The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-07-08
The Dream Woman.

the priest say at ny bedside that Nouiu
not live until morning. I was sinking
into heavy st1por when the door open
ed. and a golden-haired woman IN .
white gown glided in. She carried IN her
hand a curious porcelain bowl Of water.
aDrink," she said in sweet voice.
holding It 10 my lips
The doctor ferbids il" l murmured-
Drink. and fear nothing she said.
I obeyed and drained the vessel she
held toward me-
Good night and sweet dreams, she
added, and slided away ss mysienonsiy
ss she hsi entered
The next morning IsWoke refreshed
and invigorzted. asked TO see the lady
who had waited upon me in the night,
but they smiled and said II was deli
nous dream.
In time I recovered my health and re-
turned to Virginia. It was ten years
after this illness that in riding past
fine old country house I saw lady walk
down the psth who paused to pick a rose
Her figure was t&ll, her hair golden, her
ewes dark. Her motors were graceful
With a little exclamation Of Gstonlsh-
ment, ! recognized the lady Of my dream
looking older, but otherwise unsltered.
know not in what words I eOmmu-
niczted this fact 10 ny friend, but
know 1 ended by saying:
q must speak 10 her. she viii re-
member"
Ny friend uttered an imperative neg
alive.
aShe would think you a madman.
he said. Come on. You may get your
self for staring at another mans
wife. They do such things promptly in
the South. I viii find out who she is if
you ike"
I assented eagerly. We rode on.
Talk 10 me as much as you like ne
said, @but never expose yourself to stran-
eers. It's possible this lady was in Bra
ziI inIs-, and brought you something
to drink when you we're left alone In
that case a doubt that troubles you viii
be satisfied. You can, with all propriety,
call upon her and thank her"
But though he spoke in this way, /
knew be did not imagine Il could be 50.
That evening wesmoked our cigars in
Col. Is company, and my friend diplo-
mstically introduced the subject.
That beautiful house with the large
garden" hesaid, SIS quite feature ofthe
place. Who owns it ?"
a lovely woman, widow Of Mr.. V"
said the Colonel. "She Was a belle in
her girlhood, and she might still be one
if she only chose.
Perhaps We saw her in the garden,
said my friend, beginning a minute de-
scription.
Exactly. It was no one else" said
the Colonel.
Ny ffierc paused for a moment, and
then said
@She reminded B. ofsome one he had
met in Brazil. In fact he almost beliey-
ed her the same person"
@No, no, said the old Colonel, Ms. Y.
has never left Virginia. We have known
the family since she was two wears old
1t was only the other day that We spoke
of that, and she lamented that she had
not Travelled more.
I felt pang Of disappointment, but
found courage TO say: Il should greatly
like 10 be introduced 10 her"
The old Colonel instantly offered to in
trOduce me.
"But remember" said my friend, as
We parted, @neyer tell her Of your fancy.
1t would spoil your chances with her,
and I see It is a case oflove at frst sight" I"
He was right, and I was very fortu-
nate-very happy. l won the beautiful
Woman's heart
Her fortune I did not want, but it was
large. had sufficient means and could
not be suspected Of mercenary motives.
We were married after long and ardent
wOoing on my part.
She loved me, but a second marriage
seemed wrong TO her, and II was not
until she realized that she had irretriev-
ably given me her heart that she would
give her hand.
Neither Of US had ever visited Europe.
We decidel to cross the ocean during our
honeymoon. Before we went she show
ed me her beautiful home and all her
possessions. Among them was store Of
old china
Suddenly she turned TO the shelves Of
her cabinet and took down china bowl
transparent, covered with flowers and
butterflies Of quaint conventional form.
As she held it toward me, saw again
the long, low hung whitewashed Brazil
ian room-the crowd ofmen playing at
an improvised table-the figure of the
woman advancing towards nae. It was
her attitude that my wife had assumed.
UTTERED 3 cry.
"Are you thirsty >" she asked.
at is true, then :" I cried. you are
the woman who saved my life when
lay pershing of fever in Brazil? ?7
She began to tremble. Setting the
bowl aside, she threw herself into my
arms.
Long ago" she panted-@ten years
ago-I thought held that bowl in my
hand and asked yeu that It was night
l do not know whether was mad. In
the dead of the night thought voice
called 70 NE: Save the man whom des-
tiny has set apart for you" Then
arose and asked: 'HowF"
There is on our plantation a spring,
the water Of which is magical in its pow
er to cure fevers- I dresmpt or thought
that some unseen thing led me TO this
spring. carried this bowl in my hand.
filed it. Then / stood in a strange
room, long, low, white; and you-you-
you lay on pallet, hot with fever. And
1 said: Are you thirsty ? and gave You
a drink.
"The next morning I could have
thought il was all dream but that this
bowl, still wet, stood at my bedside.
Now have told this, do YOU think me
mad or superstiiious? / have longed so