The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-12-11

delicious influences stealing over MIN,
while the muscles OF his neck relaxed,
and. with his head gracefully inclined
to his shoulder, Mr.. Founder yielded to
the soft embrace, and, falling asleep,
passed into the land Of dreams.
Tho sound Of the clock in the hall
striking nine reminded him that he had
accepted an invitation to Mrs. Browns
party that very evening. Hastily put
ting on his dress things, he was soon on
the way to his destination. Mrs. Brown
was famous for collecting all the pretty
and fashionable girls to her parties, and
Mr.. Founder had ample scope in which
to exercise his discrimination. But
being on his mettle now, he became ex-
tremely fastidious, with the result that
he returned to his lodgings with the
conviction that Mrs. Brown was not able
to produce woman worthy of his love.
The next night found him at the
theater. While the audience attended to
the performance Mr.. Founder scanned
the sea Of faces about him in the hope
that he would find the object of his de-
sire. From his place in the pit-stalls
he carefully scrutinized each individual
lady in the boxes. But she was not
there. Then his eyes swept the diff
ferent circles with like avail. The
dress circle absorbed the greater share
of his attention. Feeling that he should
leave no stone unturned, his gaze scared
even to the gods" in case the one
flower he sought should be perched so
high! But no! He then relieved the
strain on his neck by examining the
females in his immediate vicinity, but
none came up to the mark. His love put
in no appearance, and Mr.. Founder at
last let fall his eye-glass just as the cur
tain fell on the final scene, and he re-
turned to his lodgings, his future wife
still to be discovered.
Nothing daunted, however, he pur-
sued his search day after day, but with
like result. He, tried all the houses at
| which he was accustomed to visit, but
not one girl Of bis acquaintance came up
to his ideal, and he saw that he must
only extend the search outside his own
circle, as the writer had stated in the
pamphlet. At the time that he came to
this conclusion he was seated as usual
in his armchair before the fire. He had
no intention Of giving up the search
without first trying every available
means in his power. He began to re-
volve in his mind what plan he ought to
pursue in order to compass his ends
when he heard timid knock at his
door. In response to his ''come in" the
door slowly opened, and, to his great
surprise, he beheld lady, richly but
quantity dressed, advancing toward him
with slow and graceful motion. Mr..
Founder was quite taken aback for an
instant by this very unexpected visit.
Ladies had never before visited him al
his lodgings. But his natural gallantry
and ease of manner returned 1t once
Removing the crook from his mouth he
got up and, advancing to meet his Wis.
itor, courteously requested her to be
seated, placing chair for the purpose,
As the lady sat down she slowly lifted
her vail, exposing to Mr.. Founders en-
raptured gaze face Of such unrivaled
beauty and an expression SO mournfully
sweet as deprived him Of all power Of
speech and motion. Fixing her beauti
full eyes on his the lady said, in tones
that thrilled his every nerve: "Mr
Founder, am your own true love.
Then-he knew not how-the lady was
gone and Mr.. Founder awoke.
| He could scarcely believe that he had
| been dreaming. Every thing-the party
at Mrs. Browns, the theater, Other
places and, last Of all, the beautiful lady
had seemed SO vivid and lifelike, bore
such an impress Of reality, that he fell
almost inclined to regard them as Sc
many solid facts, and not as the outcome
Of an overweight imagination.
Dream or no dream, on one point he
was certain, that he had seen his beau
tiful visitor before at some period Of
his life, but when or where, and under
what conditions, his memory failed te
answer. He was also equally certain
on another point, which was that he
was violently in love with her. She
said she was his true love, and he believed
her. What greater proof could he have
that she was the woman he sought? Al
he picked up the pamphlet from the
floor and went to bed-it was long after
midnight now-he vowed to seek her Out
or else perish in the attempt.
Full of his resolution, Mr.. Founder
rose betimes in the morning, and after
breakfast commenced to think what
course he ought to pursue in his inves
| LEGATIONS. What if he should insert ar
] advertisement in the agony column o.
the Times something like:
"If the lady who appeared last nigh
in dream to Mr.. Founder, at hi:
lodgings at -, will communicate with
that gentleman, either in person or by
letter, an arrangement may be eff
fected.,
| No, that would never do. It might
only bring all the girls down to his lodg
ings in body, and there they would
remain, blocking up the street until HI
gave satisfaction. He must try some
other way. Why not apply to Scotland
Yard for help? Detectives were up t.
that sort of thing. Worse again. Mr.
Founder gave up that idea also. Sucl
a course might involve the lady appear
ing in the Hue and Cry among lot O
others wanted" or drawing Of her
taken from his description, might EN-
bellish the police newspapers, with hi
own portrait alongside. The idea gav'
Mr.. Founder turn. He preached sew