Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-16

that he was still young enough to enjoy
what Victor Hugo has called the "honey
of life.D 1t was evident by his radiant
look that something unusual had occurred.
The fact is that Mr.. Adrian had just had
a most remarkable dream. Nothing he
had ever dreamed before had appeared SO
vivid and real, or had made upon him SO
intense an impression, or, it may be added.
had filled his heart with such blissful emo
tions.
Taking into account the nature of the
thoughts which were occupying SO many
of his wakeful hours, it was no more than
natural that when asleep he should dream
Of lady. But it was no ordinary eyanes-
cent vision that had appeared to Mr..
Adrian-indeed, no one whom he had ever
met in real life had impressed him so
strongly, and he did not doubt that in
some mysterious fashion he had beheld the
counterpart of an actually existing person.
The place in which she had appeared TO
him seemed to be ballroom in some
stately edifce, but amid the splendor of
the scene he had been attracted only by
her voice and features, which remained
indelibly fixed in his mind. So vivid was
the impression that he not only believed
that the lovely being whom he had seen
had real existence, but hoped that one
day, with vigilant, though entranced,
senses, he should watch the play of her
sympathetic features and listen to the mu-
sic of her voice.
Mr.. Adrian's life entered new phase.
No more was he troubled with regrets
that he had not married earlier, for in
that case he might never have found his
ideal. The lady who had appeared in his
dream seemed to be about twenty-five, and
it was with satisfaction that he told
himself he was not yet too old to win her
heart
On the following day at the same time
he had similar dream. By night, to his
regret, he slept as usual. 1t was clear to
him that the lady who occupied nearly all
his wakeful moments, and whom he often
saw more plainly still when ne was asleep,
was person of high rank. The place
where he oftenest saw her was room or
hall such as could only belong to some
princeiy dwelling; he- appearance and
manners were aristocratic; the people
among whom she moved had high born
air, and all her surroundings were of a
corresponding nature. Mr.. Adrian con-
graduated himself on the fact that his
own descent and fortune did not render
him an ineligible match, even for one who
plainly moved in an elevated station.
There was one remarkable popularity
about the dreams, which was that their
scene never seemed to be in England; the
dress, too, and surroundings were undoubt-
eddy foreign, though of what nationality
they might be Mr.. Adrian had not suffici-
ent knowledge to determine.
Sometimes the dreams took an exquisite
variation. Once he seemed to be walking
in forest with her whom he now deemed
his own, for, if he could read her eyes
Alright, she had given him her heart. They
were alone, and hand in hand went be-
meath the shadows of tall trees. At last
they reached an opening in the wood, and
beneath them, on fertile SLOPE could be
seen the outlines of great chateau, while
all the landscape seemed bathed in mystic
light, as though it had been painted by
Poussin or Claude Lorraine.
1t has been said that Mr.. Adrian did
not doubt that there was human counter
part of his visionary love, and ere long he
resolved to exert himself in order to find
her. He was prepared to spare neither
time, labor, nor money in conducting his
search. He often regretted that he had
no artistic skill, and was therefore unable
to portray the lovely features imprinted
on his heart, as he believed that if he had
a portrait it would soon be recognized,
seeing that it was impossible for so much
beauty to remain unframed.
One afternoon, when, contrary to his
wont, he felt no inclination TO sleep, a
singular circumstance happened, which
influenced him as though it had been a
direct entreaty to lose no more time ere
he began his quest. This afternoon Mr..
Adrian had entered his conservatory and
cut a few of his choicest flowers, which he
told himself, he would have taken delight
in presenting to the object of his affections.
Before putting the flowers In vase he
laid them on small table in his library
and left the room for several minutes. On
his return, as he opened the door, he dis
tinctly heard sigh from within, and on
entering he found that the flowers had
been moved, though the room was empty,
and it was impossible that any one could
have entered during his absence unnoticed
by him. Mr.. Adrian was much perturbed
by this incident, and felt almost as though
he had been reproached for his dilatoriness
in beginning his SEARCH but he now re-
solved to delay no longer, and he was pre-
pared if necessary to seek through every
country of the world her whom he was
eager to find, and he had determined not
to cease until he was successful.