The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-03-18


the figure had vanished. He saw only q
sudden fall of the ground, and beyond,
a cottage built By some summer resident.
All the world seemed sleeping.
A few days later Carter was snatched
from his dreamy life by party of young
fellows who had come down from the
city, bent on making the most of their
vacation. Their gaiety grated on the
nerves of the mystic, who had been
somewhat unnamed by his midnight ex-
perience. Courtesy, however, forced
him to lend himself to all their plans
and to enter into all their boating, sail
ing aad fishing parties.
On one of these he was presented to n
Miss Tremaine. Whether she were
pretty or not Carter could not tell; for
She wore veil, thick enough to conceal
her features. But she had low, pleas
ant voice, and a wonderfully easy, un-
affected manner.
To Carriers remark that she had been
in none of the other sailing parties, she
answered that her health had not per-
mitted it.
lie hoped it had been merely passing
indispostiou.
eyes; only cold"
The young man noticed a tinge of con-
straint in Miss Trcmaine's answer, and
that she Immediately left the subject.
The party had started out in the after
noon, for its members wished to sail
home by moonlight. The supper on
board was merry one, and Carter was
surprised at the heartiness with which
be joined in the general gayety.
':It really is better for me-" he de-
cidcd mentally, "to see more of people" "
As the moon rose the party grew
quieter; even the songs became less roll
licking. Suddenly the gay little dam
sci to whom Carter was talking saw his
face change, while he stopped in the
middle Of his sentence.
why, what is it2" she asked.
But Carter did not hear her. He was
looking across the boat to whore sat Miss
Tremaine. She had taken off her thick
veil, and the face or which the moon
shoac was the face of his vision.
Unconscious of everything else, Carter
rose abruptly aud left his little compan-
ion.
Miss Tremaine was sitting rather apart
from the others. As Carter approached
she smiled up at him and moved little,
in mute offering of the seat beside her.
AS if in q dream, the young man took it.
1t did not occur to him to talk; he merely
looked at the white face which he had
seen under such strange circumstances.
Presently he became aware that Miss
Tremaine had been talking to him, and
that she was waiting for an answer. But
what could he say2 He had heard moth
ing.
eel beg your PARDON" he stan-
mered.
Miss Tremaine laughed easily.
"You have not heard one word I
said"
The merry laugh broke the spell that
lay over him.
"Excuse ME; but you will think me
very rude, but your face reminded me
of one 1 had seen before, and I was
watching it,"
$50 perceived"
Sec;rg the young mans evident con-
fusion. she laughed again, and good
naturedly helped him out of difficulties.
81 wonder if you have as much trou-
ole as 1, in locating people. If you do,
l am sorry for YOU"
But, during the whole of the conver-
sation, which lasted until the landing,
Carter was conscious of an odd sensation
of unreality.
After this the meetings of the two
were frequent. They found much in
common to discuss, and they also found
that long walks together en- the hard
sand of the beach were very favorable to
an interchange of experiences.
One afternoon, late in October, the
two were standing together at the en-
trance to the oak-tree hollow.
''Have you NOTICED asked Miss Tre-
maine, pointing out on the sea, "that
there's sand-bar which runs out quite o
long distance? At low tide one can walk
away out on it. I used to have such
horrid dreams about it when l first came
down"
"What were thcy?" asked Carter with
a sudden hoarseness in his voice.
~ don't like to remember them OF
talk about them; only I seemed to be
always walking out on that bar, and the
water would seem to come up, up, and it
would be SO cold, so cold. 1t isn't tmuch
to tell, but you know how it is in dreams;
there was always such horrid sensation
about it,"
Carter was silent, and, after q little,
Miss Tremaine continued.
"Aud, do you know, I became very
much frightened about myself. I had
the dream 50 often. And I think, l
know, that once or twice I must have
walked in my sleep and gone out there in
reality. Just think how horrible!"
"What did you do about it?' her CON-
panion asked, mechanically.
81 spoke to the doctor; and he gave
me something quieting. suppose I was
a little unstrung by my brothers death.
Why, Mr.. Carter! What is the matter2"
For the young mans face was white.
A moment he paused, looking at her
with his grey eyes large from disappoiut-
ment. Then impulsiveiy he began and
told her all of his discovery of the little
book; of his midnight incantation, and
what he had considered its result. He
renailnd their subsequent mnntinn and