Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-06-01


and night
One morning I woke with this idea
more wildly impressed on my mind
than ever; and, at late hour, as usual,
rose and dressed for my solitary mid
day meal. l heard strange voices In
the adjoining room, and clearly distin-
guished the unwonted accents of my
native tongue. Two English ladies had
be.poken rooms for weeks 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 sudden craving for congenial in
tercourse with nay unknown fellow
countrywomen.
To brace my nerves for the interview
I drank more deeply than usual, but
the excitement of anticipation secured
to me the full possession of all my ia
culties. | entered the saloon; the two
ladies seated at the open window, 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 former, though somewhat advanc-
ed IN life, was still a comely dame. The
years of the latter could barely have
reached quarter of century. With
out any pretensions to regular beauty
name, wac undeniably progressing,
and an intellectual and amiable type
of countenance proved faithful index
to her moral and mental qualities.
Both were evidently women of culture
and refinement.
Ga this memorable evening, which
marked a new epoch In the lives Of two
of the party, the truth of the adage
In vino veritas" was strikipgly exem-
pGfed. In the course of conversation
my companions expressed a natural
though well-bred curiosity to learn the
motives of which could have prompted
an educated Englishman like myself to
seek living tomb in these mountain
solitAdes. My heart, which had so
lorg borne the burden of its silent seal,
burned within me, and spoke its Sc
cret 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 aptly repaid
by the rapt attention and unaffected
sympathy of my listeners. Nor did
! omit timid reference to that strange
foreshadowing of a coming crisis in my
| life, which had lately taken so myster-
ious hold of my imagination. To my
surprise they expressed less increduli-
ty than anticipated. Each, in turn,
narrated some startling story Of kim
dred character, drawn from personal
experience or founded on the testi-
mony of reliable friends and acquaint-
ances in proof Of the crediollity of
presentiments in general. Not till
late hour in the evening did we part
company, with the mutual promise to
meet earl Y next morning for a stroll
before breakfast.
/ do not pretend to explain the phen-
omenon, but that night went to bed,
for the first time IN ten years, without
my usual might cap" Yet there stood
the fatal narcotic by my bedside pow
erfui enough 10 plunge most men in a
| ASbbSt1l1 wi DO1 VI O"GLtS-4Out
disturbed re9Ose ut 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 momentarily departed.
Next morning I awoke early, aud
more refreshed than WAS my wont.
None of us failed to Keep our appointed
tryst. Gentle reader, IS l cannot i'm
part to you my own eyes wherewithal
to see the incredible fact, 80 shall ] not
complain Of your hardness of heart if
you withhold your belief from my bare
assertion. Yet wise man once said:
81 believe it because it is Incredible"
For ten long years had [ never once
dispensed with my "stirrup-cup" OH
rising of a morning? and yet it is a fact
that my oblivion of the previous even
ing was repeated on this very morning.
| left my morning draught, my "pick-
me-up," untouched on my dressing
table, and sailed forth with brisk step
and smiling face to greet my fair COM
panions. | had again literally forgotten
nay temporary remedy-my chronic
poison. Nay, more. Encouraged by
TIE unobtrusiye but ever ready sympa-
| thy OF my now constant companions, |
| never once relapsed into my former
habits of excess during the whole of the
ensuing week. Having the house en-
tirely to ourselves, for the season was
now far advanced, we naturally became
inseparables. Together we enjoyed
our daily walks and excursions, SHARED
the same meals, held our long and ever
more COZ Ii Dental tete.a-tate in snug
corner of the public sitting room. 1t
| caused none of us the least surprise
when, at the end Of the week, We felt
as if we had never been strangers to
each other.
To one Of us, at least, the idea Of
parting, perhaps forever, became al
most msupportable. Forgetting my
former presentiment, had now be-
come prey to the daily incubus of an
impending farewell! Yet 1 was not in
love. Long since had l taught myself
the bitter Lessen that celibacy, in Its
dreariest aspect and phases, was my
preordained lot. Twas more than what
society calls a "detrimental"-I was
literally "an impossible" Such, at
least, was the stern judgment which
self-scrutinizing conscience had finally
and irrevocaby pronounced against
myself. My morbid sensitiveness and
quick self-consciousness had, as it
were, branded me, to nv own eyes,
with the stigma-the bitter brow-mark
of y social Cain! But the eyes of
love are proverbially bandaged, or
rather love beholds its object through
colored spectacles.
The last evening had arrived that we
were to spend together, and proposed
a farewell visit TO the Lake of the Col,
a favorite place of resort for tourists
A brief half hours walk from the au-
berge brought us thither. Never was a
more lovely autumnaI evening. All
three sat Gown silently on the shore,
side by side. No one uttered word
for some minutes; each of us thought
the more. A light shower had fallen a
little while before, and the distant
mountain range was still spanned by 8
faint arch of q rainbow. We looked
long at it and at each other alternately
and speechlessly. The stiffness at last
became oppressive, for there Is silence
which, like darkness, may be felt. TIE
spell was broken by Sylvia.
GLOW beautiful is yonder rainbow e