Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-06-06

asleep IuhL ulButi DuG III that slccP
there shaped itself dreams dream
Observation-Disclosures. She saw
herself standing in an old church yard
"a dreary, half ruined place, melan-
choly with cypress and yews; and old,
forgotten graves, moss grown and neg
lected. AS she stood, something i'm
PEELED her to look more closely at the
headstone of one by which she stood.
On it a name was craven, and a date.
The name was her lovers name; the
date-not three weeks after the de-
stined wedding day. Cold and tremb-
ling she awoke, and tried to Danish the
memory of that dreadful place. 1t
haunted her throughout that happy
marriage day. 1t turned her cold and
faint, even amid her bridegroom's
passionate murmurs. He, keen
sighted, with a husbands new born
rights, demanded to know the cause of
her palIor and her terrified looks. In
despair she told him, only naming her
self as the subject of this hateful pre-
sentiment. He laughed at her fears
and ere week passed, she had almost
forgotten them amid the joys and the
tenderness showered upon her life.
They wandered from place to place in
sunny Italy, in the lovliest hooks and
in the lovliest season of the year. They
took no count of time. Strong in
health, rich in love and beauty and
worldly goods, life was like happy
dream that lulled them to deepest rest.
One day they had halted at little out
of the way village among the noun
tains 1t was close on sunset, and
they wandered of, as their habit often
was, to explore the neighborhood or
sketch some picturesque hooks. Sud-
denly the girls heart seemed to stand
still--a cold and deadly horror chained
her senses. Without heed--without
even remarking where their footsteps
tended, they stood in an old, half
ruined graveyard--the scene Of her
dream. Shuddering and pale she
stove to draw her husband away. Her
pallor and alarmed reused his suspic.
ions. He glazed around and he, too,
remembered her. dream. There was
no mistaking the spot. Her descrip-
ton had been accurate in every detail.
However, he made light Of her fears;
he stove 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. az
The voice Of the speaker faltered. i.
The girl, pale and awe struck, looked
up at sad eyes and trembling lips.
Soft and wiered the music rose and
fell across the ripple of light words,
the chime of distantlaughter. t. .
Oh cried the girl, suddenly. 1T
is of yourself you speak. This-this
is your reason < $3.s
Yes, said the woman, slowly.
This is nv reason. That n'nht my
husbanu Was aTTaCK5u ny oEerd:
Two hours afterward he died.
There -@ were tears in the young,
bright eyes-eyes to which sorrow was
as yet unknown gss.a..5 a.
my poor friend, > she cried, softly.
'Oh, my poor friend. It is terrible
wait, said the. " oman harshly.
~ ou have not heard ell. Learn how
more than cruel fate can be to those
who defy it. Y ou know how great
the dread is OF that terrible scourge.
How quickly the pageant of death is
played out to its final issue. Before I
had even realized my loss, before my
stricken heart had recovered
from its first stroke of agony, I heard
that my darling had been taken from
me-burled-zburied, Estelle, in that
very churchyard my dream had shown
to me. Then great stupor and hor-
ror fell over me. was like one dazed
and stunned. I felt noth,ng-realized
nothing but my own great loss. I
prayed only that death might seize me
and bring me to his side in spirit, since
it had 50 cruelty divorced us. It was
my FIRST grief No doubt l was impi.
ous-mad. They said I was--the priest,
whose empty worts and hollow, SER
vices brought no piece to my wretched
soul, the soft voiced sisterhood who
came as nurses and faiends to my side
lin those dark hours. Mad! Well, il
so, had to suffer yet more terribly
for my rebellion. My story is not yet
ended, Estelle. It may have bsen
many days or few, do not know.
had no count of time, when once
again the force and reality of a dream
held my senses in thrall. saw my
darling imprisoned, as it were, by some
obstacle, calling me, entreating me
beseeching for some aid that IAcoulc
not give, and dared not Trembling
and sick. [ awoke. Then oh! how
can l speak of it2 how describe thai
hateful, unresting certainty which
gradually took possession Of me, which
night and day haunted me with s
persistence that would not be galnsaid
Weak woman as was--a stranger in
! a. strange place--I yet, by power o.
woman wit and woman's persistence
gained my end l had the grave in
| that miserable churchyard opened
l r 4 L ~