The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1885-09-23
mo an escaped lunatic.

"You have a picture in your case be-
low-whose is ilP' inquired nervous
ly.
"'A picture! Why, there arc two
hundred! How should know which
one you mcanp'
"'Very true; did not think of that.
But, pardon mo, sir, one of those pho
tographs reminds me most forcibly OF
An absent friend whom grontiy desire
to fipd. Will YOU be kind enough to
lend me your aid in tho ma,tcr?'
Certainly, sir. Your mannor
when you first came in led me TO doubt
your sanity. However, am now re-
assured, and shall be most happy to
serve you.
His Kindness availed little. The
photographer could not tell to whom
the picture belonged. Ho concluded
that it must be the order of 4 transient
visitor to the city; tho negative had
boon dcstroycd-and so 1 departed in a
moro disturbed condition of mind than
before.
81 had intended to pursue my pro-
fcsson in Southern California, rs clio 20
attention to work had induced pull
monary complaint from which in this
mild climate hoped to obtain roliof,
but all my energies wcro directed to-
wards finding tho original of the haunt
ing cvasvc photograph.
Il secured an engagement upon the
stall OF an evening newspaper. Whcr-
ever wcnt-in church. theater, or up
on tho strects-my whole soul was alb
sorbcd in searching for what major
ity Of persons would call an illusion
In tho fullillment of my duties l was
sent to furnish report of the COM
mencement exercises of woman 8
college at Oakland. just across tho bay
Some strange impulse moved mo to
send down my report and to accept an
invitation from the president of tho
faculty to attend an evening reception
at the college hall. This was not in
consonanco with my ordinary habits.
for n peculiar and sometimes most un-
pleasant diflidencc led mo to avoid
rather than seek public asscmblagcs of
the kind. The night was warm, and
tho ladies sought tho pleasant balco-
nics overlooking tho bay to enjoy tho
refreshing brcezo from tho Puciic. As
l sauntcrcd up to ono Of tho windows
observed a young woman. who in some
mysterious way did not impress mo as
stranger, gazing abstractedly into
the starry depths overload. Thinking
that it was some one to whom had
been introduced during tho evening.
aroused her from her roycric by COM
monplacc remark. As sho turned hor
face towards mine our oyos met.
started back in astonishmont. l had
mot the lady Of my dream!
Pardon nc, but we have met be-
fore l bclievc,' l said half-apologetical-
ly, as soon rs could collect my scat
tered senses.
"I do not know, sir; there is certain
ly familiar tone in your voice She
spoke in tho same sweet and bewitch-
ing tones so deeply fixed in my men,
ory. In my confusion, l quickly ad-
ded:
"'It must havo been in Arabia
"Thc eyebrows woro arched in sur
prise.
81 think not, ir,-I have ncvor tray
elcd In the East.
"Wcll, to cut my story short. last
ing friendship was formed then and
there. You have met Mrs. Manches-
ter. She has proved all that my dream
foretold. 1t is true that sho has no
recollcctions OF having been my COM
panion in the desert sands of Africa,
but am none tho loss convinced that
she is tho 'tacwin' from whose lovely
face / snatchcd the veil. ~ Edwin Rus
sell Morse, IN Chicago Tribune.