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VOL. XV.
NEW IJV., TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1881.
NO. 20.
THE TIMES.
Ah Independent Family Newspaper,
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Hon.
The Two Strange Dreams.
ON the morning of August 4th, 18(14,
Col. Hunt was much surprised by a
footman coming in and saying :
" If you please, sir, Simruons wishes
to speak to you."
" By all means," replied the Colonel,
apparently surprised that Blmmons
should make the request through the
medium of the footman. " Tell him to
!ome here an once."
A few moments later came a hesitat
ing knock, and it was not until Colonel
Holt had twice shouted "Come In," that
the door opened to admit the aforesaid
Simmons.
Looking up somewhat Impatiently,
Colonel Holt was struck by the change
in the man's demeanor. No longer the
spruce, erect, middle-aged butler, but
a pallid, trembling man, stood before
him.
" Good heavens I Are you ill Sim
mons "
"No, sir, but I must go away this
very day. You must let me go ; indeed
.you must, sir."
" Certainly, If you wish it; but give
one some reason for this sudden deter
mination. What has happened "
"I can tell you nothing, sir. Let me
0 without question, that is all I ask
of you."
" It is a great deal to ask," said Col.
Holt, more and more surprised ; "and I
atu not sure that I can grant so much.
Come Simmons, tell me honestly what
hag happened. If I can help you "
" Thank you, sir, you can only let me
go."
" Perhaps you are in some money
trouble Speak out frankly if you are."
A faint flush came upon the man's face;
he hesitated.
" Money, sir, has nothing to do with
-my trouble," he replied, "but it is not
my reason for wishing to go away.
Have pity on me, I implore you ; let me
.go. I must, whether you consent or
not." And a look of the utmost misery
crossed the man's face.
" Well, well," said his easy-going
master, "how long do you want to be
way for a time only or do you want
to leave altogether "
" If you are kind enough to let me
' return, sir, I can do so safely by the
twentieth of this month."
"Safely," muttered Colonel Holt;
"what does the fellow mean" Then
Aloud; "And who is to fill your place;
you know we have visitors coming to
day, and"
Again that haggard look of terror
came Into Simmons' face as he ventured
to interrupt his master.
" Yes, sir, I have thought of that,
nd I have a brother staying in the
village who is butler to Sir Henry Cur
tis, at Beauchamp Park. The family
are abroad, and be has a month's holi
day, and will gladly take my place while
I am absent. I am sure he will do his
best to please you, sir."
There being nothing further to settle,
ibis master dismissed Simmons. For a
few minutes Colonel Holt pondered over
the matter and the man's strange man
ner, then muttering something to the
-effect that servants' ways are past find
ing out, he dismissed the subject from
his thoughts and became engrossed in
business letters of importance.
At luncheon, much to Mrs. Holt's
amazement, a strange servant was in
attendance. "Where is Simmons "
he asked. , ,
" Oh," exclaimed Colonel Holt, sud
denly remembering he bad not enlight
ened his wife, "this is Simmons' brother
who lias'taken his place for a week or
two. I have been so busy I forgot to
tell you."
Mrs. Holt asked uo further questions
till the man had left the room. Then
she said : " My dear, when you allowed
Simmons to leave, did you remember
that Mrs. Perceval and Eflle were com
lug to-day, and that we have a diuner
party to-morrow "
" Yes, I did not forget, but the man
would go. I could get nothing out of
the fellow, except that he must go this
very day, and would return by the
twentieth."
"But what reason did he give for
such extraordinary conduct "
"None whatever. He looked misera
bly ill and changed, as pale as a ghost.
I never saw such a scared object in my
life."
" Do you think he has been drink
ing?" " Oh, no, he was as sober as a judge.
Never mind, his brother will do very
well, no doubt ; he's butler at Beau
champ, and looks a decent sort of fellow.
By-the-by, what time is the carriage to
be at the station to meet the Perce
vals" Before Mrs. Holt could reply, Sim
mons No. 2 appeared, bearing a tele
gram. " This has just arrived, madam."
"A telegram I Some change of plans,
I suppose, on the part of the Percevals,"
said Mrs. Holt, opening the envelope
quickly. "Oh, how tiresome 1 Listen:
'So sorry we cannot come. Ellle has
one of her nervous attacks. Will write
all particulars.' "
" Well, that's no end of a bore. Plague
take these girls with their nervous
attacks I Here we've the nuisance of a
dinner-party of natives to-morrow all to
no purpose."
