The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-27
/ ann not naturally dreamer, but am

am not naturally dreamer, Dut am
a very sound sleeper. 1t did not seem
that dreamed that night. but suddenly
| ( found myself in a 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. was
standing on the old bridge which span
ned winding stream not far from my
boyhood home. Sud- oily a. flash of
lightning showed me Ediena hurrying
along the bridge.
Startled and amazed that she should
be there at such time, was about to
make me- presence known, when an
other fash showed a second person on
the bridge. Plainly | saw his dark,
mustached, evilly handsome face, and
plainly l heard Ediena's cry of surprise
and fear as he confronted her midway
on the trestle. Then through the dark
ness foated his triumphant exclama-
ton:
"Ah-ahl Ediena Wyldmere, I have
you now! Twice | have asked you to
be my wife, only to meet with refusal
and scorn. Tonight / swear you shall
consent to marry me. or you meet your
death in the waters Of Crooked river"
chen came another flash of light that
showed my darling struggling in his
vile clasp. To my ears came a cry that
stirred every drop Of blood in my veins:
In an instant I leaped forward and
tore her from his arms; at the same time
dealt him terrific blow that sent him
reeling against the railing of the bridge.
The rotten guard gave way, and hinging
up his arms, with the look of unuttera-
BILE horror on his face plainly revealed
by the vivid glare, he uttered one wild
cry and plunged downward into the
dark water. Ediena uttered one joyful
cry:
'Jasperi Jasper"
Then she sank unconscious at my feet.
From that moment knew no more IN
til l awoke in the morning to find my
self in the hospital. And in the morning
my memory was fully restored to its
natural condition. | found that knew
my own name and the names of my
friends. That day left the hospital.
l remained in the city week, and
during the entire time my strange
dream-if dream it was-worried me
constantly. Was Ediena in trouble?
Did she need my protection?
AS final result, one night 1 boarded
a swift train, and in the morning | stood
by my darling's bedside. She was just
recovering from brief but severe i'll
ness. As she clung to my hand and
shed tears Of joy she sobbed reproach-
fully:
"Oh, Jasper. Why did you leave me
there on that bridge after rescuing me
from Cyril Staythorne's S hands,
What do you mean" | hoarsely
gasped, scarcely able TO credit my ears.
Then she described a scene just as l
had witnessed and taken part in my
dream. She finally said:
II was over to Mabel Gray's, where l
intended to spend the night. when the
thunder storm came up. | don't know
why did it, bat / resolved 10 return
home, and started out despite the pro-
tests of both Mabel and her mother. I
met Staythorne on the bridge. He seized
me i'll his vile grasp, and 1 called for
help. Then You came and snatched me
from his hands, at the same time hurling
him off the bridge. Icaught one glimpse
of your face as it was revealed by the
and then / tainted. When l
recovered consciousness it was raining
and was alone on the bridge"
"And Cyril Staythorne:" asked.
''Was found the following day float
ing a corpse on Crooked river"
My story ends here. | have already
told you that Ediena is MY wife. cam
not explain the mystery of my dream.
can only write the question that have
asked myself thousand times:
Was it dream?-William 7. Patten
in Yankee Blade.