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

VISI0NS-A PHANTASY.
II an Turgenieff, or Turgenjew, born at Orch, 9th
November, ISIS. The NEST prominent OF modern
Russian noyelists His principal works. TRANSACTIONS
OF which have appeared in English, French and
other languages, are "Gemuirs of a Sportsman
Russian Life in the Interior" (NemoiresGu Sey.
7Ieur Russo, " Fathers and Sons" considered ms
masterpiece: it presents photograph Of the char
acteristics OF old and Russian society; elisa"
Smoke" etc. The first two works contained such
powerful sketches of serfdom that the present EN-.
perOr Alexander declared them TO be % one of the
first indictments to the decree which gave freedom
70 thirty millions OF serf-." The novelist visited
Scotland IN 1871 to pay homage to the memory of
Scott at the Edinburgh Centenary Banquet
For long time l tried in vain to sleep,
and kept tossing from side to side. "The
devil take all this nonsense of tipping ia.
bles, | said to myself, sit certainly shakes
the nerves" At length, however, drowsi.
ness began to get the upper hand.
Suddenly it seemed to me that harp
string twanged feebly in my chamber. 1
lifted my head. The moon was low in the
sky and shone full in my face; its light
lay like chalk mark on the carpet. The
strange sound was distinctly repeated. l
raised myself on my elbow my heart beat
forcibly. a minute passed so-another-
then IN the distance cock crowed, and a
second answered him from yet further.
My head fell back on the pillow. at
comes even to that, thought, "my ears
are fairly ringing"
In moment more | was asleep, or
seemed to myself to be sleeping. | had
singular dream. l thought that was in
my chamber in my own bed, wide awake.
Suddenly hear the noise again. turn.
The moonbeam on the floor begins to
waver, to rise, to take shape, stands mo-
tioniess before me like the white figure of
woman, transparent as mist
Who are you p | ask, trying to retain
MY composure.
a voice resembling the soughing of the
wind among The tree-tops answers me. at
Is IL. l am come for YOU"
For me? But who are you?'
"Come at nightfall to the old oak tree
at the edge Of the wood. will be there"
l wish TO see more closely the features of
this mysterious being; On involuntary cold
shudder runs through me. l find myself
not lying, but In sitting posture on nv
bed, and where the appearance of the
figure was there is a long pale moon-streak
on the floor
do not know how the next day passed.
little, but could accomplish nothing. Night
fell my heart beat as if l had been ex-
posting some one. | went to bed and
turned my face to the wall
Why did you not come ?" The whis-
per was plainly audible in the chamber.
Hastily l turned my head
There was the form again the mysteri.
GUS being with fixed eyes in its rigid coun-
tenance and an expression of woe.
Come - heard family.
81 will come" [ answered with uucon.
trollable terror. The shape wavered, sank
into itself ike puff Of smoke, and once
more it was only the wan moonlight that
lay on the smooth floor.
passed the day in excitement. At tea
nearly emptied bottle of wine, and for
a moment stood hesitating at the open
door, but almost Immediately turned back
and threw myself upon my couch. The
blood rushed at fever-speed through my
veins.
Again l heard the tones. | shrank, but
would not look up. Then suddenly felt
myself tightly clasped by something, and
whisper in my very ear, Come, come,
come !" Trembling with fright l STAN
mered, will come" and raised myself
upright.
Tue woman's form was bending over the
head OF my bed. 1t smiled slightly, and
faded, but not before l had been able to
distinguish the features. It seemed to me
that / had seen them before but where
when 1t was late when | rose, and spent
almost the whole day IN the fresh air, went
to the old ok tree ct the edge of the wood
and regarded it thoroughly. Toward even
ing | seated myself beside the open win
dow In my study. My housekeeper
brought me 8 cup of tea, but l was unable
to taste it. All sorts Of thoughts besieged
me, and l asked myself seriously whether
l was not on the road to madness. Il was
just after sunset, and not only the sky but
the whole atmosphere was Suddenly suf.
fused with supernatural purple Ugh!
leaves and weeds, smeo.h az If freshly var
nished, were alike moti1aless there was
something singular, almost mysterious, in
this absolute quiet, this dazzling sharpness
of outline, this combination of intense
glow with the Stiffness of death itself. A
large gray blCd flew noiselessly toward me
and settled itself upon the balustrade of
my balcony. looked at it and it looked
at me, its head sideways, with its round,
dusky eye. " Are you sent to remind
me ?" thought.
The bird spread its wings and flew
away as silently as it had come. l re.
manned at the window for some time
longer absorbed in thought. l seemed to
be under spell, gentle but irresistible
power controlled me, "a the boat is swept
on by the current long before the cata.
ract is in sight. When / regained pos.
session of myself the glow was gone from
the sky, which had grown dark, and the
enchanted stiffness had ceased. A light
breeze had sprung up, the moon rode
bright and brighter through the blue ex.
panse, and in her cold light the trees
shimmered, half dusk, half silver. Ny
old servant entered with lamp, but the
draught from the window exJinguisned
the fame. / waited no longer, thrust my
hat on my head and hurried to the old oak
tree at the edge of the wood.
Years ago this oak tree had been struck
by lightning its top was shivered and
entirely blasted, but the trunk had still
vigor for coming centuries. As I ap.
preached, flmy cloud drew over the
moon; blacklist shadow lay under the
broad branches. At first / was not con.
scious of anything unusual, but as l glanced
TO one side ms heart throbbed-a white
form was standing motionless by tall
sapling between me and the tree. My
hair stood on end, but plucked up courage
and walked steadily on.
Yes, it was che, my nightly visitant. As
/ drew near the moon shone out in full
splendor. The figure seemed woven, as
it were, out OF a half-transparent milky