" They must have been asked some
time or other, my dear," said Mrs. Holt
mildly; "but it's very provoking, I
own."
"And so Miss Eflle and her wonderful
diamonds are not forthcoming," said
her husband, getting up and lighting a
cigar. "Well, I'm off. I think I'll
take the dog-cart and drive to the
station. No doubt there will be fish
and other things to be fetched." And
Colonel Holt sauntered out.
On his return, to his great surprise,
Simmons himself met him at the hall
door. "You back again What docs
this mean "
The man looked confused, stammer
ing out, " I I thought better of it, Blr,
and and I hope you will forget what
has passed."
" You are determined to puzzle me
to-day, Simmons. Do you think yau
are quite right in your head Have
you no explanation to give of your
strauge conduct "
" None, sir," was the answer, in low
tones.
" Now, what on earth would be the
proper thing to do, I wonder " thought
Colonel Holt. "Oh, If I didn't hate
trouble so much, and the weather were
not so hot! As it Is, 'masterly inactivity'
must gain the day." And without
another look at the delinquent, he made
the best of his way upstairs.
On this very morning, August 4th,
18C4, Mrs. Perceval, as she pushed her
chair back from the breakfast table,
said : .
" What can make Eflle so late this
very morning of all others, when there
is so much to be done before we start."
" What was the row with Eflle in the
night, mother " asked James, a boy of
fourteen, who at the moment was con.
veying a large piece of bread and jam to
his mouth.
" With Eflle," asked his mother.
" What do you mean, Jem "
"All I know Is, I heard a scream In
the night," replied Jem ; "and imagined,
it came from Effle'a room opposite. But
I was awfully sleepy, and the next
moment I was off again, and forgot ail
about it till just now."
Mrs. Perceval hasteued up to her
daughter's room. To her great dismay,'
Eflie was sitting on the edge of the bed
in a half fainting condition, only partly
dressed.
" My darling, are you 111 What is
it " asked her mother.
"Oh, mother, mother," moaned the
girl, clinging to her, "don't go away,
was all poor Eflle could say.
" Leave you, my child ; of course not.
But why did'nt you send for me I
had no idea you were ill."
" I did not want to frighten you, and
so I tried to get up and dress, and then
this horrible falntness came over me,
and I could not get to the bell. Oil,
ruamuia, I have had such a terrible
night."
" My darling 1 Then it was you Jem
heard scream "
"He must have heard me, but he
didn't come, no one come; and ob, it
was so terrible. I shall never, never
forget it," and site trembled like an
uspen leaf.
" One thing is clear," said Mrs. Per.
ceval, "we cannot go to the Holts to
day." " No, no," said Eflle, " I can go ou no
visits; but I must get away from here,
from this room, from this bed," she
added with a shudder.
" We will go anywhere you like, dar
ling," said her mother, soothingly.
" Only try to be calm now, and tell me
what has upset you so dreadfully."
It was some time before the girl was
sufllcieutly collected to satisfy her moth
er's anxiety and curiosity, but at length
with many breaks and halting sentences
Bhe spoke much as follows :
"I went to bed, as you know, per
fectly well and looking forward to our
visit to the Holts, and I soon fell asleep.
About one o'clock, I fancy it must have
beeu, I awoke with a feeling of the most
frightful depression, just as if I were
doomed to death. I tried to call out,
and to sit up in bed, but a heavy weight
seemed on me, and I could only lie still
and gasp. Then I felt myself sinking
into a sort of stupor. I knew I was not
awake, and yet I was not asleep. Fear
ful shapes and forms Hit ted before my
'eyes, until at length they seemed to
merge Into the form of a man, with
huge, prominent eyes, who stooped over
me, and slowly waved a large knife In
front of my face. I tried to scream, but
felt that it was only inwardly, and that
uo sound escaped my lips. Again this
terrible form bent over me, gradually
fading away, only to return a third
time with a still fiercer look in his eyes.
Making a superhuman effort, my voice
at last broke its bounds, and with a
ringing scream I woke, and sprang out
of bed. There was no one to be seen,
my door was still locked ; no one could
have come In ; it must then have been a
dream, I thought, and at last, shivering
and shaking, I crept into bed again, but
could not go to sleep. Oh, I did so long
for you, mother, and yet I was too
frightened to come to you."
" My poor child," cried Mrs. Perce
val soothingly. " It was indeed a dread
ful dream."
