Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-07-12

WuCto lOt purposes VI khiulHSs duCA-
ling, and other Illicit practices, sundry
secret doors, false floors, etc.. had
been introduced into its construction.
These days, however, had passed
away long before my birth, and for
years it had been a high class ladies'
school, its wicked old contrivances
left nseleSs and innocent. 6s
B But its generally dignifed arrange
ments remained useful. Its white
stone staircase needed no carpet. s
Its we'll separated rooms prevented
any class, even a singing one, from
disturbing its neighoors, It's great
entrance hall, with its three divisions,
planned probably for the purpose of
securing delay when desirable, was
still specially useful.
The first was a mere lobby, on to
which the outer doors stood open DUR
ing school hours. L VI! GILL j.
Glass doors gave admission to the
second hall, which was furnished with
forms for the convenience of servants
waiting to escort their young ladies.
The doors of the third, or inner
hall, we're kept clasped and guarded
by the school ol-room, with looking
glass, hanging pegs, etc. =
I have dwelt on the description OF
the hall, because it is the scenery Of
this story of mine-which Is no story
at all, in its end. .
Let me add that in those days
school life was divided by quarters,
not 'terms,' and that new scholars were
entered very rarely except at these
quarters.
Well, was about twelve years of
age. 1t was tae middle of a quarter; l
think about the end of October; a
time at which there was no excite
ment about examinations, prizes, or
school arrivals or partings.
l had lived through my usual quiet,
fully occupied day, and had gone to
bed at my regular hour. Then / had
a dream.
I may pause here to say that all my
life l have been what l may venture
to call rather rational dreamer. l
have scarcely ever. dreamed of horrors
or of specially exciting events of any
kind, but of life very much like that
in which have lived by day. B
l remember of these dreams seldom
more than . generally pleasant impress
sion. LII Z! 81
When l can recall farther, they are
usually dramatically correct, and with
humorous or poetic point, and some
what to the purpose Of my life at the
time. a, .gs .,...,.r, .,'r -.
. l will not deny that I have been
soothed and helped by dreams. But
it is very seldom indeed that | can re-
call more than generally pleasant i'm
pressions. E d4unt2H#t 4". s4.
On this occasion / dreamed that l
was, as usual, walking to school, this
was the only outdoor excursion ever
made alone, the school being, as 1
have said, separated by only twelve or
thirteen houses from my home.
In front of me I saw two tall young
girls, clad in the deepest mourning,
and accompanied by an elderly gentle
man also in deep mourning. (Note
that detail.) OF the girls I noticed
nothing but their specially sombre
attire and somewhat lanky figures.
But as passed them the gentleman
turned and spoke to me, and saw
that he had fine high features and a
long gray beard.
He continued speaking to me till we
reached the school door. There the
girls passed in silently, and as if quite
unaware of the presence Of the old
gentleman or myself I saw them
walk through the second division, but
we fingered in the outer lobby.
He spoke with much emohasis and
great gesticulation. Whether or not
seemed to him to- respond I cannot
say, hut it was if l heard nothing.
The dream ended here; or at least
as far as my memory was concerned.
Whether I woke at this juncture or
the dream faded off in mist, as dreams
sometimes do, cannot recall.
Next morning went to school as
usual, and going straight up into the
school-room saw, on seats facing the
door, the two he-oines of my dream;
the tall, pale, sableclad girls. I5t
It is odd that l can remember dis
tinctly that l was notgreatly surprised
or impressed; the fact being such
condolences as this were not uncom-
mon to me at that time. ',''l h"r
If more had not followed, l should
no doubt have forgotten all about
this, though turned the matter over
in my mind, with half laugh. What
a muddle these things are,' thought.
why did dream about these girls
and an old, gentleman, and then en-
counter the girls, but no old gentle
man? Where is he?' 2' ,s&Hal
We will call the girls the Misses
Lowman 7 do not give the right
name). They and sat in different
divisions and were in separate casses,
and there was mo Communication
-.,ho4ovo, hok xuoor ,,a o-noy>k = f1~ro 4, I