The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-05-13

Su0ulO nave uau Sucl cream anu
been so impressed by 1.-THE effect of
the opiates, suppose No wonder
so many people become addicted to
their use if they induce dreams as
beautiful! Heigho! Time to get ready
for that reception of Mrs. N,r-
mans, so I'll put you aside for the
night, my queen"
"Oh, Mr.. Winton, So glad to see
you! Allow me to introduce you to
my niece, Miss Selden. Lillias, my
dear, Mr.. Winton."
With difficulty Raymond Winton
suppressed the exclamation of sur
prise and delight that came involun-
tarily at sight Of that girl before him.
Tall, sweet and fair as some Grecian
goddess she stood in her soft, clinging
gown of white, the exact counterpart
of his beautiful "lady of dreams"
There was, however, no recognition in
her eyes as she acknowledged the in
PRODUCTION and then chatted quietly
with him upon the latest society topics.
X X X X X X
"Well, Lillias, how did you enjoy
the reception, and-Raymond Win
ton. He is unassumming, and yet
talented artist with rapidly growing
reputation. He was very i'll several
months ago, but since his recovery has
been painting very superior picture,
it's said a masterpiece in its way. Now
when l think of it, he was in the hospi-
tai where George was, and about the
same time, too. With the exception
of one or two reporters no one has
seen the picture, although it is finish
ed, or nearly so. 1t seems the inspira-
tion came to him through a dream he
had during his illness at the hospital.
He has christened it MY Lady of
Dreams We seem to be especially
honored, for last night, on leaving he
invited me to bring you to the studio
to see it. It's to be placed on exhibi-
tion next week, and he particularly
mentioned that he desired you to see
il before that time. You certainly
must have made a deep impression
upon him."
The girl blushed rosily but made no
reply.
The next afternoon the artist, with
as little delay as possible in the recep-
tion room, courteously ushered Mrs.
Norman and her neice into his studio.
A large covered picture stood upon an
easel in the centre of the room. Seat
ing tue ladies before it, the artist, with
his eyes on Lillias. carefully raised
the cover and revealed the "dream
lady" So true to life was it that even
in such close proximity it seemed as
real and sentient as the living girl.
Mrs. Norman uttered an exclama.
tion of astonished delight, while Lit
lias seemed electrified, her delicate fig
ure trembling with emotion, her face
suffused with blushes.
In an instant she recalled the JAN
uary day in the hospital where she had
gone to visit her sick brother and by
mistake entered a duplicate room on
the floor below, that of the handsome
stranger, whom-ah, how absurd!-
she had actually kissed. And he!
She knew he was asleep. Could it
have been otherwise? She stole tim
id, beseching glance at Winton, and
read the embarrassing affirmation in
his smiling but respectful gaze.
"It seems remarkable mental phe-
nomenon, does it not?" he asked with
ready tact. perhaps some day you
will assist me to better understand
ing of it. However, l am confident
that until last night never saw you
with my external sight, Miss Selden."
"No?" the girl queried, half doubt
ingly.::
"True, nevertheless" replied the ar
tist. Then he related the cause of his
hospital experience-rheumatic fever,
during which he was kept under some
opiate so constantly that he could not
even recall the time when the dream
occurred. The picture, as he had re-
produced it, came consciously to his
mind one day during his convalesence,
and when the effect of the opiates were
entirely removed from his system.
1t is needless to say that public ex-
hibition Of the picture was deferred un-
til several months later, when Lillias
became the affianced wife of Raymond
Winton, and as such, as well as the
subject of its inspiration, shared with
the artist the honor it brought.
Neither was it until they stood alone
before it in the public gallery that
Lillias assisted him to more logical
conclusion concnering its origin.
When she finished the story which the
reader already knows, Winton drew
k.1.x