Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-12-05
MYSTERY OF A DREAM.
Was 1t Vision That Brought
Jasper to His Senses?


Jasper to His SensesP
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 trife demented.
There Is one, however, who is now sit
ting near the table at which am writ
Ing, that believes my story implicitly.
Indeed, Ediena, my darling wife, knows
full we'll that the story which / am
about to write is true
n can not tell when the knowledge
that loved Ediena Wyldmere was first
revealed to me. We were children
together, 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 more than hundred
times. Our joys and sorrows were
shared together. AS happy, thought
less children, we romped and laughed,
and many a. time we mingled our tears
In childish grief. AS the years rolled
away, our affection for each other grew
steadily stronger and deeper.
At nineteen Ediena was as fair and
pure as the most spotless thing under
the sun. ! almost worshiped her then,
but was still young and no thoughts
OF marriage had entered my head. So
beautiful maiden could not long avoid
attracting admiring suitors, and among
those who floc1ed around her was one
Cyril Slaythorne, the tall, proud, aristo-
cratic master Of Stay thorne Hall, which
had been left him at the death of his
wealthy father.
| do not deny that | soon grew Jealous
of many of these fawning and natter-
ing suitors, and of Cyril Staythorne in
particular. Most beautiful young ladies
arr naturally trifle inclined to be
and Ediena Wyldmere was no ex-
q zion. Not but that she loved me as
truly and dearly as ever, but never had
] made a serious declaration of my pas
sion, and for time she enjoyed the at
tention bestowed 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
disqualified me as son-in-law. Oul
Saviour was carpenters son, but this
fact has not caused the calling to be
deemed more lofty than 1t was nineteen
hundred years ago. Ediena's parents
were on the outlook for 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, bu
in divers ways they did every thing
they ccgla g separate us and to install
y favor.
snail "a 4. irget the feeling O.
rage and despa that seized me as one
day / saw Ediena pass, seated in CSril
Staythorne' handsome carriage, with
Staythorne himself by her side. car
not describe our next meeting How
much / was to blame for what followed
! now know, but then thought hat
just cause for what l did. Hot words
were uttered, and for the first time W,
parted in anger.
The next day ! left the quiet New
England town where twenty-one year,
Of my life had been spent. A passenge
tSain bore me away out into the world
1 was going anywhere that might ge
away from the hateful spot that l hat
always known as home, where so man,
happy days had been spent with tn
one from whom l thought fate had sep
arated me forever.
sought and obtained employment i
agreat city, the crowded streets an,
hLrrying rush of which seemed yer,
strange and unnatural to me.
: tried to forget my old home an,
Ediiepa, but soon found 1t impossible
to do so. Strive as 1 might to tear he
image from my bosom, her fair, sweet
face was almost always before me
Sternly fought against the power tina
seemed to be drawing me back to her
Many a night did awaken and sit Dol
upright in the darkness of my littl
room, with her plaintive cry soundin,
in my ears:
''Oh, Jasper, come back to mep'
1t always seemed very real but
reasoned myself into thinking that
was all imagination. now know tina
many, many times she uttered that YER,
cry.
One day an accident happened to me
/ was passing along beneath the spo
where repairs were being made on
building whom falling board strucI
me senseless, | was picked up an
carried to a hospital, but when | recov
ered consciousness / did not kno,
my own name My mind did not seer
deranged, could remember events an
people, but could rot recall the nam
OF q single person whom ISaeN. The
told me that | had been severed
injured and that doubtless as / i'm
proved my memory would serve me BET
ter.
For several days lay there, gradual
" growing hetter physically, but in n