Wichita eagle., 1889-12-03

y
cloud, not . shadow, not . fprebodingi
With the fnemry Of her io~srs lbs she fell
asleep that might; but in that sleep there
shaped itself . dfeam-a dream-srange-
terrible ominous She saw herself standing
in an old ehsrchy1rd-s dreary, half ruined
place, melancholy with cypress and yews;
and neglected. Az she stood, something inn
PEELED her to look more closely at tho head
stone Of one BY which she stood.
ION it a name was given and date The
name was her lovers name; the date, not
three weeks after her desinad wedding day
Cold and trembling she awoke and tried to
Danish the memory Of that dreadful place.
1t haunted her throughout that happy mar
riage day. It turned her cold and faint even
amid her bside8rooas passionate murmurs
He, keen sighted, with husband's new born
rights, dsnsnded to know the oause Of heri
pallor and her terrified looks. In despair she
told him, oaly naming hassak - the subject
Of this hatsfa presentineut. He laughed at
her fears. and Gro week bad passed she had
almost forgotten them amid tho joys and the
tenderness showered upon her life They
wondered from place to place In sunny Italy,
in the lovelisst hooks and in the loveliest sea-
son of the year They took no count of
time. Strong in health, rich In love and
beauty and worldly goods, life was like
a happy dream that lulled them to deep
est rest One day they had halted at q
little out of the way village among the noun
tainA 1t was close on sunset, and they wan
dered of, as their habit often was, to explore
the neighborheod or sketch some Of its pict-
uresque hooks. Suddenly tho girls heart
seemed to stand still-a cold and deadly hor-
ror chained her senses Without heed-with-
out even remarkmg where their footsteps
tended, they stood in an old, half ruined
graveyard-the scene of her dream. Shud-
dering and pale, she strove to draw her hus-
band away. Her pallor and alarm aroused
his suspicious he glanced around and he,
too, remembered the dream. There was no
installing the spot. Her description has been
accurate in every detail. However, he made
light of her fears; he strove to reassure her
They left the spot and returned to the inn
Only then did he remember the date of the
day. It was exactly three weeks since their
marriage"
The voice of the speaker faltered. The
girl, pale and awestruck, looked up at the
sad eyes and trembling lips. Soft and weird
the music rose and fell across the ripple Of
light words, the chime of distant laughter.
"Oh," cried the girl, suddenly, lit is Of
yourself you speak This-this is your rea-
son."
YES" said the woman slowly. "This is
my reason That night my husband was at
tackled by cholera. Two hours afterward, he
died"
There were tears in the young, bright eyes
10,
my poor friend" she cried, softly. "Oh,
my poor friend 1t is terrible"
wait" said the woman, harshly. "You
have not heard all. Learn how more than
cruel fate can be to those who defy it. You
know how great the dread is Of that terrible
scourge. How quickly the pageant of death
is played out to its final issue. Before had
even realized my loss, before my stricken
heart had recovered from its first stroke of
agony, heard that my darling had been
taken from ed-buried-Estelle, in
that very churchyard my dream had shown
to me. Then great stupor and horror fell
over me- was like one dazed and stunned.
felt nothing-realized nothing but my own
great loss. prayed only that death might
seize me and bring me to his side in spirit,
since 1t had so cruelty divorced U.S. 1t was
my first grief. No doubt 1 was inpious-
mad. They said / was-the priest, whose
empty words and hollow services brought no
peace to my wrecked seul; the soft voiced sis
terhood, who came as nurses and friends to
my side in those dark hours. Madl Well,
if 80, l had to suffer yet more terribly for
my rebellion. Ny story is not yet ended.
Estelle. 1t may have been many days or few,
/ do not know.
II had no count of time, when once again
the force and reality of a dream held my
senses in thrall Isaw my darling imprisoned,
as it were, by some obstacle, calling me, en-
treating me, beseeching for some aid that
could not give, and dared not. Trembling
and sick, awoke.
'Then-oh! how can / speak Of It'll How
describe that hateful, unresisting certainty
which gradually took possession of me, which
night and day had tried me with persistence
that would not be gainsaid? Weak woman
as | was-stranger in strange place. yet,
by power of woman's wit and womans per-
sistence, gained my end. had the grave in
the dismal churchyard opened. l stood, a
woman, alone and he'll less, amid a shudder-
ing, superstitious crowd, while the cruel earth
gave back its dead. Its dead, said L All,
dear heaven! it was no dead they had i'm
prisoned there; no dead whose helplessness
the ghastly tomb had Knocked. They had
buried him alive. Estelle-alivel He had
turned IN that fearful coffin; his eyes were
gazing at me wide open, reproachful, despair
ing"-
The girl shuddered. A low cry broke from
her pale lips.
Don't tell me any more" she whispered.
ooh IL Is horrible-hOrriblaip
II have had to live out my life remember
ing it" came the despairing answer, "lived to
think he had called, prayed. entreated for me
in that awful place. who loved him so and
only knew-too late( might have saved
himr'
Softly, hurriedly, the closing harmonies
of the tragic music closed in that tragic
tale
Voices and laughter rang out once more
from scattered groups One or two ap-
preached the figures by the fire. A man,
young, tall, of courtly bearing and hand
some face. bent down to the kneeling girl.
Have you persuaded madame. Estellef"
he asked gently.
She rose There was a shadow on the
brightness and beauty of her face.
NO" she said, her reasons are too good
Do not trouble her, Paolo. | am content"
The woman looked up at the two young,
happy faces.
Some day" she said sadly, some day,
prince, you will know my presence is thing
Of i'll omen. / cas- be no ones wedding guest
since | have learned-the worth of q present