Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-10-18

Esh he doGhtless misunderstood me, for
be tailed to put3n an appearapces Tired:
with my day s work, threw myself
upon the ground, {. my back resting
against broken marble column, 10 wait
the d1iver' retnrn. Thus reclining, |
fell asleep aad straightway WAS visited
by one. Of tie most strange and vivid
dreams of my E:e. Even now as it
comes back 10 my iaind can hardly re-
alize that it was only a dream. The
dream did not begin as dreams usually
do-yague and fanciful-s seeming I'M
real and absurd to the waking mind,
but it appeared that had barely closed
my eyes when, moved by some strange
impulse, arose from my reclining posi-
ton. But what seemed most strange
was it appeared as il ! could see myself
still reclining against the column where
I had fallen asleep. Yet this excited no
wonder IN my second self.
Turning from the spot, began wan
dering through the ruins. On, on |
wandered, now amid gloomy corridors,
where bats and owls flew past on rapid
wings; now in some spacious hall where
the moonbeams, creeping through innu-
merabIe crevices in the crumbling
walls, interlaced the rock strewn floor
with braidings of silvery white. On,
on, with only one aim and one desire,
and that was to find the one | loved. 1t
seemed as If | had known her all my
life and loved her with such intense
passion that every moment | was sepa-
rated from her caused ne the l,eenest an
guish.
Whittier she had gone l did not know.
( only knew that l must find her, and
with anxious heart [ wandered from
room to room in the great ruin, my
mind in wild tumult Of hope and fear.
Suddenly | came to a high wall, it
seemed, and looking upward [ beheld
an open window high above my head,
and something seemed to tell mo that
beyond the window I would find her for
whom | searched. Like one half crazed
I leaped uD the wall, clinglhg to small
projections that scarcely afforded suffi-
cicpt footing for Il cat, yet with desper-5
ate energy I drew myself up to the Win
dow sill aud looked within the rooms.
There apon a couch, fast asleep, lay the
one / loved. A moonhea,a coming
through the window touched her face,
and then | seemed TO know that the one
/ had sought and loved So long was
she whom had seen at the church ct
Trinita Gel IHonto.
With Il cry OF JOY tried to draw my.
self I'D to the opening, but something
seemed to i9h 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, beseechlng her to come to me, but
she only moved uncasiIy upon her pill
low as if her sleep had been disturbed
by nay cry. Then felt my hold upon
tie wall slowly giving way, and with
an agonized cry upon my lips fell back
and down, down into the darkness, and
with this | awoke
sprang to my feet, startled and be-
UildGrea 1t the yividncss OF the dream.
drew out l,ly watch ard glanced at 1t
by the moonlight. II was ~ o'clock!
Was it possible that | had slept SO long?
( must ind some conveyance at once
and return to tho city.
The night had grown chill, and sl1iv
cred as / picked Up my sEetcnbool and
walked from tho gloomy shadows Of the
ruin. Eow vivid my dream had been!
Was it dream? 1t hardly seemed pos
sibla. as reflected over the strange
incident II al came TO mo ike q fash.
knew then that was madly IN love
with the strange woman | had seen at
the Trinita del Monte church. 1t had
all been revealed TO mo in my dream,
and it seemed to me that I must find
her now at any cost. | would never
give over the search. Every aim and
every ambition OF my lifo should be CEN
tered in an object-to find her and to
tell her OF my love.
Ungovernable and Intoxicating pulls
ings OF passion fred my soul to q degree
never before dreamed Of as [ strobe
across the level court that lay east of
the, ruin. was just turning corner
Of the broken wall when heard the
rustic Of a garment and q light step
near me. Then there was a CLEAN of
white drapcries as the form Of q woman
glided into view.
stood stock still with astonishment.
Was it u CHEST OF the ruins? The strange
apparition, the place and the hour all
conspired to thrill rae with momen-
tary feeling of superstition and awe.
Slowly and almost noiselessly the figure
approached. Igtood still, speeches. and
breathless. The natchless grace of form
and movement told me that this was
beautiful woman even before Isaw her
face. a light shawl of creamy wh1teness
was wrapped about her form. Her head
was bare, her dark hair fell in di-
sheveled mass about her shoulders, and
her loose, flowing garments looked
strangely and intensely white in the sill
very brightness of the moon
AS she drew near the moonlight fell
full upon her face, showing her fea-
lures as distinctly almost as if it had
been day. A startled cry almost rose
to nv Inns, but died away. Was T still