" But, was it only a dream" sighed
Eflle ; "it seemed so much more and
that face, shall I ever forget it "
"Only a dream, darling. Something
had upset your nerves. Now, try and
shake oft the remembrance of it. Come
down stairs, and, after breakfast, we
will settle where we will go. I think
the Lakeside will be best, but you shall
decide."
Mrs. Perceval treated the matter light
ly. Eflie always had been highly
nervous, and this was only a bed attack
of nightmare. It was, however, some
time before the girl took the same view,
as her mother ; and, although the change
to the seaside braced her nerves, and did
her very much good, it was far
from belug a complete cure. At times,
the remembrance of the face she had
seen would return and cauae her hours
of torture; Mrs. Perceval, like a wise
woman, had kept her own counsel con
cerning the dream, or vision, whichever
it was, so that it had not become an
eight-day wonder in the household.' She
rarely allowed Ellle to dwell upon it to
her, aud when, a year later, a new
interest sprang up in the girl's life, she
rejoiced, feeling sure the ghost would
now be laid forever. For Eflle was
engaged to be married, and two honest
brown eyes now haunted her waking' as
well as sleeping moments, and a sense
of peace and security hedged her round.
To Launce Spencer she had, of course,
told the tale, and Launce had petted and
soothed her, and made nothing of it;'
and with her hand in his, and her head
on her shoulder, Bhe could feel no fear.
It was once more the beginning of
August, when, one bright morning,
Lauuce unexpectedly received a sum-
mons to join his regiment; a court
martial, or some duty equally Important
required his presence. Poor Eflle wan
dered about the house like an unquiet
spirit after his departure. At length, a
bright thought struck her.
" Mother, this would be the very time
for my visit to the Holts. Let me send
a telegram to say I will arrive to-morrow.
They have always begged me to
come at a moment's notice, and I, may
not be able to go later on."
" But they have people staying
wlth
them," objected Mrs. Perceval.
" Never mind ; they will put me
up
somehow. Do let me go."
" Very well, dear," agreed her mother,
rather reluctantly ; to oppose any wish
of Eflle's was an impossibility to her.
" You must take Susan with you."
"Oh, yes; aud my diamonds," laugh
ed Eflle. " Do you remember I was to
have taken them last year to show Mrs.
Holt She was so envious at my good
luck iu having them left to me ; ' a chit
like you,' I remember she said."
Mrs. Perceval rejoiced to find that all
remembrance of the shock her daughter
had sustained a year ago seemed blotted
out of her mind. No painful thoughts
appeared to linger of that interrupted
visit to the Priory.
"Well, Eflle, send off' your telegram,
then ; but you need not say your dia
monds will accompany you," Bhe added
laughiDg.
Eflle flew up to the little village post
office, and dashed off the following mes
sage :
" I am coming to morrow for a few
days, unless you telegram back to the
contrary."
In the evening, Mrs. Perceval inquir
ed If she had received an answer.
"Oh, no; I told them not to answer
unless they could not have me."
" Still I wonder you have not heard,"
returned her mother; but Eflle was
quite sure It was all right, so no more
was said.
Next morning she was up early, put
ting the finishing strokes to her pack
ing, laughing and singing, apparently
iu the highest Bplrlts. " Good-by, dar
ling mother. I shall write to you to
morrow. Isn't It odd It was this
very day, August fourth, that we were
to have gone to the Holts last year."
Still no painful reminiscences on the
subject. Her mother kissed and blessed
her, preached care and caution, and so
they parted.
On arriving at X station, Ellle
was somewhat surprised to find that no
vehicle awaited her from the Priory ;
however, as she was able to procure a
fly without any difficulty, the omission
was of little consequence. It so hap
pened she had never visited the Holts
before, great friends though they were.
They had met abroad and at the houses
of common friends, but something had
always come In the way of a visit to the
Priory, and Eflle could scarcely believe
she was really ou her way thither. As
the fly drove up to the door of the old
house, she saw Mrs. Holt in the garden,
and putting out her head, nodded and
smiled gaily. Up ran her hostess, ex
claiming, "Eflle, my dear child, what a
delightful surprise! Why didn't you
let us know you were coming "
"Surely you received my telegram
yesterday "
"No; did you send one Oh, that
dreadful boy et the post office. He really
must be got rid of. This is the third
telegram he has lost In a month care
less, good-for-nothing young rascal.
