The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-07-21


manned implanted in my memory. Half
unconsciouSly | scanned the faces of
thousands in the busy streets, but
among all the hurrying throng that
face was never encountered. Still. /
was impressed that one day i should
find il. persevered in my profession,
and, when dOwncast by adverse for
tunes, that silent face strengthened me,
as it had in my dream of the journey
across the desert"
| had become intensely interested,
for my friend was an excellent story.
teller. At this point he paused.
Well" said l, inquiringly, what
came of it?''
1.-Two years ago." he continued, 81
came to San Francisco. One day,
shortly after my arrival, / was stand
ing on a street corner waiting for q
car. and in the meantime turned and
carelessly glanced at a case of photo
graphs displayed at the foot of flight
of stairs leading to an artists studio.
gave start rs my gaze rested upon
one face. The deep. dark eyes looking
into mine, the regular features, the
very folds of the hair, caught up grace
fully over the high, intellectual fore
head, were those of the maiden of my
| dreami
81 lost all interest in the car and has
tened up the stairway to the studio.
The photographer evidently considered
me an escaped lunatic.
"'You have a picture in your case
belOw-whose is it?" inquired, nerv-
onSlv
"a picture! Why, there are two
hundred! How should / know which
one you mean?'
Every true; did not think of that.
| But, pardon me, sir, one of those pho
tographs reminds me most forcibly of
an absent friend whom | greatly desire
TO find. VIII You be kind enough to
lend me your aid in the matter?'
Certainly, sir. Your manner
when you first came in led me to doubt
sanity. However, L am now treasured,
and shall be most happy TO serve YOU
ellis kindness availed little. The pho
tographer could not tell TO whom the
picture belonged. He concluded that
il must be the order of transient Wis
itor TO the city; the negative had been
| destroyed-and so L departed in more
disturbed candition of mind than be-
fore.
al had intended TO pursue my pro-
fession in Southern California, rs close
attention to work had induced a pull
monary complaint from which in this
climate hoped to obtain relief. but all
nv energies were now directed towards
finding the original of the haunting,
evasive photograph.
Il secured an engagement upon the
staff of an evening newspaper. Where
ever went-in church. theater, or up
on the streets-my whole soul was alb
sorbed in searching for what 4 majority
of persons would call an illusion. In
the fulillment of my duties L was sent
to furnish report of the commence
ment exercises of a women's college
at Oakland, Just across the bay. Some
strange iPqP9lse m0yed cJ me to on f feP
tation from the President of the faculty
to attend an evening reception 1T the
college hall. This was not in conson-
ance with my ordinary habits, for pc
cullar and sometimes most unpleasant
ditiidence led me TO avoid rather than
seek public assemblages of the kind.
The night was warm, and the ladies
sought the pleasant balconies over
looking the bay to enjoy the refreshing
breeze from the Pacific. As | sauntered
up to one of the windows | observed 4
young woman, who in some myster-
ious way did not impress me rs 4
stranger, gazing abstractedly into the
starry depts overhead. Thinking that
it was some one TO whom had been
introduced during the evening,
aroused her from her revere by a COM
monplace remark. As she turned her
face toward mine our eyes met. 1
started back in astOnishment. l had
met the lady of my dream!
Pardon me, but we have met be-
fore, believe said half-apologetic-
ally, as soon as / could collect my
senses.
81 do not know, sir; there is GER
tainly familiar tone to your voice
She spoke in the same sweet and be-
witching tones so deeply fixed in my
memory. In my confusion L quickly
added:
lit must have been in Arabia
''The eyebrows were arched in sur
prise.
al think not. sir have never
travelled in the East
well, to cut my story short, last
ing friendship was formed then and
there. You have met Mrs Manchester.
She has proved all that my dream fore
told. 1t is true that she has no recol-
lection of having been my companion
in the desert sands of Africa, but | am.
none the less convinced that she is the
same fairy from whose loving face
snatched the vail. "-EdCin RiLSSeH
Morse, in Chicago Tribune.