Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-07
TWO DREAMS.
FOUNDED ON FACT,
TDate August 4, 1884. -,

you piease' Nl, summons wishes K
by all MEANS replied Colonel Holt, ap-
parently surprised that simmons should make
the request through the medium of the foot
man: "Tell him to come here at once"
A few moments later came a hesitatinp
Knock, AND 1t was not until Colonel Holt had
Twice shouted Come in,'' that the door opened
10 ADMIT the aforeoaid Simmons.
Looking up somewhat 1mpatfently Colonel
Holt was struck by the change In the mans
demeanor No longer the spruce, erect mid
oie- agsd outler, but pallid, trembling man,
"Good heavens. Are you Ill. Slmmons?'
vo', NO S 81, put l must go away this very day.
cu mqst let me g9 INDEED you must SIR
reason for this sudden determination. What
has happened?"
81 can tell you nothing. sir. Let me go
Without question. that is ali ask of YOU"
4" It Is a great deal to ask" said Col snel
Holt. more and more surprised; 'and l am
not sure that can grant so much. Come,
summons, teli me honestly what has hap 2ened.
II can help you"
Thank you. Sir, you can only let me CO.,
Perhaps you are In some money trouble9
Speak out frankly If You are faint flush
Money. sir. has TO do with my trouble" he
replied, but 1t Is not my reason for wishing to
me go. must, whether you consent or not !"
And look OF the utmost misery crossed the
mans face.
Wen, wen," said his easy-golng master.
d
only. or do you want to leave altoyethsr?n
II yOu are kind enough to let me return
sir, can do so safely by the twentisth Of this
safely" muttered Colonel Holt; "what
does the fellow mean" Then aloud: "And
who IS to I'LL your place; you know we have
Vlstorj coming to-day, and"
Again that haggard look OF terror came
into Simmonss face as he yentured to inter
rupt his master.
Yes, sir, nave thought OF that, and
q In RI w
butler to Cir Henry Curtis, at Beauchamp
Park. The family are abroad, and he has
months holiday, and will gladly take my
place while am absent. l am sure he will do
his best to please you, SIR"
There being nothing further to settle, his
master dismissed Simmons. For few min.
utes Colonel Holt pondered over the matter and
the mans strange manner, then mutterlng
something to the effect that servants ways
were past finding ont, he dismissed the Sub
ject from his thoughts and became engrOSsed
In business letters OF Importance.
At luncheon. much to Mrs. HOlt's amaze
menL, strange servant was In attendance
"Wbere is Slmmons?" she asked.
"Oh," exclaimed Colonel Holt, suddenly re-
member1ng he had not enlightened his wife,
This 10 simmons brother. VINO has taken his
place for week or two. have been so busy
forgot TO tell you"
Mrs Holt asked no further questions till the
man had left the room. Then she said: MY
dear, when you allowed simmons to leave. did
you remember that Mrs. Perceval and Ellie
were coming to-day. and that we have din
ner party tomorrow"
"Yes. did not forget. but the man would
go. | could get nothing out OF the fellow. ex-
cept that he must 60 this very day, and
would return by the twentieth"
But what reason did he give for such extra
ordinary cOnduct?"
"NoHe whatever. He looked mtSerably ILL
and Changed, as pale as a ghost. / never saw
such scared object in my life"
o. Do You think he had been drlnking?"
Oh, no, he was as sober as a jud ,e. Never
mind. his brother will do very we'll, no doubt;
he's butler at Beauchamp, and looks descent
sort OF fellow. By-the by, what time Is the
carriage to be al the station to meet the Per-
Before Mrs, Holt could reply, Simmons No.
2appeared, bearing telegram.
This has just arrived madam
pose. on the part OF the Perceyals." said Mrs.
Holt. opening the envelope quickly. ION, how
tiresome. Listen: $50 sorry we cannot come.
Eiile Las one OF her nervous attacks. VIII
"Well, that's no end OF bore. Plague take
these girls with their nervous attacks! Here
We've the nuisance OF a dinner-party OF natives
tomorrow all to no purpose"
" They must have been asked some time or
other, my DEAR" said Mrs. Holt mildly; "but
It's very provoking. l own
monds are not forthcoming" said her husband,
getting up and lighting a cigar. "Well, Pm
oil. think III take the d0g-c and drive to
the station No doubt there WIN pc sh and
sauntered out.
on his return, to his great surprise, Sim
mons himself met him at the half-door, "You
back ayaiu! What does this Ea 3an?"
The man looked confused, stammering out,
I-I-,hought bettor OF it. sir, and-and-i
hope you viii forget what has passed"
Simmons. ID you think you are quite right In
your head? Have you no explanation to give
OF your strange conduct"
None. SIR" was the answer. In low tones.
Now what earth WOnld N rhn nrapor
thing TO do, wonder" Thought Colonel Holt.
Ion, IL Gfon'G hate trouble so much and the
weather were not so hot. AS it is, 'ma1terly
another LOOK at the delinquent, he made the
best OF his way upstairs.
L6ste. Auxust 4. 1861
morning OF all others. when there Is so much
to be done before we start" sighed Mrs. Per-
ceval, pushing back her chair from the break
fast table as she spoke, and addressing no one
In particular.
"What was the row with Efns In the night
mother?' asked James, boy OF fourteen, who
at the moment was conveying a large piece of
bread and jam to his mouth.
With Eme?" asked his mother. "What do
you mean, Jem?"
IAN ! know is. heard a scream in the
from Effie's room opposite. But was awfully
sleepy, and the next moment was OF again,
and forgot all about 1t till just now
room TO her great dsmay, Enc was si5tins
on the edge OF the bed In half fainting con-
dition, only partly dressed.
MY darling, are you III? VIVA. is it?' asked
her mother.
"oh, mother, motnsr,o moaned the girl.
clrging to her, 'donG 60 away, don't leave
ne" was all poor Effie could say,
Leave you, my Child; of course not. But
why didn't you send for me? 1 had no Idea
you were Ill,
81 did not want to frighten you, and go
tried TO get up and dress, and then this hor-
rtbe faintnesS came over me, and could not
get to the bell Oh. mamma, l have had such
terrible night"
my darling! Then it was you Jem heard
scream?"
He must have heard me, but he didn't
come. no one came; and on. 1t was 80 terrible.
snail never, never forget it, and she trem-
bled like al aspen leaf.
One thing Is clear" said Mrs. Perceval,
I'VE cannot so to the Hollis to-day
No, no." said Ellie, II can go on no visits;
but must get away from here from this room,
from this bed" she added with q shudder.
I'VE will go anywhere you like, darling,
said her mother soothingly. "Only try to be
Calm now, and tell me what has upset you so
dTeadfully."
II was some time before the girl was suffi
Gently collected to satisfy ner mothers
many breaks aud haltlng sentences, she spoke
much as follows:
az went to bed. as you know, perfectly we'll
and looking forward to our visit to the Hollis,
and soon fell asleep. About O'Clock fancy
ft must nave been. / awoke with q feeling Of
the most frlghtful depression. just as II | we're
doomed to death. tried TO Call ont. and tn eff