The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-11-29
MYSTERY OF A DREAMS.
Yankee Blade.1


/ am about to write the story of the
one great mystery of my life. I have
told the story to many people, but with
one exception they have all looked very
incredulous Many shook their heads,
and not few acted as if they thought
me trif1e demented. There is one,
however, who is now sitting near the ta-
BILE at which 1 am writing that believes
my story implicitly Indeed Ediena,
my darling wife, knows full well that
the story which l am about to write is
true.
l cannot tell when the knowledge that
loved Ediena Wyldmere was first re-
vealed 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 /
was to her her own sweet lips have told
me hundred times. Our joys and sor-
rows were shared together. AS happy,
thoughtless children we romped and
laughed, and many q time we mingled
our tears in childish grief, AS the years
rolled 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 was
still young and no thought of marriage
entered my head. So beautiful a maid
en- could not long avoid attracting adj
miring suitors, and among those who
focked around her was one Cyril Stay
thorne, the tall, proud, aristocratic mas
ter of Staythorne hall, which had been
left him at the death of his wealthy IA
Their.
will not deny that l soon grew jeal-
GUS of yof these fawning and hatter-
ing suitors, and Of Cyril Staythorne in
particular. Most beautiful young ladies
are naturally trife inclined to be flirts,
and Ediena Wyldmere was no exception.
Not but that she loved me as truly and
dearly as ever, but never had l made
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, carpenters son, and this
fact alone in the eyes Of her parents dis
qualified me 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 fer a ''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 to separate us and to install Stay
thorne in her favor.
shall never forget the feeling of rage
and despair that seized me as one day
saw Ediena seated in Cyril Staythorne's
handsome carriage, with Staythorne
himself by her side. cannot describe
our next meeting. How much l was to
blame for what followed l now know,
but l then thought had just cause for
what | did. Hot words were uttered,
and for the first time we parted in
anger.
The next day left the quiet New
England town where twenty-one years
of my life had been spent. A passenger
train bore Inc away out into the world
L was going anywhere that l 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 Ediena, but l
soon found it impossible 70 do so. Strive
as might to tear her image from my
bosom her fair, sweeS face was almost
always before Inc. Sternly / fought
against the power that seemed to be
craving me back 20 her. Many night
old l awaken and sit bolt upright in the
darkness OF my little room, with her
plalntlve cry sounding in nv ears.
ION, Jasper, come back TO me,'
IL always seemed very real, but rea-
soned myself into thinking that it was
all imagination. now know that many
many times she uttered that very cry
One day an accident happened 10 mo
was passing along beneath the snot
where repairs were being made on a
building when a falling board struck
me senseless. was picked up and car
ried to a hospital, but when recovered
consciousness did not know my own
name. My mind did not seem deranged
Icould remember events and people, but
could not recall the name of single
person whom I knew. They told me
that / 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. CXilStay-