The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-14

,nope
cination. No, II could rot be- real.
was still dreaming. / should soon
awake to the sharp disappointment OF
the reality. The thoughts forced them
selves upon my mind, causing me to
feel the keenest anguish.
The white draped figure of the wom-
an passed SO close to me that i could
have touched her with my hand, and
every feature had been plainly revealed.
Her eyes, large and lustrous, were star
ing as if at vacancy, and every move-
nent was as if she were utterly obliv-
ious to her lrroundings. Scarcely had
noticed these facts when the truth
came - me like flash, breaking the
e III that hG 4 fallen over me. She was
somnambu list! The thought quickly
grew into conviction.
turned quickly and followed her, a
wild tumult Of passion pulsing through
my being. 1t was no dream then. l
had found h9r at lastl Was it fate that
had directed her steps to that place, or
bad my spirit called her thither while
] thought | lad only been dreamingf
Heaven only knows. Yet till my dying
Say shall over cease to believe that it
was my sp IL that called her to the
ruin that nj 'ht.
Like ono ,ntranced, followed her,
keeping close behind. She crossed the
open court. Then through broken
arcsway she glided like spirit. Theu,
turning, she was about to make her way
along the very verge of deep pitfall
when with cry of horror Isprang for
ward and caught her by the arm. 1 had
heard that those who walk In sleep are
never harmed by walking in perilons
places, yet the thought that she was in
danger made me forget everything else
for moment.
AS my hand touched her arm she
stopped abruptly. Then saw that she
had awakened. For moment there
was an astonished, bewildered look in
her eyes. Then she uttered a low cry Of
terror, and turning quickly fled across
the open court. The next instant l saw
her stagger, then reel downward and fall
in heap upon the rock strewn ground.
Leaping forward, l soon reached her
side and was bending over her prostrate
form. She lay limp and lifeless, her
head resting against sharp stone,
against which il had struck as she fell.
AS / lifted her head / saw stain of
blood upon her temple. Had the blow
killed her? My Godl The very thought
drove me to the verge of insanity. Hard
ly knowing what did, j lifted her from
xl,a nd fa1 a
little strip of grass that grew near where
she had fallen. Then removing my coat
Iplaced it beneath her head. Still she
Law motionless, as If death had already
claimed her. What must do? Where
could go for helpp Iglanced about me,
but the nearest sign of human habita-
tion was the villa upon the slope an
eighth of mile away. Perhaps l might
find some one there who could assist
me, yet / feared to leave her alone for a
single moment.
As again turned my attention TO her
saw with thrill of JOY that life was
not extinct. She uttered faint moan,
and there was slight futtering OF the
lips. Ii was only swoon, after all, and
she would soon recover. The thought
gave me more JOY than had ever before
experienced. l bent down and began to
examine the wound upon her temple.
To my infinite relief, ] found that it was
not serious. yet IL might have rendered
her unconscious. But / now believed
that her swoon had been caused more
by terror than by the blow she had rs.
Atyad-