The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-11-28
MYSTERY OF A DREAM,
rYankea Rlade.l

told the story to many people, but with
one exception they have all looked very
incredulous Many shook their heads,
apd not few acted as if they thought
me triAe demented There is one,
however. who is now sitting near the ia
bic at which am writing that believes
nay story implicitly. Indeed Ediena,
my darling wife, knows full well that
the story which I am about to write is
true.
Icannot tell when the knowledge that
| loved Ediena Wyldmere was first re-
yealed to me. We were children to-
gether, and as we grew older we seemed
like brother and sister. Even then she
was all the world to me, and how dear l
was TO her her own sweet lips have told
me hundred times. Our joys and sor-
rows were shared together AS happy,
thoughtiess children we romped and
laughed. and many time we mingled
eur tears in childish grief, AS the years
relied away our affection for each other
grew steadily stronger and deeper
AT 10 Ediena was as fair and pure as
the most spotless thing under the sun. l
almost worshiped her then, but I was
still young and no thought of marriage
entered my head. So beautiful maid
en- could not long avoid attracting adj
niring suitors, and among those who
hoolzed around her was one Cyril Stay
fhsrne, the tall, proud, aristocratic mas
ter of Staythorne hall, which had been
left him at the death of his wealthy ia
Haer.
will not deny that I soon grew jeal-
Gus Of many Of these fawning and iatter-
ing sutors, and of Cyril Staythorne in
particular. Most beautiful young ladies
are naturally q trife inclined to be fiirts,
and Ediena Wyldmere wasno exception.
Not but that she loved me as truly and
dearly as ever, but never had l made a
serious declaration of my passion, and
for time,she enjoyed the attention be-
slowed upon her by those who had been
smitten by her rare charms Of grace and
sweetness.
was poor, a carpenters son, and this
fact alone in the eyes Of her parents dis
qualified mo as a son-in-law. Our
Saviour was a carpenters son, but this
fact has not caused the calling to be
deemed more lofty than it was nineteen
hundred years ago. Ediena's parents
were on the outlook for q ''good match"
for their daughter and they looked with
favor upon Cyril Staythorne. They
were too wise to come out openly and
request Ediena to have nothing further
to do with the poor carpenters son, but
in divers ways they did everything they
could 10 separate us and to install Stay
t3lorne in her favor.
shall never forget the feeling of rage
and despair that seized me as one day i
saw Ediena seated in Cyril Staythorne's
handsome carriage, with Staythorne
himself by her side. l cannot describe
our next meeting. How much was to
blame for what followed 1 now know,
but then thought 1 had just cause for
what / did. Hot words were uttered,
and for the first time we parted in
anger. +
The next day l left the quiet New
England town where twenty-one years
of my life had been spent. A passenger
train bore me away out into the world
was going anywhere that might get
away from the hateful spot that had
always known as home, where so many
happy days had been spent with the one
from whom thought fate had separat-
ed me forever.
sought and obtained employment in
a great city, the crowded streets and
hurrying rush of which seemed very
strange and unnatural to me. ] tried to
forget my old home and Eaiena, but !
sson found it impossible to do so. Strive
as might to tear her image from nay
bosom her fair, sweet face was almost
always before me. Sternly | fought
against the power that seemed to be
drawing me back to her. Many a night
did awaken and sit bolt upright in the
darkness of my little room, with her
plaintive cry sounding in my ears.
"Oh, Jasper, come back to me!'
1t always seemed very real, but rea-
soned myself into thinking that it was
all imagination. 1 now know that many,
many times she uttered that very cry.
One day an accident happened to me.
l was passing along beneath the spot
where repairs were being made on
building when falling board struck
me senseless. was picked up and car
ried to hospital, but when l recovered
consciousness did not know my own
name. My mind did not seem deranged.
icould remember events and people, but
could not recall tho name of single
person whom I knew. They told me
that l had been severely injured and
that doubtless as improved my memory
would serve me better.
For several days / lay there. gradually
growing better physically, but in no
way improving mentally. Try as ]
might | could not recall names. re-
membered my home, Ediena, Cyril Stay
thorne, everything: but I could not
speak the name of q single place or per-
son, although scores of times ! seemed
on-the point OF doing 60.
Finally, l had so far recovered that /
was informed that on the following day
Twas to be discharged from the hospital
The last night of my stay in the hospital
arrived, and at very early hour l
sought my couch and was soon fast
asleep.
am not naturally dreamer, but am
a very sound sleeper. 1t did not seem
that / dreamed that night, but suddenly
l found myself in u familiar spot. 1t
was night, and thunderstorm was rap
idly coming on The black heavens were
scanned with FIRE, and deep thunder
roared like an enraged monster. I was
standing on the old bridge which span
ned winding stream not far from my
Doyhood home. Suddenly a flash Of
lightning showed me Ediena hurrying
along the bridge.
Startled and amazed that She should
be there at such time, | was abont IN
make my presence known, when an.
other fash showed second nerson ~,
the bridge. Plainly / saw his darl-
in1stachcd, oyilly handsome face and
plainly heard Ediena'5 cry of surprise
and fear as he confronted her midway
on the trestle. Than through the dark
ness foated his triumphant exclama-
ton:
"Ah-ah! Edicna Wyldmere, have
Won noyl Twice / hcve asked you to
be my wife, only to meet with refusal
and scorn. Tonight I swear you shall
consent to marry me, or you meet your
death in the waters Of Crooked river!"
Then came another fash of light that
showed my darling struggling in his
vile clasp. 20 my ears came q cry that
stEea eYsry drop of blood in my veins:
IN an instant l leaoed forward and