
Their eyes met IN an eloquent look
But for your dream We should never have found
IT. he SAID. How strange-hOw mysterious 1t
seems
Was it only dreamP she questioned. under her
breath.
They were silent a feeling of awe and
reverence OverpOwered them. IL he knows
he is happy as we are the young man said at
Last They clasped hands and looked into each
others eyes, reading there the brightness OF the
future from which all shadows and perpiexiEies had
passed away.
And as they stood Thus hand in hand,
in the silence OF the sleeping house, sud
denly there rang out from tne benIeF
Tower the midnight carlton, ushering IN the
blessed Christmas morn. Sweet. strange, solemn
chimes. falling the silence III sllvery stream ~
music like rhe voices of wandering angels, singing
Peace on EARTH good will toward men!
4 happy Christmas aud u good new year :. Bern
hardt exclaimed. he bent to kiss the sweet face
uplIfted TO his The Argosy.
C1NTINKEROSITY AND THE BRITISH
PHILLSTLNE.