Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-10-21

attempted to speak to it, but nay voice
died in my throat although was not
sensible of fear. Its glance was full upon
me, the expression was neither of grief nor
of gladness, but rigid, unlife-like stten-
ton. / waited to be addressed, but it
kept immovsble and silent, with its death
like stare fixed on me. Again / felt my
self. possession failing.
81 am COME" I said at last with q
mighty effort. My voice was hollow and
unnatural.
81 love you, returned whisper.
"You love me-" / said in amazement.
"Give yourself to me-" was answered,
still in the same tone.
"Glve myself to you? You are only a
ghost. You have no bodily existence. +"
A peculiar excitement had taken possession
OF me. =" What are you: Smoke-air-
vapor? Give myself up to you. First
answer me-Who are you? Have you
lived on earth? And whence do you now
come -
"Give yourself to me. / will do you no
Ill. Say but two words take me. ,"
looked at it attentlvely. "What is it
talking about ?" thought. "What does
it all mean? How can it take me Shall
/ venture ?''
Every good" l answered SO that it
should hear, with unexpected loudness. in-
deed, as il some one hit ma from behind,
"Take me p
had hardly pronounced the syllables
when the form bent forward with smile,
60 that the features trembled for a moment,
and slowly extended its arms / would
fain have drawn back, but found it already
out Of my power. 1t twined about me,
my body was caught up yard from the
ground, and gently, and not TOO rapidly,
foated over the still and dewy grass.
My head swan. Involuntarily closed
my eyes, only to open them, however, the
next moment. We were still floating up
ward. Bat the wood was no longer 70 be
seen. Under US lay wide plain, fiecked
here and there with shadow. With horror
l realized that we had gained fearful
hight.
Il am lost. am in the devils clutch.
es, was the thought that shot lightning
Ike through my brain. Till this moment
the idea OF demoniacal interference In nv
undertaking had not occurred to me. We
were borne constantly further, and took
our fight higher and higher as it appeared.
"Where are you taking me ?" burst
from me at length.
wherever you WILL" answered nv
guide. 1t chung closer and closer to me,
and it's face almost touched my own. Yet
| could rot feel the contact.
Take me hack to the earth. This hight
makes me giddy."
Good /; only shut your eyes and hold
your breath.
followed this counsel and found myself
sinking like stone, the wind fairly whis.
ting through my hair. When l recovered
myself we were lowering Just above the
ground, so that we stirred the tops of the
grass blades.
Put me down." said, son my feet. !
have had enough of flying. am no bird. y
l believed it would be pleasant to you.
We have no other power"
eve! Who are you, then ?"
No answer.
Cant you tell me anytbing?"
a woful tone, like that which had awak.
ened me the first night, trembled in nv
ear. All this while we had been MOVING
almost imperceptibly through the damp air,
Set me down." repeated. Nv Guide
moved quietly aside, and 1 stood upon nv
feet 1t remained before me again with
folded hands. 1 had regained nv com.
posure, and looked closely in its face.
There was the same expression of melan.
choly not human.
"Where are WEI" | inquired, for | did
not recognize my surroundings.
You are not far from home, but in a
moment you may be there"
What? Must L trust myself to on
again ?"
81 have done you no harm aud will let
none come to you. We can fly till dawn,
not later. can take you wherever you
may desire-to the ends of the earth. Re.
sign yourself to me say once more take
me-"
"Then-' take me-"
Again she clasped me. l YVES lifted from
the ground and we foated in air.
WHITTIER" she asked me.
son, straight on"
But here are trees"
Rise above them-only gingerly."
We scared upward, and took once more
an onward course. Instead of grass, the
tops OF the trees waved under our feet.
The wo3d, seen from above, presented q
Singular appearance, with it's moon. lighted,
prickiy back. 1t was like some monstrous
sleeping creature, and the lew, steady
rustllng OF the leaves, like measured breath,
carried the resemblance still further. Now
and then We passed above little clearing,
along whose edge a charmingly indented
line of shadow lay. Occasionally we heard
below US the plaintiff cry of hare nearer,
the boot of owls rang dolefully the air
was full of wild and piny smells on all
sides the moonlight lay absolute and cold,
and high above our heads shone the Pie
ladies'. Speedily we left the wood behind
and debouched upon plain through which
some stream ran like ribbon of mist We
few along its banks over bushes that were
still and heavy with dampness. Here the
little waves swelled on the blue river, there
they rose dark and. threatening. Some.
times a fine faint fragrance rose in a won
derful fashion, as if the water were taking
life and soul; it was where the water. lilies
unfolded their white petals in a maidenly
splendor, conscious that no hand could
reach them. The within seized me to gather
one of these, and behold me already at the
surface of the stream. There was an un-
pleasant sensation of moistarc in nv face
as l broke the tough stem of a great flower.
We flew from shore to shore like the
jack. o -lanthorns which we saw elittering
about US, and which we seemed to chase
AT times we hit upon whole families of
wild ducks squatting in circle in hol.
low of the reeds, but they did not stir it
was chance if one or another would With.
draw it's head from its wing look about it,
and hasten to bury its beak again in the
soft down, or make cacklIng accompanied
by shake of the whole body. We reused
heton; he emerged from clump of will.
lows, stretched his legs, spread his clumsy
wings, and Tapped heavily away. No.
where did fish leap in the water appa.
rently they also slept. l had by this time
become accustomed to The sensation OF flv.
ing, and even began to find it agreeable /;
every one who has dreamed of flying will
understand this. | began to scrutiniz, the
wonderful being who bore me, and whom |
had to thank for these incredible expert.
ences. 1t bad the appearance of woman
wish delicate, not Russian, features GRAY.
lsh-whlte, nearly transparent, with scarcely
perceptibie shading, it reminded me of an
alahaster vase, and once more seemed sud.
denly, strangely familiar to me.
May l talk to you ?" l asked it.
"Speak."
60 see a ring on your finger. You have
lived on earth, then, have been married ~
stopped but there was no answer.
What is your name, or rather what
was your name %
You may call me Ellis"
ELLIS That is an English name. Are
you an Englishwoman Have you known
me before 2"
mo"