The Argosy — page 336: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Dream from Heaven. 315 ‘“ Margaret! Margaret !” he hoarsely gasped, ‘‘ which is reality? Am I here by your side, a living man ?”’ “T don’t know what can have been the matter with you,” she an- swered. ‘‘ You fell asleep soon after drinking the brandy-and-water, and I think you must have had a troubled dream—a nightmare. You have been so much disturbed in it; and you woke ,with a positive scream.” He shook and shivered still, staring in affright. Not yet could he take in the mercy which had been vouchsafed him. “Adam, look here. I took up your handkerchief to throw over your head, and there lay your razor. What did you bring it down for?” ** Margaret, that razor ” He looked at her, and stopped for utter- ance. ‘The truth flashed on her mind, and she cried out with a wild cry, as she threw herself on her knees before him. “Oh, Adam! what frightful project is this? We have borne much, we can bear more, we will bear all. JZ can, whilst you are left to me.” He was now weeping tears of relieved agony, thankful for the dread- ful vision which had saved him. | “You have destroyed my peace of mind,” she wailed. ‘‘ With this fear hanging over me, I shall never know another moment’s rest.” ‘Twas about to destroy myself, Margaret; I avow it now. And God has saved me by a dream—nay, a vision. I thought I had done it ; and the horrors ” He stopped, and shivered again. She clasped him tightly. Tell it me, Adam.” “‘T cannot tell ityou. No human words could convey an impression of its features. But it has saved my soul.” | ‘You will bear all in future, as you have done, without a thought of lifting your hand against yourself?” she implored. ‘‘ You promise me?” ‘“ Ay, Margaret ; bear all and welcome all. No matter what it may be, it will be to me like Heaven, after,what I have escaped from. How long did I sleep 2?” ** Half an hour.” 4 “ But half an hour!” he echoed. “All that dread horror in half an hour !” “Adam,” she said, in a low voice, ‘‘this must have been a fearful dream.” “Ay. Although it came from God.” It was close upon ten, when they heard a knock at the street door. Mrs. Grainger rose to open it. She came back, looking scared. “Oh, Adam ! the words I spoke in jest have turned out true. The man has come for the brandy. It was brought here ina mistake. He says a family of the name of Grainger, friends of his master’s, have COnniclooolkKks mM