The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-04-28

August, the Festa of the Assumption.
Here is also a modest but comfortable au-
berge, for the accommodation of the num-
erous tourists who visit this romantic and
salubrious spot during the brief summer
season.
took up my abode in this little hostel
ry in the month of July, IS, with the
full expectation of ending my days there,
and at no distant date Meanwhile | held
dJggedly aloof from all intercourse save
with the tough but kindly and honest folks
who supplied my daily needs, But to no
purpose did Invoke death. could Meth
er live nor die At last, strangely, though,
sudden revulsion of feeling took posses
sion of me. Hope, as itwere, even against
hope, seemed to revive in me. Again [
hankered after life, and aspired to Il more
normal existence.
Reader, do you believe in presentiments?
Hitherto | had been a skeptic, and proud
of my skepticism, in all matters savoring of
spiritual or eXtra-material agency. But
natural instinct will revenge itself, from
time to time, upon even the most stubborn
of unbelievers. In moment | fell vic
nc to credulity; felt vague, but none
the less positive, assurance Of some event
about to befall me which was destined to
change the current of my whole life. Of
It's precise nature had not even glimpse,
but it was strange fancy connected with
hopefulness rather than misgivings. Did
[ not already know the worst? Surely
any change, no matter what, must be wei
come to me Nevertheless, at the outset
I strove to stife it as the promptings of a
childish superstition; or yet more probably,
a symptom of mental deterioration, perhaps
even of brain-softening. Despite all my
efforts, it would whisper in my ear, like IL
still, small voice, day and night.
One morning woke with this idea more
vividly impressed on my mind than ever;
and, at Il late hour, as usual, rose and
dressed for my solitary midday meal. [
heard strange voices in the adjoining room,
and clearly distinguished the unwonted ac-
cents of my native tongue. Two English
ladies had bespoken rooms for a week s
stay Only few days had elapsed since
such an announcement would have failed to
awaken the faintest interest in my mind
The case was otherwise now. felt a sud
den craving for congenial intercourse with
my unknown fellow country
To brace my nerves for the interview, [
drank more deeply than usual, but the ex
element of anticipation secured to me the
full possession Of all my faculties. [ en-
tered the salon; the two ladies, seated at the
open widow, were silently admiring the
prospect In foreign land in general, and
in an out-of-the-world place like that in
which [ was now staying in particular, the
sight of fellow-countryman is welcome.
Within half an hour we were on terms OF
cordial intimacy The two ladies stood in
the relation of aunt and niece. The form
er. thou Oh somewhat advanced in life,
was still comely dame. The years of the
latter could barely have reached quarter
Of century. Without any pretentions to
regular beauty of features, Sylvia, for such
was her name, was undeniably PROPOSES
ing, and an intellectual and amiable type
of countenance proved faithful index to
her moral and mental character. Both
were evidently women Of culture and re-
inement
On this memorable evening, which
marked a great epoch in the lives Of two of
the party, the truth of the adage, III" cito
ve,f,tas," was strikingly exempHfed. In
the course of conversation my companion
expressed natural though well-bred curl
osity to learn the motives which could have
prompted an educated Englishman, like
myself, to seek living tomb in these noun
tain solitudes. My heart, which had so
long borne the burden of its silent seal,
burned within me, and | spoke its secret
sorrows unreservedly. Little by little |
unfolded the sad story Of my whole past
life. [ spoke the truth, the whole truth,
nothing but the truth. And my confidence
was amply repaid by the rapt attention and
unaffected sympathy of my listeners. Nor
did | omit timid reference to that strange
foreshadowing of coming crisis in my life
which had lately taken so mysterious hold
of my imagination. To my surprise, they
expressed less incredulity than | anticipat-
ed Each, in turn, narrated some startling
story of kindred character, drawn from
personal experience or founded on the tes-
timony of reliable friends and acquaintance
in proof of the credibility of presentiments
in general. Not till late hour in the eve
ming did we part company, with the mutual
promise to meet early next morning for
stroll before breakfast.
| do not pretend to explain the phe-
nomenon, but that night [ went to. bed,
for the first time in ten years, without my
usual ''night-cap." Yet there stood the
fatal narcotic by my bedside, powerful
enough to plunge most men into Lethean
torpor of twenty-four hours duration. but
which had only the effect of drugging my
over-excited brain for a couple of hours
disturbed repose at the most. Neither can
[ claim the merit of resisting the tempter.
[ simply forgot it. 1t was as if some good
angel had spread an invisible wing around
me and my evil genius had momemtarily
departed.
Next morning | awoke early, and more
refreshed than was my wont. None of us
failed to keep our appointed tryst. Gentle
reader, as | can not impart to you my own
ewes wherewithal to see the incredible fact,
So shall l not complain of your hardness
of heart if you withhold your belief from
my bare assertion Yet wise man once
said II believeit because it is incredible" "
For ten long years had [ never once dis
pensed with my "stirrup-cup" on rising of
a morning; and yet it is a fact that my
oblivion of the previous evening was re-
peated on this very morning. [ left my
draught, my ''pick-me-up," un-
touched on my dressing-table, and sailed
forth with brisk step and smiling face to
greet my fair companions. | had again
literally forgotten my temporary remedy
my chronic poison Nay, more en-
couraged by the unobtrusive but ever-ready
sympathy of my own constant companions,
l never once relapsed into my former habits
of excess, during the whole of the ensuing
week. Having the house entirely to our
selves, for the season was now far advanced,