Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-11-27
THE OPIUM EATERS
DREAM.

wat wv MeIS u'ifi IlSu.
On the fourth day l was attacked
with Scasickness. Alas! nothing APP
peared to restore the balance Of power
In my unfortunate stomach.
The doctor mt last prescribed dose
of opium. Marvellous dug!
In two minutes the deadly sickness
ceased. n delicious languor swept over
me, and as my Fannie's eyes We're re-
garding me affactionately, sank CON
terltedly to sleep.
was aroused by the tramping Of
feet and the hoarse cries of the cap
tain and his officers.
Fannie rushed in dstractedly. The
ship had struck one of those treacher-
GUS hidden reefs 50 common In the Pa
cite
We hurried on deck, where. In the
gray light of the moraing, could dim
ly discern one of those volcanic isl
nnds brought to the surface In long
ages past by some terrible ocean con-
vulsion. At : n. II. the ship struck.
Resolving that Fannie and myself
should die together. dashed her with
a rope fast TO my body.
At last the final crash came. \ huge
wave lifted the vessel of the reef.
With its recoil the steamer descended.
was split amidships. We could only
hope for speedy death. which we
awaited liz each others arms.
The minute of doom arrived. IIither
and thither we were tossed by the flu
rious onslaught of the surf, until at
last l lost consciousness.
When awoke was lying ON the
beach and the sun shone high III the
heavens.
Alas. My darling Fannie was dead.
OF that | could have no doubt. Such
was the fury of the waves that almost
all my clothing was torn from my
body.
Looking around to see how l could
repair my wardrobe. perceived to
my great joy, that the slight cminence
In the center of the island was crowned
with trees and verdure mt its summit.
as also down to where it gently sloped
TO the beach.
The leaves of the trees we're large
and heart-shaped. speedily secured
number of them and by twisting
and turning the Icing stems in and out
of the leaves, succeeded at last in mink.
ing very tolerable apron.
| then slowly and painfully walked
to the top of the i'll. where, divestlng
myself of my undershirt, l tied it ia
an extending branch of one of the
stunted trees in the hope-alas. re-
mote one-of its attracting the notice
of some passing vessel.
My eyes are fixed longingly on the
distant horizon. Heavens! What is
that down on the beach?-a human
form. and clad only in the same p"in'
tive garment Us my own.
Surely. / thought. it is one Of the
survivors of the wreck. FASTENED
down the hill as quickly as my enfee-
bled condition would permit, and
hailed the motionless form.
At last l. slo,'ly turned-was l mad,
She was a daughter Of the gods;
Divinely tall and most divinely fair
She looked strikingly picturesque In
the tropic sunlight which illuminated
her eyes and the hlue-black splendOr OF
her ACKNOWLEDGING and dusky hair.
With a radiant smile this divine
creature advanced toward me, and
embracing me ardently, said. IN
English: My dear brother. / know
you would come for me Mt last"
When | had mastered my surprise
and could observe her more closely,
saw that the light of reason was EN-
tifely extinguished in this poor Great
! ure's brain.
l gathered, however. from her dis
| jointed story, that she was wrecked of
the island. and her demented fancy
made her imagine that l was hel
brother who had come to take hel
away.
She bound up my wounds with some
mysterious unguents and then pointed
| out to me a cave. the floor of which
after n short absence, she strewed witt
soft, valvct-like moss Snd le"XeS Thii
couch proved very grateful to my
wearied limbs.
After fondly embracing me again
Brother" she said. Il must leave yoi
now. as Darga is waiting for me. ant
he Is very jealous" She ran. with in
credible swiftness. up the beach, an(
finally disappeared behind the hill.
Who the deuce. thought |, is DArga
Can it be that this resplendently hand
some vet helpless girl has husband
After n long. dreamless sleep
awoke the next morning, feeling in
| finitel yrefreshed. l walked In the di
erection of the reef.
The Pacific stretched out placidl!
toward the horizon, as though n,
storm had ever ruffied its calm sur
| face.
In hideous contrast were the bodies
of the drowned among Tie rocks.
| turned sadly away. when / per
eeived my mysterious island nader
sorrowfully. Dear brother" said she
you must make a raft and escape
There's danger here" Seeing the va
cant look in The poor girls eyes, con
eluded this must be some phase Of he
madness. Yes said !, Il will re.
about 1t at once" There is no TIM.
to be lost" she replied. "Hark!"
Then there arose upon the still nj
the most awful sound ever heard.
Roar succeeded roar, which was re
echoed all over the island. Said tn
| girl. with heightened color, a dilat tin,
| eye and something like an expression
of pride in her face, 'That is Dargal 7
Down slight activity, about lift!
yards from us. an enorn, us lion. witt
mighty leaps. cane bounding toWart
us. Truly royal brute, fit mate,
thought, for the vain that in centu
ries gone by guarded the throne o
Solomon. and selected, perhaps b,
Providence to protect this poor, un
fortunate.
Though no coward, the blood forsooI
my face at sight of this personificatioi