Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-02-08
Copyright
CHAPTER Nv.
Contjnuel.

Continued.
In this Improbable occupation !
wasted I know not how long, until,
doubling whether should be awake
in time to keep the promise l had
made to conduct my aunt Gertrude
over our old house-no brief task, for
1t contained thirty or more rooms and
was a maze to the uninitiated-I hur-
ried to bed, and was soon in the tor
ments pf the most chaotic dream
whichfhas ever disturbed my brain.
behM gorgeous barbaric palaces set
Tdelightful climes; professions of
hen magnificently apparelled, of
(which the principal figures displayed
Ian amazing profusicn of jewels; vast
heaps of gold coins Of strange mint
age; quaint jars filled with precious
stones which cleaned and sparkled;
and dimly lighted vaults in which
fierce men, bearded and turbanned,
were infiicting horrible indignities on
defenceless women, strangling some
with bows and beheading others with
scimitars. These scenes were pre-
sented to my mind as in phantas-
magoria, the last appearing so intense
ly real in it's horror that l shricked at
beholding it, and rushing at hideous
old Turk, who was firmly grasping
the hair of a kneeling girl while he
swung his scimitar around the bet
ter to strike her neck l awokc, bathcu
in perspiration, and was spared the
sciomachic encounter.
The church clock struck four. AMI
the glow in the Eastern sky was as
yet but feeble. l was intensely re.
lieved to find myself once more in my
usual frame Of mind, amid my usual
surroundings. My terror vanished on
opening my eyes and discovering my
situation; but the dream had made an
impression on my mind so deep that l
could not disengage my thoughts from
1t; neither could in any way account
for it. l had never been subject to
oneirodynia, nor had l recently read
or talked Of oriental magnilicencc and
barbarity. l was powCrless either to
account for the dream or TO dismiss
it from my mind.
After ponderiHg the matter for three
hours or more l arose, and dressing
myself with the same fastidious care
as on the previous day-a habit which
had resolved to Eenceforth cultivate
Il descended into tbs .breakfast-room.
ATxy fnt o,,I s,t,
by the window engaged in earnest
conversation, and old John was busy
at his sideboard. My uncle at once
stepped towards me and seized my
er than I considered necessary or COM
Portable, and having wished me good
morning, informed Inc that had been
the subject of his conversation with
my father.
Il am afraid you find Holdenhurst
a very dull place when you can find
nothing more interesting to talk Of"
I remarked.
mot at ALL not at ALL" said uncle
Sam. Il will tell you all about it be-
fore leave" .
Breakfast is quite ready" said my
father. "and we may as we'll have it
at once, although it wants some min
utes to eight. Mrs. Truman will take
her breakfast in her room."
At this we all three took our seats
at the table.
"Why, Ernest, my boy, what has
become Of your color:' asked uncle
Sam. Yesterday you were a typical
little Englishman, but this morning
you appear as bloodless as q New
York dude"
related my dream. Uncle Sam
laughed immoderately at the recital,
and pushing his chair somewhat furth-
er from the table, swayed himself to
and fro and roared. My fathers face,
too, wore broad smile which merged
into a laugh as proceeded.
did you read the Arabian Nights
just before you went to bedT my
father inquired.
Arabian Nights"" echoed uncle
Sam, interrupting me as l was about
to reply; "why, if he were in London,
should have said that he had been
to the Alhambra, witnessed the ballet,
got drunk. and been locked up for tho
night. Ha, ha! I'd give a thousand
dollars, and sup on pork and cucum-
bers for month, il only might
dream that dream"
1T seems to please you, SAM" said
my father.
1T does. If / had not become an
American, would have exchanged my
nationality for that OF Turkey or Per
sia, my Christianity for Mohammedan-
ism. Boundless liberty and absolute
despotism both appeal to my taste.
Besides, they are not SO different as
some people suppose; extremes meet,
you know. The quasi-libcTty enjoyed,
or the uasi-despotism sunered-eX-
press 1t which way you Will--by Eng
lishmen in England, would be ntolcr-
able to me. By-the-by, I'm not the
first Truman who has renounced his
native nationality, am |, Bob? Didn't
that old ass of an alchemist, who spent
twenty years of his life in trying TO
extract gold from everything that did
not contain it, become Turk?"
"You mean old Roger" said my
father, thoughtfully. "Yes, believe
he did; but he must have reverted to
the nationality of his fathers, If not
to their faith, for he lived many