The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-05-27

Dreams" and which would have done
than Billy Ashe. Ashe himself thought
rather we'll of them; he felt that it in
some way compensated for the very
nasty knock on the head that the Lady
had been the means of giving him, and
that he had turned most perplexing
dream to very good account. 1t was
better than taking it to the Society of
Physical Research, which he had
thought of doing in the vividness of
his first impression, but six months
without any further developments,
waking or sleeping, had dulled his
keen conviction of it's psychic value.
Meanwhile, a comfortable check from
the magazine had seemed to take the
thing out of the province of psychic re-
search.
Ashe was modest man. but not too
much so to find little lionizing quite
to his taste, and he went to afternoon
teas and cotillions with feeling that
tomorrow would be some one elses
day, and he must gather his roses
while he might. So he entered Mrs.
Fosters long drawing room prepared
to smile as he listened to his verses
misquoted by fair aatterers; he re-
tanned that serene attitude of mind
while he shook hands with Mrs. Fos-
ter, and not one minute longer. For
beyond Mrs. Foster, and standing just
outside the ring of light from a tall
lamp, was the lady of his dreams, with
her white gown that chung to her
shoulders and round waist, and fared
with heavy folds at her feet
Meanwhile Mrs. Foster was saying
graciously-
$50 good of you to come, Mr.. Ashe,
and not to forget your old friends, now
you are such a celebrity. And to re-
ward you, l am going to introduce you
to very dear young friend of mine,
Miss Gregory, who admires your poems
so much" And Ashe found himself
before his princess, while Mrs. Foster
went on fiuently: Constance, my
dear, this is Mr.. Ashe," and turned to
greet another guest. All remnants of
his self-possession vanished at the
sound of the names, and interrupting
Miss Gregory's polite expressions of de-
light at making his acquaintance, Ashe
asked abruptly:
Are you princess?'
She opened her brown eyes wider
and looked at him in surprise.
"Do-do you believe in telepathy,
and astral bodies?" he went on after
moments pause. "Or are you only a
dream?"
Dear mel" said the girl, Mrs. Eos
ter said you were so nice, and not
startling-that no one would know
that you were a poet or anything else
at all awe-inspiring, and here you have
called me three alarming names in as
many minutes. Is this poetic license,
Mr.. Asher"
did you really mind Cissie Loftus?"
he asked anxiously. "You see, she's
my favorite pipe, but she's rather old,
and I'm afriad she's little too strong
to be pleasant to strangers. But |
didn't expect you, you know, when you
came in so suddenly"
The girls face was gravely puzzled,
but her eyes looked amused
Il am afraid Mrs. Foster has mis-
taken idea of you," she said, with
shake of her head.
Where do you liver inquired
Ashe. when you're not in dream,
you know-when you are not in the
Thurstons library?"
WELL" said Miss Gregory, 81 am re-
lieved l am so glad to find that can
at last take an intelligent interest in
the conversation. The Thurstons' IL
brary-itn't it fascinating places"
"You weren't in it long enough to
find out" objected Ashe "And do you
think it was quite kind of you to make
me bump my head?''
Long enough I've spent hours in
the Thurstons library" said the girl
in mock indignation. "And l never
made you bump your head"
well, perhaps, not consciously" adj
mitted Ashe, but it was under your
SPELL"
"You are certainly casting spell
over me-" she said. Really, Mr.
Ashe, | don't know what you mean
I'm sure never had anything to do
with your humping your head-but I'm
not sure that it would not do it good"
Cruel" cried Ashe. We'll, since
you won't admit it. let's begin again
am very glad to meet you, Miss Greg