The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-15

visions OF bygone years.
handsome young man among the guests
touched the fair girl lightly on The arm.
Oi what are you thinking, my cousin ?" asked
he, snngly.
sweet and thrilling; doesn't it seem to you
lille commonplace for US all TO be merrymaking
here, talking and laughing as we do at any festive
gathering on such night as this when one year
dies and another is born? IL seems TO me dread
ful that We should do the common things in just
the same manner tonight Of all others"
What would you have US do then?" laughed
he; "slt round In a circle solemnly and count The
minutes which remain 10 the old year?"
Ismene sighed.
I'm olden days romance broke into ones life
now and theni now il Is dead and buried" said
you should have lived in the time of the
Crusades" re1olned the young fellow, much
amused.
"Indeed yes," cried Ismene softly. "Imagine
how ones heart would have beaten to hear
knock al the castle gate; 10 welcome warrior
returned from the East; TO hear tales of the
Saracens. OF balrbreadth escapes of noble
deeds, While now life is ali ut one dead level"
'Ali, we'll lsnlene, let US hope that some prince
In disguise will come knocking with a tale of
love- al your castle gate some day. There will
be a spice of romance IN that al any rate. Such
fellow would have chance OF bearing, which
doubt any one else obtaining who came wOoing
10 you IN the received and orthodox fashion"
lsmepe colofed slightly, and her queenly young
head raised itself with an air OF offended dig
nity.
a. was not alluding TO any romance OF that
kind" said she; al was speaking of the mo-
notony of the daily life OF us all. We eat drink,
| dance, dress, and everything happens after the
same pattern. Nothing out OF the common way
nothing"
The young Iadys sentence was interrupted in
| an UNEXPECTED manner by the hurried entrance
"wbo.e scared look and frghfep he'd, glance I
| around belOkened that something unusual had
occurred. The circle assembled IN The drawing
| room all turned their eyes on the maid; while
| lsmene, coming hastily forward, asked:
{" Nhat Is II, Susan?"
"oh, MISS We have all been so frighteued,'
| gasped she.
a. Al what? What has happened9" cried two
or three others and Colonel Crawford himself
" Well, sir-well, miss" continued tile agtated
Susan. q We were all sitting in the kitchen, just
| ing 20 fast that you can hardly see yard ahead
of you-wleu We heard 1t three or four times, as
distinct as hear my own voice now; SIR
at? what was II you did hear?" asked the
| Colonel In his quiet tone.
" The noise sir-like steps In the snow, sir
again and again, and again; and at last it came
| thud against the door; and said TO Caihrine-"
" Never mind what you said 10 Cathline; what
did you d9?" pursued the Colonel.
Sir, one after anoiher; and as there was no
answer. Jane-whO must say Is fooihsrdy-she
| threw open the door and such drift Of snow
| came IN"
Never mind the snow. Who was there? that
is the question" pursued the Colonel.
" he came Right In, sir, aud there lie is now"
replied Susan disjointedy. Aud nothing
! can do make him quiet. Something's under
| II. you may depend, and that's what made Inc
| so bold as 10 come and disturb you SIR There
| you can hear him now If you listen," concluded
| lie girl, IN much excitement
They all listened; they all went toward the
| door, now thrown open by the agiated ISnene.
" DO say clearly Who 1t is" calculated the
master OF The house.
"Sir, It's a dog a large black dog and he tries
all as ever he Can 10 make US follow him; but me
and cook and Cathrine are afraid 10 venture out,
and even Jane doesn't like to face the snow;
but, oh sir. that dog knows that something has
happs ned 10 his master. Who's 10 Iell if a MUIR
der has been cOmmited?"
lei Il pal n of his -
the Colonel, Sprlnglng downstairs.
lsmene. hereousin, and several of the ya,Ing
| la. e. Newfoundland dog, whose pathetic eyes
| and mploIing look told that be came 10 seek
| help.
But what help, and for whom?
lsmene's father flung wide open the portal
and Immediately the faithful dog sprang TO the
threshold. barking and looking back II was a
weird scene that disclosed through the
| entrance-the whirling snow-hakss, tie bare
| branches, the black shadows OF the winter night.
This VIII suit you, perhaps, lsmeue," said
her cousin Spencer In her ear. " Ii is perhaps
The beginning Of romance. Will come back
| Take me along with you, Spencer. See this
! fur cloak Will cover me, ana l have put on my
snow Shoes" she said with an implOring glance.
| " Come along then. know yon are a famous
skater, so suppose you will not mind a little
| snow"
g Tie snow will not hurt. l have turned my
| velvet dress over my arm. Come" urged the
! romantic girl.
