The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-10-19
This Is a Fact.
A REPORTERS EXPERIENCE
NARRATED.
A Dream that was Not Altogether
Real---Or Was It?---Judge for
Yourself.

oulSioC VI IL. WeuUlnS CAKE IS 100
scarce to carry about in ones pocket
until bed time. might say that l
had a horrible nightmare, but as the
heading to this shows l am writing
facts, and they are sure enough facts
The story is simple enough, but the
fact that am dealing in facts is sufi-
clent apology for the simplicity.
TO tell of the dream | must make a
short premise.
X
l was in Atlanta and was doing
police for the Constitution. One dark
night telephone message came to the
police headquarters that some great
trouble was occurring on-street.
A moment after a message of like
nature came, and then still another.
All were from the same locality, and
from rather prominent people. An
officer, Sergeant Moss, think, who is
now captain, and myself secured a
hack and went to the place. AS we
approached we heard strange sounds
coming from a pretty residence show
ing a faint light in one room. The
hack was stopped and we rather steal
thily drew near.
The sound was of woman's voice.
In trembling, high pitched notes she
sang:
Nearer My God to thee,
Nearer to thee
Fen though it be cross
That raiseth me-"
ust these lines, and no more. I'm
mediately as the last quivering note
was reached there came a terrifying
shrek before the last sounds of this
had died away, the same high voice
burst into peals of weird laughter, that
penetrated our ears with a peculiarly
grating shrillness. We went nearer
Again came:
NEARER my God to thee,
Nearer to thee"
Then again the semblance of laugh
ter and the shrieks, and then wild
sobs of deepest despair. Only once
or twice in my life have l experienced
such a sensation as did l then. The
streets were deserted. We could see
one or two people leaning from their
windows in listening attitude. They
were evidently experiencing sensations
like myself. The sergeant, 700, was
affected.
We went nearer-up to the window.
In strong and manly, but gentle
voice, we heard some one tell her to
rest quietly; we heard pleadings, and
then a scream, prayers, and then a
snatch OF song-sometimes religious,
sometimes not. The strong voice
cried "My God, what can l do. y
This was greeted with shrill and hys-
teric laughter.
1t was awful. She was evidently
insane, and he alone watching and
attending to the mad young woman.
Captain Moss will vouch for the
truth of this, and he may finish the
story. This is enough as premise to
that dream.
l don't suppose this episode has
entered my mind in year. When
retired with that cake it certainly was
far from my thoughts. slept soundly
and when first awoke in the morning
could not remember of having
dreamed at ALL
! Suddenly the vivid remembrance
of vivid dream came to me. Every
detail was perfect, and could almost
hear the words repeated. The thread
of the story above was picked up
where left off. Like most dreams it is
strange mixture.
Here is the way it ran:
AS we-the captain and 1-stood at
the window listening, the man inside
came to us and whispered:
"For Gods sake don't make any
noise. 1t will make her worse. One
of you go for the doctor, and the other
slip in easily anI help me-"
| tptoed into the house. As l entered
the room | was astonished at the
peculiar beauty of face possessed by
the poor young woman. She wore a
loose fitting wrapper of white; her
hair was of brownish tinge and the
light passing through the flowing locks
left the appearance Of a halo. The
skin was pure and white, and the eyes
sparkled and shone with power like
positive light. l hoped to get in
unobserved, for fear of disturbing her,
but as entered she looked as if she
had been expecting me. The tremb-
ling notes of a song died upon her
lips, and she arose with quiet dignity.
! In firm and not unmusical voice, she
said:
$50 you have come at last. l have
been waiting some time. Make ready
to 60 with me.
was not exactly frightened, but l
was nervous. The man in the room
motioned me to humor her. My voice
trembled as l replied:
All right, III be ready in few
minutes"
"No," she said with the same quiet
dignity, "you have put me off long
enough. l am an angel and l COM
mand you to make ready now.''
In my dream l could see divine
glow about her face; l could see a
robe of spotless white, countenance
of sublimity, an ETHEREAL being it
seemed. She advanced towards me