Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-29

| near enough lot me 10 sec '"s' '''~
very Young aud very pretty. Such :
| sweet. pale. wistful little face, with
dark, curling hair aud soft, sad eyes,
that could not take mine away. II
fascinated me, and yet il awed rue some
how. like a face seen in dream. which
the dreamer dares not approach toe
closely lest it fade out and be seen nc
more.
And still she stood there motionlcss,
and still gazed spell-bound, for how
long ! know not.
At last she raised her head and looked
at me. Then she pointed to Lorimer'
and | understood that she wished to
speak TO him.
"Do you want me to awaken him
] asked at once, laying my hand on his
arm. She shook her head.
"You cannot; he sleeps too sound
W. she answered in low voice, which
sounded sweet but faint. like the wind
As one hears il from below sweeping
over the tops Of the tall pine trees.
And. sure enough, found it impossible
to rouse my companion from the deep
sleep into which he had fallen. When
spoke close to his ear he merely
turned uneasily and buried his face in
bis arms on the ground.
looked from him to the silent figure
at his side with wonder. Again she
shook her head.
81 can only speak to him through
you." she went on in that same low
tone. Z" but you must give him my mes
sage for the sake Of the love you bear
him. Tell him there is danger before
him, and | have come to warn, to en-
treat, him to delay his journey. He
must not 60 TO B. There is dan
ger-horrible danger :"
But we are on our way there now"
! said, mystihed.
Turn back. then; oh, make him
turn back ;" she entreated, stretching
out her small white hands imploringly.
What could it mean? All sorts OF
romantic ideas fitted through my brain.
This beautiful creature was some girl
who loved him, and who was mixed up
with his true life, and he was about to
be discovered by his fsmily-or who
knows what? / wished to get little
peep into the secret.
- But what is the danger? Can't you
tell me about it so that can impress
il more on him." asked persuasively.
NO, no; l may not say. | cannot
tell you more"
" But he won't believe me Why
not rouse him and warn him yourself,
madam"
Would that it were possible" she
replied sadly, with sort Of wall :; d" he
has prevented that by the life he has
led since We were parted. Oh, Sydney,
Why were you not true to the memory
of our love, that | might have guarded
and saved you?"
Tell him." she went on after a mo-
ment-" tell him not to doubt the truth
of what say to you-what Helen, the
Helen he loved, says. If he is still in
credulous, tell him showed you this, -
and holding up her thin left hand against
the moonlight, which had now flooded
everything with silver, | noticed that
the first joint Of the middle finger was
missing.
Another moment and / had started
forward. and was peering into the shade
for the figure which had been standing
few yards from Inc was gone, and
was once more alone with my sleeping
friend. AS quietly and mysteriously
as she had come, so had she gone ant
though | sprang into the wood an(
shouted in all directions, neither sigh
nor sound OF her could gain.
Slowly and disconSolately | returned
to the place had left, to find LorimeI
sitting up and rubbing his eyes a
though just awakened.
"What on earth are you making
such a noise abOut?" he asked in al
aggrieyed tone of voice. "Have yol
lost your senses, Tom, that you 60 oil
like tbat?"
"Did you see her? Which way di
she go?" | asked quickly.
"She? Who is the mysterious sh
in the case: All, Tom, you rogue
have you had an adventure while
slept? Too bad to steal march oil
me, old fellow j."
lie was evidently quite uncOnsciou
of all that had passed. Adventure
Well, it was that certainly, and
strange one, too.
did nothing tell you that some on
YOU knew and cared for was near:"
said slowly, keeping my eyes on hi
face, which looked white and set in tn
moonlight. lie passed his hand owe
his brow.
IL was dreaming, | believe" he an
sweIed in a graver tone dreaming g
one can never see again ! Bah . wha
is life itself but dream? The past
gone, and she with it; what's the us
of thinking Of what is past recall?"
"Are you so sure it is past recall?
asked. and then l told him what ha
happened. At first he laughed at tn
idea Of a mysterious lady who was S
interested in him, and chafied me III
mercifully about my talent for II
mancing; but as | went on he listene
more attentively, and his eyes question
ed mine with eagerness.
GOOD God. Is it possible? b
murmured, and then again he SCENE
to doubt my veracity.
"I've been talking in my Sleep"
said, "and you've caught name. 1t
a bad Jest, Tom Lesson, and I'm a ba
subject for jesting with, l give you n
tice. thought you knew me better B
this time, you young scamp !" AM
turning away as though to hide the EN-
ton he could not help showing,
pulled out his pipe and began to fill
But his hand trembled and he let
fall.
was growing little hot over it m
self by this time. 1t was hard to ha'
ones word doubted after being startlt
| and almost frightened out of one
| senses.
, "Believe me or not, as you choose
t l responded sulkily. "I've told u