The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-03-28
A STRANGE DREAM
lOriginal.1

passage. l passed through and stood
looking at the beautiful grounds Of an
adjoining place. There was a summer
house in one corner, covered with
vines, which looked very tempting. I
hesitated awhile; but, not seeing any
one about, concluded to 60 there.
Reaching the steps leading up to the
entrance, l espied a lady lying asleep
in a hammock. She was dressed in a
lace, and a little foot, peeping out from
under her skirts, displayed a dainty
slipper. She was ruddy as a peach and
plump as a partridge. l couldn't apol-
ogiZe to one who was asleep. 1 stood
looking at her irresolutely, thinking ev-
cry moment hat she would open her
eyes, but she slept on. l gave a slight
cough. 1t failed to waken her.
l could have gone away and thus got
out Of the difficulty, but by this time l
had no desire to do so. l rather felt
inclined to stay there as a sort Of pro-
tector, though what l was to protect
her from except myself l did not know.
l drew near and stood looking down at
her. l could not see her eyes, for they
were closed, but her mouth was eX-
quisite. About her neck was a strip of
black velvet upon which hung a locket.
l stopped carer to examine the trinket
and caught the fragrance Of her warm
breath. Then-well, then l lost my
head entirely. l forgot the audacity,
stupidity, presumption. recklessness
there are not enough words in the
dictionary to serve the purpose) of the
action and, bending still lower, touched
her lips lightly with mine.
There was a faint, convulsive move
ment. | was filled with horror, ex-
pecting to see her open her eyes. For
q moment there was a slight move
ment at the corners of her mouth, fol
lowed by a muscular contraction Of the
brows. a breath Of extra length; then
she was as quiet as if her lips had not
been desecrated.
BY this time l had made up my mind
that if l did not leave at once l would
end by landing in Jail, or deserve to
land there, so l tiptoed out of the sum-
mer house and went through the hedge
and back to the veranda, where l spent
the rest of the morning between shud-
dering at what l had done and a re-
membrance of the kiss l had stolen.
That evening a number Of people
from the neighborhood We're invited to
meet me. My host took me up to the
guests to present me, at last stopping
before on the sight of whom made me
catch my breath-the lady l had kissed
in the morning. She fixed a pair of
black eyes upon me for a moment, as
women do at making a new acquaint-
ance, then began to chat with me. At
first l could find nothing to say and
when l succeeded spoiled it by stam-
mering. But her name was so charm
ing that she soon put me at my ease.
"DO you reside near byY' l asked.
"In the adjoining place"
'Indeed. l took a glance at your
premises this morning through a break
in the hedge. The grounds are very
attractive"
"We think SO. l am out Of doors
nearly all day in summer. l was dane
LIS III = SlOIh Ills HUT lllIS. IuDd
won't allow any Of III to be absent
from the breakfast table, so l am
obliged to make up my sleep later.
This morning l had a splendid nap in
the summer house."
C"rhank heaven" l muttered to my
self, "she was really sound asleep!")
"In the summer house?'
"NpC anG I ho1 c,,oh n ci, r,,lo :.
dream, or rather nightmare"
Indeed"
II dreamed that a horrid little man,
with hair and eyes black as a coal and
a red beard, came to the summer
house."
THAT'S a singular combination"
remarked. inwardly alarmed.
"Such things are always singular in
dreams. He stood for a moment on
the steps, then came into the house.
] couldn't cry out-you know people in
nightmare never can cry out, though
they try ever sc hard-and he stood
there looking at me with his fiendish
green eyes
Il thought you said his eyes were
black"
did 1? Well, they were green.
he bent over me SO close that
could feel the tip of his ugly white
beard brushing my cheek
you mean his red beard"
mo; it vas white-I said white.
Then, STOPPING lower and lower, while
l felt every moment that l should die
Of fright. at last he Kissed me-"
what did you do?"
do? l tried to cry out, but could
only gasp"
But people in nightmare in attempt
ing to. cry out make a sound"
$50 did l."
mo, you didn't. You lay still as a
mouse"
The girl burst into a merry laugh.
She laughed and laughed till it seemed
she would never laughing, while
| turned red. white. all conceivable
colors. like the beard Of the man in the