The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-03-31
A DREAM.
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- 49,
My name is Lloyd Temple. / was
bachelor, young enough and passable look
ing. / had quite fortune of my own;
therefore had more leisure for castle
building than was quite good for me.
l fell asleep one night with vision of a
fair face before my memory. had lifted
my eyes while at the hotel dinner table
and saw Just opposite me this vision OF
beauty, and from that moment found 1t
impossible TO forget her. did not know
her name. She was evidently new ar
rival and in charge of an elderly, sour Wis
aged duenna. All this saw at glance
noticed casually that she was attired In
a costly gown and wore magnificent dia-
monds-not many, only earrings, brooch
and ring. For just an instant our eyes
met, but that one brief instant was long
enough to do me irreparable mischief--to
lure my heart from my bosom. ! would
never forgive her; of that felt certain.
AS was saying, retired that night
and fell asleep, still thinking of the fair
unknown. However, had discovered her
name, Miss Inez Castleton, New Orleans
was inscribed upon the register, and under
1t Nine. Elsie Garcia, her companion. j
could discover no more, only that the lady
was partly Spanish and resided in the
Crescent City and was travelling north
under the care Of her chaperon, on visit
Of pleasure, and with the object of view
ing tho different cities Of the north. Think
ing of her, fell asleep,
All at once IL appeared TO me that n tall,
dark figure entered my room-my room,
whose door l had, of course, carefully sc.
cured before retiring--a tall, masculine
figure, with n Grape mask tied over its face
"a typical burglar. to be sure. In one
hand he held a dark lantern. He stopped
and threw its light full upon my face in
a broad, yellow glare.
SECT up" he commanded hoarsely.
"She is in peril"
lay there, staring into the Grape cover
ed face, with eyes distended with terror
real and unadulterated terror-I do not
mind coDfessing 1t, for, brave as n man
may be-and have never posed for he
no of bravery-it Is TO say the least, n lit
tie uncomforta Bile to find yourself alone in
a room at the midnight hour with real
live burglar, So ] gazed into the Grape
covered face, and my voice was little
unsteady rs / nsked:
"What do you meant Who is in peril
,and in what peril2 Tell me.'
But he only laid his hand upon my arm
anu DlDtlODeu 1ll6 TO rise.
felt strange tremor run through my
frame, followed by "a numb sensation, but
rose obediently all the same.
''Dress YOURSELF commanded my un,
known visitor, land make haste about il,
too, II you would save her life'
"Whose lifei" demanded boldly.
miss Castleton's. Miss Inez Castle,
toms life is in danger. II you are not there
to save her in 10 minutes, she will be a
dead womanp
felt shudder creep over my frame al
these ominous words. | hurriedly dressed
myself and prepared to follow him. Re.
member, ! knew not in what part of the
house the young lady's room was situated
And, furthermore, it did not seem TO strike
me that my conduct was quite unpreCe
denied. | only followed my grewsomt
conductor from my room and closed ana
locked Its door behind me. ! felt as if
were flying, floating away into space, as
followed him up stairs--one. two, three
flights, The elevator was at rest; there was
no sound or sign of human presence save
my Grape covered conductor and myself.
Even then, in my terror and preOccupa-
ton, 1t struck me as remarkable that ne
one seemed to see us or heed us. In large
hotel like that it would be almost impos
sible for two men to go prowling about at
the midnight hour without being observed
and questioned.
We came to n halt at last at the door OF
room How still-how awfully still the
house wasi ! turned to my strange con
ductor He was gone "..... ~. 3d..
] stood there rubbing my eyes, trying t.
account for this transformation scene
which had removed me from my comfort.
MI haA m. f,f 10 h al
had never been before. | realized ther
with bitter shame and humiliation that
had been the victim of dream and haG
been walking in my sleep. had dreamed
of the beautiful Miss Castleton, and this
was the result l felt like a thief and /
villain. We'll, would make all haste pos
sible back to my own room and trust tt
luck that the events of the night might
never be known. had just turned to e.
when sound fell upon my ears-a sound
which emanated from the room to who's
very door my dream had led me. 1t wGt
fearful sound-a low groaIf of horror
then stiiied cry In woman's voice--.a
cry of "Aelp, help Murderr-rl' the las
word dying away into broken groan.
Without moments hesitation placed
my hand upon the donrknob. The dooi
had evidently been unlocked by skeleton
key, for it fell open ut once, and was IL
the room. The light from the corridor
without streamed in at the open door an
revealed n sight which | shall never forget
while live.
Upon her bed lay he beautiful lady
Miss Castleton, us though just arouse,
from slumber. Over her stopped hrawny
figure with II Grape covered face-the very
man Of my dreaml In one hand he held 81
glittering knife uplifted over her dainty
throat. With a low cry darted into the
room-a moment later was graphing with
the burglar
get up and ring the bell cried to
the trembling woman. She oGeyed at once
A little later the room was full OF people
and the burglar was overpowered bound
and the police summoned. They founol
Miss Castleton's diamonds and large sum
of money upon mis- person. He proved to
be u notorious rough who had long been
wanted by the police. And Inez Castle
ton-she became my wife few month";
afterward, and attribute my success I'M
winning her to the instrumentality of my
strange dream. Exchange.
Clarke Denies n Criminal Charge.
CHICAGO, March SHERMAN Clarke,
once New York broker, is prisoner in
he L.