The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-13

ray Of moonlight stole through the high
window ia the ruin wall. What had
happenedf Had l really been dream.
ing, or had in some mysterious way
been permitted to witness an actual
scene that had transpired at that very
moment in some distant part Of the citys
Had suddenly been endowed with the
subtle power oi second sight, or by what
inexplicable freak OF the occult had /
been able to discern what had appeared
before my visionf Surely 1t could have
been no dream! Yet, as my sober sec
ond thought came to me, gave that a.
the only explanation.
AT this point was aroused from my
bewildering reflections by the CHEEKY
voice OF Ralph Redburn, who had just
returned from stroll in the Villa Borg
here gardens and had almost stumbled
over me in the darkness.
When light had been made, related
to him the strange circumstance of the
vision bad beheld, but he only smiled
and said:
Its only dream. my boy. This old
ruin is having bad effect on your con-
you up"
Nearly week later, while returning
from a drive across the campagna,
came upon the ruins of an old temple
which looked so picturesque In its desc
late, decayed grandeur, that resolved
to make sketch of it. 1t stood near
the outskirts of the city and was fianked
on one side by deep ravine. On the
other and eastern side, just mt the sum-
NIT of a gentle swell. CLEANED the white
walls OF a picturesque villa, its vine
wreathed columns and wide sweeping
porches looking cool and inviting in the
warm glow of the Italian sun.
The next day returned to the ruin,
where l spent the day sketching the
picturesque pile. had given the driver
Uf the conveyance in which had come
instructions 10 return for me at sunset,
shut owing to my limited knowledge Of
Italian and his utter ignorance of Eng
lish he doubtless misunderstood me, for
be failed to put in an appearance. Tired
with my days work, / threw myself
upon the ground, my back resting
against broken marble column, TO wait
the drivers return. Thus reclining,
fell asleep and straightway was visited
by one OF the most strange and vivid
dreams of my life. Even now as it
comes back to my mind can hardly re-
alize that it was only dream. The
dream did not begin as dreams usually
do-vague and notwithstanding IN
real and absurd to the waking mind,
hut it appeared that had barely closed
my eyes when, moved by some strange
impulse, Il arose from my reclining posi-
tion. But what seemed most strange
was il appeared as IL could see myself
still reclining against the column where
! had fallen asleep. Yet this excited nc
wonder in my second self.
Turning from the spot, I began wan
dering through the ruins. On, on I
wandered, now amid gloomy corridors,
where bats and owls few past on rapid
wings; now in some spacious hall where
the n:oonbeams, creeping through innu-
merable crevices in the crumbling
walls, interlaced the rock etrewn floor
with braidings of silvery white. On,
on, with only one aim and one desire,
and that was to find the one loved. It
seemed as if / had known her all my
life and loved her with such intense
passion that every moment i was sepa-
rated from her caused me the ksensst an
guish.
Whittier she had gone did not know.
with anxious heart I wandered from
room to room in the great ruin, my
mind in wild tumult of hope and fear.
Suddenly came to high wall, IL
seemed, and looking upward beheld
an open window high above my head,
and something seemed to tell me that
beyond the window would find her for
whom searched. Like one half crazed
leaped up the wall, clinging to small
projections that scarcely afforded SUM-
cient footing for cat, yet with desper-
ate energy drew myself up to the win
dow sill and looked within the rooms.
There upon couch, fast asleep, lay the
one / loved. A moonbeam coming
through the window touched her face,
and then seemed to know that tho one
/ had sought and loved so long was
she whom had seen at the church of
Trinita del Monte.
With cry of Joy tried to draw my
self up to the opening, but something
seemed 10 weigh heavily upon me, pre-
venting my ascent. / called loudly TO
her within the room, but she did not
awake. Again and again called to
her, beseeching her to come to me, but
she only moved uneasily upon her pill
low as If her sleep had been disturbed
by my cry. Then felt my hold upon
the wall slowly giving way, and with
an agonized cry upon my lips I fell back
and down, down into the darkness, and
with this awoke.
Isprang to my feet, startled and be-
widered mt the vividness of the dream.
drew out my watch and glanced at 1t
by the moonlight. 1t was 12 o'clocki
Was il possible that had slept 30 long1
/ must find some convevanc0 at OnCo