The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-10-27
HIS DREAM-MAIDEN.
Strange and Touching Story of the
French Revolution.

man, young and handsome, sat writing il
the chamber Of a secluded house, not fal
from the old Electoral Palace OF Mayence.
Suddenly he dropped his pen with {
startled cry. The face of woman, dim aut
yet perfectly distinct, had pushed betwix
him and his work. He looked up. 1t hung
hower-like. in the air above him. He rushed
towards the open window-it was there
smiling sadly in the fading light Adam Lu,
stretched out his arms passionately to the
vision.
"Ah, you come to me again" he said
''Who are youi Why do you pursue me
Beautiful shadow whittier shall 60 to fine
your substance. Do you exist in the flesh
or are you only spirit-delusive as mad
dening!"
A chime of bells pea1ed from the church
of st. Stephen. He could hear pigeons COO
ing in the court below his window. A foun.
tain there dripped in a messy stone basin
Adam Lux, the dreamer, scholar, enthusi
asst remained with outstretched arms and
eyes fixed on the invisible
'sFor the second time you have appeared
to me-" he murmured, land whether you be
reflection Of earth or of hea ven, love
you, dream-maidenl Better your impal-
pable presence than the fairest flesh and
blood! Ilove you! Stay beside me always
leave me never agalnW
"Adam-Cousin Adamp' girls voice
called from the court below; "Quit your
stupid writing and come down to me. 1t is
I-Margarethe."
Adam Lux passed his hand across his
eyes. The voice Of Margarethe dissolved
the spell which held him.
His dream-maiden vanished. He de-
scended a cork-screw stair to a court full of
shadows, where girl, dressed as for .fetc,
stood dabbling her plump hands in the
fountain.
"You have forgotten my birthday, cousin "
she pouted. s'Of late you think of nothing
but liberty, fraternity, equality, like those
mad folks in Paris who have cut off the
head Of their King
He looked at her white gown-at the roses
ia her hair and colored slightly.
pardon mel did forget! 1 am but q
sorry lover, Margarethe."
She sighed deeply.
"You are no lover Of mine, Adam-ours
is q betrothal Of hands, not of hearts. Our
parents arranged it. and already you find il
tiresOme. You care nothing for love"
He took q turn across the court He had
ine, blondeface, with dark brows archiug
over violet eyes, and Aaxeu hair, slightly
powdered. A strange smile played ON his
lips.
II love-not flesh and blood, Margarethe,
but q phantom, shadow" he answered,
with his eyes full Of dreams. ''Listen! 1t
came to me one night as was walking in
the gardens of the Electoral Palace; wo-
mans face, white as marble-white as one
OF the garden lilies, just blown; in the chin
deep dimple, about tho perfect mouth an
expression Of sadness and gravity; q face
with great eyes Of unfathOmable darkness,
fringed with lashes as black as night; and
hair dark also, and lustrous, the full rich
curls, tipped with auburn, falling against a
neck like column of pearl.''
''Ohr' cried Mnrgarethe. in dismay show
very beautiful she must be! Surely there
Is no woman like that in all Mayencer'
''True,'' he answered, "nor in the world,
fear. II is the ghost Of some Greek god
dess that has gotten into the cells Of my
brain, and will not be dislodged. Tonight
she came to me again in the chamber above
s.airs-she smiled on ME, as though she
knew that her fair lineaments were burned
for ever into my heart. 1t was your voice
that frightened her away"
Tears stood in Margarethe's eyes. She
was Jealous and perplexed.
''And this phantom, this shadow-woman,
made you forget both me and my birthdays''
she cried. "Your head Is turned, Adam
such folly will destroy you yet" And she
began to weep bitterly.
His manner changed at once.
ut was wrong of me to tell YOU these
things" he said. "You are q mere child.
Margarethe, with the heart OF a chill.
Come let US talk of other matters. A great
honor has been conferred upon me by the
people of Mayence-I have been chosen a
Deputy. to go 10 Paris, and request the an
nexatiou OF this city to France"
Paris" sobbed Marguerite. "That Is .
long way OIL When will you gos"
"TO-morr0w--by diligence"
"Yop will never, mover come back,
Adam!''
"God only knows," l. answered, quietly
Lux was an ardent Rer- .,lican. The mis-
sion TO Paris suited him well. His hand
some head was full OF other aud even more
dangerous phantoms than dream -naidens
On the following day he kissed poor, weep
Ing nsrgarethe goodbye In the old court,
aud started for the French capital, whore
Jean Psul Marat was then 1t the height Of
his terrible power.
Lux took lodgings In the Rue st. H0nore,
and hurriel to the Convention, TO solicit, In
the nsnlc of German Republicans, the an
nexatton OF his native city TO France.
The Chamber that day was fullof tumult.
4arst. the hldeous, loud-mouthed. preach
ing massacre aud anarchy, was the leader
OF La Noidag,s. AS he ranted iu the trib-
uue. Adam Lux looked 1t him in disgust.
His head was too large for his body; his
lean, slckly face was unspeakably repulsive.
He woro patched aud dirty wuistcoat, cot
eou-velvet trousers stained with ink, shoes