The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-10-27
HIS DREAM-MAIDEN.
Strange and Touching Story of the
French Revolution.

One spring twilight, in the year 1893, a
man, young and handsome sat writing in
the chamber of a secluded house, not far
from the old Electoral Palace of Mayence
Suddenly he dropped his pen with a
startled cry. The face of woman, dim and
yet perfectly distinct, had pushed betwixt
him and his work. He looked up 1t hung,
flower like. in the air above him He rushed
towards the open window-it was there,
smiling sadly in the fading light. Adam Lux
stretched out his arms passionately to the
vision.
''Ah, you come to me again. he said.
"Who are you? Why do you pursue me!
Beautiful shadow whittier shall | go to find
your substancef Do you exist in the flesh,
or are you only a spirit-delusive as mad
dening?"
A chime OF bells pealed from the church
of st. Stephen. He could hear pigeons COO
ing in the court below his window 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.
For the second time you have appeared
to me,n he murmured, "and whether you be
a reflection of earth or of hea ven, | love
you, dream-maidenl Better your impal-
BfSDAC pLCSCllGO tldu bllC ldlIGSU lCSu anu
blood! l love you! Stay beside me always
leave me never againm
"Adam-Cousin AdamI" girls voice
called from the court below; quit your
stupid writing and come down to me- 1t is
I-Alargarethe."
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 a girl, dressed as for tete
stood dabbling her plump hands in the
fountain
"You have forgotten birthday, cousin"
she pouted. "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
lie looked at her white gown-at the roses
in her hair and colored slightly.
Pardon mel did forgetl l am but a
sorry lover, Margarethe."
She sighed deeply.
You are no lover Of mine, Adam-ours
is betrothal of hands, not of hearts. Our
parents arranged it, and already you find it
hresome. You care nothing for love-
He took turn across the court. He had
line, blonde face, with dark broWs arching
over violet eyes, and haxeu hair slightly
powdered. A strange smile played on his
lips.
81 love-not flesh and blood, marguerite,
but a 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; a wo-
mans face, white as marble-white as one
OF the garden lilies, just blown; in the chin
a deep dimple about the perfect mouth an
expression of sadness and gravity; a 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 Marguerite, in dismay, chow
very beautiful she must be! Surely there
is no woman like that in all Mayencer
"True," he answered, NOR in the world,
fear. 1t 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
stairs-she smiled on me, as though she
knew that her fair lineaments were burned
for ever into my heart. It 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 birthdayp'
she cried. your head is turned, Adam
such folly will destroy you yet" And she
began TO weep bitterly
His manner changed at once.
at was wrong of me to tell you these
things" he said. "You are mere child,
Marguerite, with the heart of child.
Come, let us talk Of other matters. A great
honor has been conferred upon me by the
people of Mayence--I have been chosen u
Deputy, to go to Paris, and request the an
nexation of this city to France"
paris sobbed Margarethe. ''That is q
long way of When will you goH"
"TO-morrow-by diligence"
"You will never, never come back,
Adam"
"God only knows" he answered, quietly.
Lux was an ardent Republican. The mis-
sion to Paris suited him well. HIS hand
some head was full of other and even more
dangerous phantoms than denominations.