Never mind about that now, however.
How delightful to think you really are
here at last."
" But is It convenient Are you sure
you can put me up " asked Effle.
"Oh, I forgot! every room is full,"
cried her friend, stopping short in dis
may as she was hurrying her 13 to the
house. " But I can manage ; you won't
mind. Oh yes, I know ; that will do
nicely. There's Fred ; he will be sur
prised. Do you know who this is"
she called out to her husband, who was
coming down stairs.
"Eflie Perceval. Can I believe my
eyes"
" Yes; and she telegraphed yesterday
to Bay she was coming, and that horrible
boy must have lost the message. Fred,
you must have him sent away."
While Eflle was lunching, Colonel
Holt ran over the names of those who
were staying in the house, and of those
of the neighbors who were coming to
dinner.
" I hope you have brought a smart
dress, young lady, and all your dia
monds, for there is to be a perfect in
vasion of natives."
"Oh, I think I shall do," laughed
Eflle, "though I was not prepared for
such a festivity."
"They don't happen often, thank
goodness; why, now I think of It, you
left us in the lurch on the last grand
occasion ; this very day, last year, by
Jove, so It was."
"Yes. Oh, we won't talk of that,"
said Effle, shuddering and turning pale.
She was relieved by the ea trance of
Mrs. Holt, who offered to take her to
her room.
" I have done the best, I can, dear;
ordered my den to be turned Into a bed
room for you. There was literally no
other room available. There is -only one
drawback; it is at the end of a long
passage, has no lock to the door, and is
not very near any other room."
" It will do beautifully, I am sure,"
cried Effle, vexed at the trouble she was
giving, and feeling she could not id
reason make any objections, though the
idea of an isolated room did not strike
her pleasantly.
" That is my husband's dressing
room," said Mrs. Holt, as they passed
an open door. " Now turn to the right
and at the end of this passage is your '
room. I chose it for my den on account
of its inaccessibility."
When reached It looked such a cheer
ful, bright little room, with the after
noon sun streaming into It that Effle
was charmed. "If I feel lonely I can
keep Susan with me," Bhe thought.
Now I shall leave you to rest," said
Mrs. Holt. " If you could get a little
nap before dinner, you would be all the
better for It."
"I must write to mamma and Launce,
that will be better than sleeping, and
will refresh me quite as much. What
time do you dine 7:30 Very well;
good-by till then."
" I really believe Simmons is wrong
in his head," said Colonel Holt to his
wife as he came Into her room half an
hour before dinner. t
" What has he done now, then "
" The fellow's manner is so odd I
can't understand him. As soon as you
had taken Effle up to her room I sent
for him to say an extra plate must be
laid at the dinner table, and stated the
reason. He didn't make any answer,
and looking up I. saw he was white as
death and shaking all over; then he
began a stammering request to be allow
ed to go away, he was not well, and bo
on. However, I cut him short, and
told him if he wanted to go he must
wait till to-morrow, and that then, if go
he would, it must be for good ; but that,
of course, he must stop and do his work
to-night. With that I left him, and
just now I saw him at work in the
dining-room, so I euppose he has re
covered his senses."
" How very strange his conduct is,"
said Mrs. Holt. " It is exactly a year
ago to-day since his last vagary."
Contrary to her wont, Mrs. Holt felt
somewhat of an anxious hostess as she
greeted her guests that evening, but she
was reassured by Simmons' manner,
which was as composed as usual. Effle,
obeyed her natural instincts, was late,
and reaching the drawing-room after
dinner had been announced, fell to the
lot of a shy, red-haired youth, who took
her in in solemn silence, apparently
abashed by the radiance of her dia
monds. It was a pleasant, social dinner
enough, and all went well, to Mrs.
Holt's secret relief, She gave a sigh of
satisfaction on reaching the drawing
room, feeling now that all danger was
over. Never had Effle been brighter or
merrier. As soon as the men came up,
Mrs. Holt persuaded her to sing. She
had a lovely voice, bu c was usually too
shy and nervous to perform before
strangers. However, to-night she seem
ed a different creature, and not a little
to her own surprise felt every inclina
tion to comply with the request. Every
one was enchanted, and she was besieg
ed for another Bong.
"You must have some coffee first,"
said Colonel Holt, beckoning to Sim
mons to bring it.
"Iam better without coffee," said
Eflle, looking up to decline it, when her
eyes suddenly met those of Simmons,