Colonel Crawford had already plunged into the
|
| men who were staying al The house; Ismene and
| her cousin followed.
Bow solemn seemed the night when they found
themselves away from the warmth. The lights
| and movements OF the house. How the wind
sighed among the bare branches; how silently
| and swiftly aud softly The snow fell down.
| Which way have they gone?'
"0h. straight ahead. suppose" said Spencer.
lhdeed, the dogs pIantive voice was guide
| TO them. On they went along the dark highway,
| marked out by the snow that nov covered It, On
they. Went, the agitated girl and the careless,
| light hearted young man. TIL al the bend OF the
| road, some yards down lonely crosspath, they
| came to the solution of the cause OF the dogs
anxiety; for there, face downward, on the cold
| snow, lay man, apparently quite inSeDsbe.
How did he get there? Was he dead? Was
there blood flowing from any wound?
| Ismene caught her breath and shlvered, but
| not from tue winter cold.
Colonel Crayiord had snatched up a lantern be-
fore lie left his own roof, and it was lie who now
| struck light and disclosed fully the PROSTATE
| form OF the man, against whom the faithful dog
crouched, whining plantyely.
| " Help me 10 raise him." said the Colonel turn
ing to those who had followed him.
VIII hold the lantern, papa" said Ismene,
going forward.
g Yes, papa Spencer will help you." she said
In another moment or two they had ca refully
raised the helpless man. in doing which the
youthful, handsome face Of the stranger was
| percentbe.
!" How long has he lain there perishing, while
we were making merry?" thought lsmene as she
threw tue light over the snowy path to guide
| tnOSe WHO Carried their human burden. ALL
why cannot some voice uicIce our soul when
| some other soul near VA Is in distress, and we
could save it from peril II we knew"
1t is three days later, and during these days
| IsmeDe's romance Of New Years eve had grown
into unreasonable proportions. The stranger
rescued by her father and herself was PROGRESS
Ing toward recovery; tie medical man called III
had pronounced That he had been rendered ln-
sensible by fail from the bank overlapping the
roadway where he had been found, and where he
would have persisted had II not been for the
suecor carried him by Colonel Crawford.
he was able TO speak now, bull had given no
clear account OF how he came into Woodbine
lane, nor as TO his connexions. But be was mol
10 be questioned yet the doctor SAID, and Colone |
Craylord's household waited, though ilnpa-
tently. 10 hear the end of the adventure.
AS 10 lsmene. she had taken the dog under her
special care, and II testified toward her he ut
most gratitude, though never leaving the room
10 which lis master had been carried. save when
she went softly 10 the door Of the apartment and
as Softly called Il; Then, kneeng without The
door, she would offer 1t food aud water.
'Iis a wonderful, faithful creature" repeated
the woman who had been called in 10 attend on
this new and unexpected inmate. She lived in
the village and had some experience in nursing,
aud was always in request when any one was iii
In the uelghboThOod.
"How IS lie to-day, Mrs. Pane ?" Ismene In
CURED whisperingly every time she went on tip
Toe to The threshold Of the sick mans ROOM
"Well, miss, 1 do think he's coming around
and VIII soon get back his Senses" the nurse
would answer. Poor young genteman-for he
is gentleman, IL ever see one In my life-and
that handsome. Pm sure his parents must be In
a fine way 10 know where lie is"
Ismene would caleb a glimpse of a PROSTATE
form, and pallid, noble young lace; then she
would steal back, carrying a strangely agitated
heart in her bosom.
On the morning OF the twelfth day there was to
be very grand wedding in the neighborhooo,
and all Colonel Crayford's party was TO drive to
witness the ceremony. But the wind was sharp,
the drive was long and Ismene was suffering
from a slight cold.
You had better stay at home, my dear" said
her father. You have seen dozens OF weddings,
and this Will be ali exact pattern Of In EN- all.
And as fol- the wedding presents you have seen
them two or three lines already"
lsmene was but loo glad 10 obey, for her heart
was full OF tn stranger. She In no mood to
listen 10 The gay pi attic OF her companions She
| was glad, too, OF the unwOuted quiet and saw
the parry start Oh without regrelful longing to
be among them.
She wandered In the shrubbery, then came
back 10 tue house, aud Tried 10 eDtce the dog 10
accompany her for a run In the garden but the
fat.I.l .,I