The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-06-05

element caused by this sight was in
tense. In a moment he was sur
rounded by seven or eight of his
'chums," who labored under the i'm
preston that he suffered from sudden
attack OF illness.
What is the matter?" asked his
friendsin chorus.
"A dream!' responded Erasmus,
with a sad smile.
"A dream!" repeated the students,
incredulous and inclined to take the
matter as joke.
s'Yes, a dream," reiterated Johnson;
"a terrible dream which l can moi
drive out Of my head. although it Is as
silly as it can be-"
"What is it?" came from many lips.
Il dreamed that would be killed
on my wedding day in a strange and
peculiar manner" explained johnson,
in hesitating way, which clearly in
dictated that he felt ashamed of him
self for having made the confession.
The reply called forth unbounded
merriment, which lasted until the pro-
fessors entered the lecture hall.
Poor johnson was made the butt OF
every body's ridicule, and even the
young lady to whom he was engaged
to be married ventured to poke fun at
her lovers dream.
Meanwhile the commencement ex-
ercises had taken place and Erasmus
johnson had been awarded the class
honors as we'll as gold medal for a
powerful and beautiful Latin poem.
He was lionized by his class, the fac
ulty and the townspeople; but never
did young man receive applause
with more reserve. Ambition and
hope seemed to have dwelling-place
in his heart no longer They had
been superseded by melancholy. by
hideous specter born of dream.
"a few hours before his departure
from the scenes Of his intellectual
triumphs he called on his most init
mate college friend, who did every
thing in his power to revive the ener-
.gy of his unfortunate visitor; going
even so far as to suggest to johnson
the advisability of breaking his en-
gagement To this the young man
would not consent because, despite
his fears and misgivings, he could not
persuade himself that he had good
grounds for such an action, which
might, moreover, break the heart Of
the woman he loved.
?" Whatever else l have lost" he
said to his friend, my honor remains
unsullied. and l would not wreck
Julia's happiness on account Of an I'M
certain something at which the world
and even you laugh. No, Jack. We
will be married on the 9TH Of August,
whatever may be the consequences.
The following morning johnson was
with his parents. 1t is superfiuous to
say that they left nothing undone to
overcome their sons melancholy mood.
He listened to them patiently and
smiled sadly when he saw his good old
mother in tears. He even went so far
as to simulate a cheerfulness he did
not feel. He listlessly supervised the
preparations for his approaching
nuptials, and, accompanied by num-
Der of friends, left for the home of his
affianced on the evening of the 4th of
August The party arrived at its des-
tination the next morning.
johnson had passed a restless night
in the sleeper, and when he arrived at
the house OF his future parents-in-law.
looked even more carewOrn and bag
gard than usual. His friend, Jack,
who also stopped at the house, was
shocked. and upon inquiring for the
cause Of his friends CHASTITY appear.
ance, learned that the hideOus dream
which had wrecked his happiness had
again haunted him. !. By dint OF will
power he managed to suppress his an.
guish, however, and succeeded IN ap
pearing before tn, woman he was
about to marry in seemingly happy
frame of mind. The couple chatted
for awhile, discussed their prospects,
and dwelled at somo length upon the
joys that seemed to be before them.
The wedding ceremony was to be
performed at seven clock in the even-
ing at the Presbyterian church of the
little city. Shortly before that hou.
the bridal party arrived; half hour
later the newlywedded couple received
the congratulation of their friends.
The groom, sad and detected until he
had entered the church, seemed like
another man. His old smile once
more illuminated his face, his eyes
flashed happiness, his form was erect
as in the days of old. One after the
other ofthe assembly pressed his hand
and was dismissed with a pleasant
word His friend Jack was one of the
last to offer his good wishes. As he
approached johnson, the latter whis,
pered:
Thank God, Jack, the danger &
over.'H | am mar: led and still alive. =
A few minutes before eight O'Clock
the bride and groom left the church,
johnson was gay and attentive, and
replied wittily to the bon mot
hurled at him by the crowd. The
couple reached the sidewalk. The
bride was handed into the carriage,
and the groom was about to follow
her. At that moment he heard 8
| w hisflinn mise ahnuo hin, anl looI.