WAS IT A DREAM ?

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2875, 16 December 1890, Page 4

WAS IT A DREAM ?

I was the victim of the Brazilian fover, and everyone had given me up. I heard the priest say at my bedside that i would not live until morning. I was sinking into a heavy stupor, when the door opened and a golcJenhaired women in a white gown glided in. She; carried in her hand a curious poreelia bowl of water. " Drink," she said in a sweet voice, holding it to my lips. " Tlu: doctor forbids it," I murmured. " Are you thirsty she asked. "'[am parched and burning with thirst.,' 1 answered. " Drink and fear nothing, she said. I obeyed and drained the vessel she held towards me. " Good night and sweet dreams, she added, and glided away as mysteriously as she entered. The next morning I awoke refreshed and invigorated. I asked to see the young lady who had waited upon me in the night, but they smiled and said it was a delirious dream. In time I recovered my health and returned to Virginia, It was ten years after this illness that, in riding pasta fine old country house, I saw a lady walk down the path who paused to pick a rose. Iter figure was tall, her hair golden, her eyes black. Her motions were graceful. With a little exclamtion of astonishment, I regognised the lady oE my dream, if dream it were. She looked a little, older—nay, a good ten years older—but was otherwise unaltered.

I know not in what words I communicated this fact to my friend, but I know I ended by saying—

I; I must speak to her. She will remember."

My friend uttered an imperative negative.

" She would think you a madman,'' ho said. " Cotiiu on. You may got yourself shot for staring at another man's wife. They do such things prompt at the South. I will find out who she is if you like." I assented eagerly. We rode on. " Talk to tue as much as you like," he said, " but never expose yourself to strangers. It is possible this lady was in Brazil in 18— and brought you something to drink when you were left alone. In that case a doubt that troubles you will be satisfied. You can, with all propriety, call on her and thank her." But, though lie spoke in this way, I knew he did not imagine it would 1)0 so. That evening wo smoked our cigars in Colonel L 's company, and our friend diplomatically introduced tho subject. " That beautiful house with the largo garden," ho said, " is quite a feature of the place. Who owns it?'' '• A lone woman, widow of Mr V said the colonel. ■' She was a bollo in her girlhood. She might still be one if she chose." " Perl taps wo saw her iu the garden," said my friend, begining with a minute description. "Exactly. It was no one else." said the colonel. My friend paused a moment and theu said— " She reminded B. of some one lie met in Brazil. In fact he almost bolievodhcr the same person."

fi No, no," said tho old colonel. " Mrs V. lias never left VirginiaWe huve known the family since she was two years old. It is only tho other day that we spoke of that, and site lamented that she had not travelled more."

I felt a pang of disappointment, but found courage to say, " I should greatly liko to be introduced to hev."

The old colonel instantly oft'oved to introduce me.

" But, remember," said my friend as we parted, '• never teil her of your fancy. It would spoil your i; hances with her, and I see it is a case of love at first sight."

He was right, and J was very fortunate—very happy. I won this beautiful woman's heart.

Her fortuno I did not want, but it was large. I had sullieient means, and could not be suspected of mercenary motives. \Ve were married after u long and ardent wooing on my part. She loved me, but a second marriage seemed wrong to her, and it was not until sin; realised that she had irretrievably given me her heart that she would give mo Iter hand.

Neither of us had ever visited Europe. We decided to cross the ocean during our honeymoon. Before we went she showed me her beautiful home and all her possessions. Among them was a store of old china.

Suddenly she turned to the shelves of her beautiful cabinet and took down a china bowl—transparent, covered with llowers and liuttcrllies of quaint conventional form.

As she held it towards hk; I saw the long, low hung, whitewashed lh'aziliau room, tin: crowd of iii<*i t playing cards at an improvised table, tlu; liguro of the woman advancing towards me. It was her attitude that 11.y wife had assumed. L uttered a cry. " Arr von thirsty'.' si its fluked. is I rue. then'!" I cried. i'uii are I lie woman who saved niv lit'e, tolling Hie t'i drink front that howl when 1 lay perishing of fever in Brazil. She. began to < reH'.ble. Sotting the !>owl aside, sin; threw herself into my arms. " I ,ong age,' ?dje panted—'tell years ago—L thought I held tlia bowl in my hand and bade someone drink from it. It was night. I do not know whether 1 dreamt or whether I was mad. In the dead of night I thought a voice called to mo—"Save tins man who is set apart for yon." Thou I arose and nsked--" flow There is on our ph .itatiou r. spring, the -rater of

which is almost magical in its power to cure fever. 1 dreamt or thought that-, some unseen power led me to this spring. I curried this bowl in my hand. I liiled it. Then I siood it in a strange room, long, low, white; and you —you lay 011 a pallet hot with fever. And I said—" Are you thirsty F and gave you to drink. The next morning I could have thought it was all a dream, hut that the howl, still wet, stood at my bedside. Now I have told you this, do you think me mad or superstitious 1 I have longed to tell you, but I dared not." But I alsm had my tale to tell — the one I have told you. We ask each other often—" What was it? What did I mean ? How is it to be explained ? But no answer comes to us. Whatever it may have been, it brought us together, and I bless it from my soul, for we are as happy as few lovers are, my darling wife and I.