Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-07
brought the Gomez to me hsd the same face As

brought the coffee to me hSd th6 aame fac9 As
Inc Inc d man n my dream and when looked UP
same murdeUus way as in my dream"
That man? Do you moan Simmons. my
to reassure her. Fancy turning Old Simmons
into villain OF romance! why. he has been
Nth me Tor years, and is as steady as old
away with you. That is all, believe me-"
He rang the bell and summoned Susan, who
Holt then returned to the drawing room. HIS
guests were departing. and very soon he and
his wife were left to themselves.
81 must go to that poor child " said Mrs, Holt
| "Wnat could nave brought on such an attack
"Oh, some nonsense about adreano. Iwouldn'l
tease her with questions tonight. Give her a
soothing draught and let her go TO bed; and ask
her maid to sit with her till she falls asleep"
LeIt alone. Colonel Holt rang the bell, desired
simmons 1S TO put out the lights, and see that all
| yaWns, TO his dressing room, where he intended
10 solace himself with pipe before going TO
PED; and, for want OF better food for thought,
his mind reverted to poor little Eff1e's hys5eri-
| cal tale OF her dream. "Pish-nonsense-rub-
oish !" he muttered between whiffs. when sud.
s.!u6
should be something in it. The mans manner
is lot satisfactory; and It is odd to say the least
last year, and the very day she has come this
| year, he should have behaved so Queerly. Wen.
suppose I'm IT an old fool put won't go to bed
l
- O'Clock II anything is to happen It Will
happen soon. suppose"
He opened the door sof ly. The house seomei
| wrapped in complete silence. Not SOUND vas
to be heard Leaving the door aJar, he placed
| his arm chair behind Ii, put out the candles
and reseated himself, devoutly hoping he might
likely he should do so. When the stable cl1cG
chimed the half hour after mdaight, Colonel
| HOLT started and changed his position. Surely
Why on earth had he given himself 1s so ma aa
discomfort He, who would willingly go TO bed
at 10 O'Clock every night, to sit up in 5ne dark
TO secn AN se hour just because hys-
At this point OF his meditations sleep again
overpoWered him: and l O'Clock chimed I'M.
needed, and q figure crept by the open door
unheard and stole softly down the corridor to.
ward poor little Ef11s's room. A moment later,
and Colonel Holt is Wide awake, as sore I'M
Before he can reach the room at the end OF tns
| corridor. the door is flung open wildly a stream
OF Light bursts forth, and little white rooed
figure with bare feet flies toward him. To his
horror, he sees blood on her face and arm J.
'Help, help!" she cries; "ne viii Kill Sus an!'
60 TO Agnes" was all he had time to say.
fainter. Rushing into the room he threw him
self upon Simmons, With whom the poor WON an
was struggling bravely. having contrived,
| though not without injury, to wrest from his
grasp a knife. with which he had threatened
Efie's life. It was Susans blood that had
stained the child's face and hands.
|
moment TOO soon on the scene: He caught The
murderons CLEAN In the wretched mans eyes,
| ana shuddered at what might have happfn ned
had he altogether disregarded poor Eff ss
You villain, you" he began; but the
| words died away on hts lips as the poor crea-
ture, strug CLING Violently In his grasp, uttered
! piercing scream, and fell back-dead!
| MRS. HOLT TO MRS. PERCEvAL.
The PRIORY, August 10.
.o "Mg Dedr MS Psrcera.-We were much
that under your care her nerves may efore
long recover from the dreadful shock they have
been fearful tragedy, and both Fred and are
quite unstrung by 1t all. /, for one, snail never
refuse to believe in dreams again. But that
Iemlnds me have yet to tell you the stranges5
| part CT the story.
The brother Of the poor wretched man came
to see my husband a day OF two ago. He was
affection had existed between Sim ana his
brother. He told us that about eighteen
mouths ago, ever since visit we had paid to
brother had taken to betting and gambling, and
going out at night to play cards at q public
house there Is In the village. The result OF all
ne lost Of bis
| very foolish, vain woman, who only cared for
him for what he could give her, and did nothing
OUT ABUSE and reproach him when no more mo-
ney was forthcoming. and altogether made his
life burden to him.
About this time he heard US at dinner and
at other times talking OF Effies diamonds. and
OF how she was coming on visit, and was to
bring them with her. He had confided his
many troubles TO his brother, wno happened 20
nave "a months o holiday ard had taken lodg-
money enough To cleaf him. the fatal Ioye o,
play. however, still cIung TO him. aad no
comes the strange part Of my tale
The night or the 81 CT August last year he
nau terrible dream Having promised his
orother TO keep from play. he had gone TO bed
early, instead rs. Of going oa5 as he h Id oeea IN
and tossed from side TO side. his mind filed win
visions OF Effie'S diamonds. which hal ag Ain
oeen the subject OF conversation at dinaar.
| About dawn ne fell into troubled sleep aud
dreamed that you and Ellie hal arrived, q nj
that she had come down TO dinner re5plel1su5
with diamonds, the sight OF which. to use ais
own words, raised the devil within him. Toe
passion for gam oiIg seized on him With re-
| neWed force. and he at once determined to
steal the diamonds and make off to America.
He felt he would not even stop short OF murder
Itself In order to accomplish his desire. 10 his
cream he waited at table aud performed ali his
gu les as quietly and perfectly as ever. bu5 his
up for the night, and he found himself in the
pantry searching among the knives for the one
which he considered best suited to his purpo
Armed with II, he stole up to E1ie's room about
O'CLOCK In the morning. Entering very softly,
he stood for moment listening TO her uuiet,
even breathing, which showed she was fast
could see the glitter OF the diamond ornaments.
as they lay scattered about the dressing.tabe.
BE moved forward to secure them, and. TO
so doing, made some Slight noise, which aWoke
the poor Child, and With piercing scream she
started up in bed. Then, so he dreamed he
pushed her down and threatened to murder her
II she were not quiet.
AT this point OF his dream Simmons awoke
trembling and shaking as II he had the aqua
and for some time he felt, so he told his brother.
as II he had really c0mmitted the fearful daed
so vivid was the impression left upon his mind
He had the sense TO regard his dream In the light
OF warning, and az once felt that his sole
safety lay in flight. His brother took the same
view, and soon after breakfast Simmons went
to my husband and told him he wished to 90
away for few days, assigning no reason or
course we thought hts conduct very strange
but he went, and his brother was to take Ms
place In his absence On hearing, however that
you and Ellie had postponed your visit he re-
! appeared In the afternoon.
His dream, combined with his brothers. en-
treaties. had 80 worked upon his better feelings
that for long time he gave up his evil prac-
tees. A month or two ago, however, tt an
pears he again succumbed 10 temptation, aud
had again lost Vor him) a large sum OF money.
On the fourth OF August occurred e Hes
unexpected and Inflated visit. Il Is easy now
to understand Summons behavior when he
heard OF her arrival No doubt the memory of
| his terrible dream rushed back on his MIND
and his dread was lest the temptation should
| 0verpOWer him, as alas! IL did. His poor brother
NJ I'M ffHof I,rNI o1