Middletown transcript., 1886-09-02

true.
In the week that followed / remem
Der three things distinctly, not tina
they were themselves important, bu
that they bore upon that strange even
which made turning point in M
life. The first is that rode over t.
Glen Levannoch and was told tina
MIR. and Miss Fraser had left home
to stay with friends in Edinburg
The second is that my man George, who
acted as footman and valet to me, got
drunk one night and left the house
door wide open-for which I have not
ceased to thank Providence ever since.
Now, as rule, I am lenient to these
failings. Whisky, I regret to saw
has an attraction for men in these
northern climates which few. cam re.
Esist. But, whether it was that 1 was
out of sorts, or whether it was that my
mother was alarmed, I don't know.
but I resolved to make an example,
and I turned the man out of the house
the next day. The third incident was
more important and should be told at
length.
L
I am a good sleeper, I don't dream
much, I don't believe in dream warn
ings and such things. I have no
faith in ghosts-though I know for a
fact that my cousins the Mac Mocks
have banshee in their family-as a
fact, I say. But about that time l
used to try and dream of a certain
lady, and so one night fell asleep
| and did dream. And this is what /
dreamed.
I thought was in Edinburg, stand
ing in Princes street (and let me find
any street in England, or anywhere
else which can compare with that and
waiting by the Waverly monument.
Opposite me was a hotel, which /
suppose | was watching, for out of it
presently came, as clear and vivid as
in life, Nelly Fraser, with a veil over
her head; she came slowly toward me
and lifted her veil, revealing a face
so white and miserable that scarcely
knew it and then, as I stepped for
ward, she raised one hand, and point
ing up across the gorge toward the
High street hill, vanished into NOV
ing mist. Then the shadows began to
shift and shuttle themselves, and pres
emily out came another vision from
my dream. I was there still, standing
but all the surroundings had changed.
l seemed to be in sort of shop or
Office. A counter was before me, and
all around me were thin phantom fig
ures, with no features that I could see.
Only one among these misty shapes
had visible human face. And that
one advanced toward me with smile
which shall never forget. It was
the face Of a young man, slightly dr0op.
ed, as if its owner we're shy or defer
entail, with blue, bright eyes aud
gentle, handsome features, and fair,
hair, and lips that seemed to be made
for laughter, and smile that shone
like a CLEAN Of sunshine there.
{ And in moment the face and
forms had vanished. The darkness
seemed to grow darker. I heard soft
steps walking in the air. felt as if
a cold wind were blowing in my face.
Suddenly I saw the chill sea shining
afar off under the white stars. A
voice that was harsh broke out in
harsh laughter beside me, and then
| woke.
Two days after ! set out for Edin-
burg, with three objects. wanted to
consult an eminent advocate. Iwant-
ed to get a new servant. And /
wanted at least to find out where the
Frasers we're.
I saw the great advocate, and he
confirmed my fears. "Unless the
missing deed is found, my dear sir"
he said in his blandest accents, "your
title is SO defective as to be legally
worthless should a rival claimant
arise" = * ss
I did not see the Frasers, but 1 got
their address, and l wrote one letter
to the father and four to the daugh-
ter.
engaged a new servant in this
way: Our need of a servant being
pressing, 1 went, for the first and last
time in my life to a registry office.
The shop lay in the. south of the town
up beyond the High street, and when
/ entered it there were several subdued
looking beings, unfortunate applicants
l suppose, standing around. Behind
the counter we're a man and woman,
and to the former, having q prejudice
in favor of doing business with my
own sex, begotten perhapseof shyness,
I applied. He kept me waiting a
long time. Then he looked over a
prodigious ledger and read me out
numerous applications which we're
perfectly useless. At last,g however,
he came to one which l thought
would do. told him SO, and he
+baraunon invited me to wait a little