New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-06-30
womanly, than at that moment-told

womanly, than at that moment--to
me in return, without any mock mod
esty, without any attempt to belittle
her passion, that my love was return
ed in all the fulness OF her young.
hearts DESIRE Would she benny wife:
Did I know what was asking? Was
quite sure that I loved her as much
as I said did? Would my love not
WAIVER after parting from her? Would
it not be better that I should wait
and see? All this she wanted to
| know
We talked it over quite calmly to-
gether, though our hearts beat fast,
| and even in the white light OF the
moon [ could see the blood mantlins
her check and brow. Atlength / yield
ed to her. She was right. I had
known her so short time. | could
wait. She would be home the follow
ing November. 1t was then June.
must not see her again, must not
write to her, but if after six months
| still loved her as then | should come
to her. Ishould spend Christmas at
her fathers house in New York. She re-
peated her address to me. It seemed
quite familiar I clasped her close in
my arms. LEANED down and kissed
her. Iopened my eyes. It was broad
daylight. ] was staring at the canopy
which stretched across the top of my
four-post bedstead. I had been
dreaming.
|
For weeks l tried to Danish that
dream, but it was useless. It was so
real-so intensely real-that l could
not rid myself Of the impression it
left upon me. 1t was certainly a
strange experience. was in love
with a woman I had seen in my sleep;
in all probability with a woman who
never existed. Her name and address,
however, were ever before me; | re-
membered them quite distinctly
It was the week before Christmas.
Almost a month had passed, and ]
was still filled with longing to see
once more the object of my strange
vision. prayed that mis- ht dream
Of her again, but my slumber was as
blank as a snow-covered plateau AS
[ sat at my desk thinking, thinking,
thinking, her image ever before me, her
voice still ringing in my ears, sudden
impulse seized me; an impulse which
had come time and time before, but
which each time had put off as un-
worthy the notice OF sensible man.
It was to write TO the address which ]
SO we'll remembered. 1t can do no
harm. said to myself; | will do it.
wrote-wrote as though the dream
han been a reality-told her that my
love had never wavered, that I longed
to see her once more, and that, If
quite convenient, would be with her
on Christmas eve. | sent my re.
CARDS to her father and mother, and
mentioned her younger brother, who
had won my especial esteem because
OF his love for art. After | had post
ed the letter laughed at my own sill
illness. How foolish, Isaid. It will
60 to the dead-letter Office. In spite
of this I hoped against my better
Judgment for an answer.
Two days later as I sat down to
breakfast at my club, q waiter hand
ed me three letters. One was bill;
another was from New York, but is
bore Goupil's imprint, and | knew it
was on a. business matter, and the
thlrd-it was q square envelope, adj
dressed in a scrawling, womangly hand,
and it was postmarked New York. A
strange feeling came over me-unac-
countably strange. There was some
thing SO unreal, unnatural in it all,
that the Precipitation came out upon
my forehead in cold drops, and my
1o1 al,
open the letter.
With an effort commanded myself
and broke the envelope. Nervously [
pulled forth the contents. [ glanced
at the signature. 1t was her name.
Hastily / looked it through. There
was no mistaking it. 1t could not
have been written by any one but she.
There were incidents referred to which
my letter had given no hlnt-incidents
which had occured-so far as | Was
concerned only in dream. The let
ter ended with cordial invitation to
come at once, and her father had add
ed postscript in which he urged me
to accept his hospitality. l went,
still doubling, though the letter was
seemingly convincing.
1t Was Christmas eve. The streets
were alive with people; the show win
dows were aglow with light. All was
merry hustle and activity. Every
body seemed to be rushing here and
there, jostling each other as they pass
ed. Yet moved among them, made
my way through the throng as one
who was still dreaming. 1t was all SO
odd, so strange.
At length the house was reached. l
had. been admitted. I had been
ushered into a warm, richly furnished
reception-room, decorated with Christ
mas green's. Upon the hearth wood
fire cracked and famed. For a mo-
ment a great fear seized me. Suppose
they should not recognize me? Sup
pose it should all prove to have been
q mistake?
For a moment only was thus tor
mented The door opened and she
stood before me. She, whom I loved
as never loved woman before, stood
there in all the healthful vigor OF life,
her face aglow with welcome, her hands
stretched ont To receive me- A second