Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-08-17
A VISION.

Germany to Paris, my wife and 1.
We decided to stop at the next town,
seek better conveniences for repose
than our railway coach afforded and
again pursue our journey In the morn
ing.
Somewhat to my surprise, the guide
book mentioned our out of the way
town and named its dozen of hotels
and pensions. One Of the latter we
chose.
Here we were beamingly received by
the proprietor of the pension, much in
deed as if we were long looked for
guests.
Madame wore an old black silk dress
which still bore the stamp of its Pari-
sian origin. She carried a bunch of
keys which she jingled as she talked.
Yes, madame had rooms, two of
them. There was large one, with n
smaller one adjoining. She would
show them to us.
Very modest appearing apartments
they were that we were shown into, yet
upon the subject of their faded paper
ings and unstable upholstery madame
was eloquent
l managed to understand the drift of
her discourse, madame's expressive geS-
lures explaining much of her fluent
French, but what was this about
''blond hair, the light of the moon and
the perfume of flowers"
What could madame mean? But that
lady was now bowling herself away be-
fore her admIring audience, and IL
small boy bearing our baggage entered
and left it on the floor.
looked at my wife.
Evidently they mean us to have
these rooms" said.
My wife did not answer. Suddenly
she began:
"'Long ago a beautiful maiden Occu-
pied this chamber. and here her lover
was in the habit of visiting her. bring
ing with him bouquets of heliotrope,
the maiden's favorite flower. One day
as she rested upon couch awaiting
his arrival her lover stole in and pre-
scented her with bouquet. As the maid
en- bent her head to inhale the fra
GRANGE her false lover thrust dagger
in her neck and fed. pulling down her
long hair over the wound.
1.-The room is said to be still the
scene of the maiden's visitation
In the course of our travels had be
come used to my wife's random read
ings from the guideboOk.
This ROOM" she explained with en-
thusiasm.
The romantic tale in connection with
our chamber must have excited my
wife's Imagination, for she sat upon the
little lounge and gaZed out on the gath
ering dusk until the moonlight began
TO cast faint shadows upon the lawn
below.
How delightful it would be to meet
ghostr' unused my wife.
l did not want to seem unsympathet-
ic, so l stifled yawn and with all the
interest 1 could summon responded:
Yes"
IF you should display such anima-
ton on meeting one I'm sure the ghost
would cut you Immediately after the
introduction"
l was soon asleep.
In the night l awoke and found my
room flooded with moonlight. a ray
from the moon had probably fallen up
on my face and awakened me; that or
something else.
1 turned uneasily in my bed. My
mind seemed possessed with strange
idea. Some one was in the room.
1 was conscious OF a subtle fragrance
permeating the air. 1t was the odOr of
heliotrope. l recalled the story of the
guidebook. and l instlnctively turned
my eyes to the couch by the window.
\ woman lay resting on the couch.
the moonlight falling upon her white
dress and on her long, light hair that
hung on the floor.
l had just nerved myself to rise
when / sunk back again OH my bed, for
there was a movement upon the couch.
The figure stood for a moment. as if In
hesitancy, and then softly and rapidly
moved toward my wife's room.
/ sprang up, though without
thought as to my proceedings.
1 kept my eyes upon the phantom all
the time. 1t had now reached my
wife's bed.
But my wife did not lie there.
The idea that had so feebly chained
my thought now seized me with con-
viction. My eyes at once travelled from
the empty pillow to the figure beside
the bed-none other than my wife!
he truth ndSiltd upOL W l1C
was. asleep. Leaving her quietly, 1
went back to my bed.
The next morning l stood by the lit
tie couch, the suns rays mercilessly
exposing every rip and threadbare spot.
NV wife came in, and 1 told her the
story.
81 am certain, though" said I when
l had done, that 1 distinctly smelled
| heliotrope in the room"
$50 you did undoubtedly and shall
again." said my wife meaningly as we
left our rooms, followed by the man
with our bags.
In the garden below was madame
watering her flowers. 1 smiled at my
wife's knowingness as my eyes fell
upon the bed OF heliotrope fourish1ng
near the window of the room 1 had &C
pIIninH