The Argosy — page 318: what you’re looking at

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

Two Dreams. 299. tray in front of her. A violent fit of shivering took possession of her as with fixed eyes she watched him leave the room ; then, with a piercing scream, she started up, and, catching hold of Colonel Holt’s arm, cried, ‘‘Save me, save me!” and fell back fainting into his arms. ‘The usual confusion consequent on such an event ensued. ‘She must have air and quiet,” said Colonel Holt ; and begging his wife would summon Susan, he carried the girl out of the room into his study, where in time she recovered. ‘“‘Oh! that face, the awful face of my dream !” she moaned, pressing her hands to her head. “My dear child, what has distressed you? ‘Tell me what has made you 11l,” asked Colonel Holt. Huis wife had by this time returned to the drawing-room, leaving her husband and Susan with Effie. ‘Those dreadful eyes, that face,” was all she would say for some time. “To you know what she means?” Colonel Holt asked Susan, who shook her head, and, in a whisper, expressed a hurried opinion that Miss Effie’s nerves were often like this, and that most likely she meant nothing. “Perhaps she will tell me if we are alone,” thought Colonel Holt, and he made a sign to Susan to leave the room. ‘Now, dear, try and tell me what has frightened you; and who it is has such dreadful eyes; or would you rather tell Agnes? If so, I will fetch her.” ‘No, no,” said Effie, clinging to him; “I will tell you; it will be better; but it makes me shudder so to speak of it.” Colonel Holt soothed her as best he could, and at length she managed to tell him of her dream of a year ago. ‘‘And oh!” she cried, “that man who brought the coffee to me had the same face as the man in my dream, and when I looked up his dreadful eyes were looking at me in the same murderous way as In my dream.” “That man? Do you mean Simmons, my butler?” asked Colonel Holt, laughing, trying to reassure her. ‘‘ Fancy turning old Simmons into a villain of romance! Why, he has been with me for years, and is as steady as old Time. You are tired and over-excited this even ing, Effie, and your imagination has run away with you. ‘That is all, believe me.” He rang the bell and summoned Susan, who persuaded Effie to go to her room. Colonel Holt then returned to the drawing-room. His guests were departing, and very soon he and his wife were left to themselves. ‘“‘T must go to that poor child,” said Mrs. Holt. ‘ What could have brought on such an attack ?” ‘““OQh, scme nonsense about a dream. I wouldn’t tease her with questions to-night. Give her a soothing draught, and let her go to bed; and ask her maid to sit with her till she falls asleep.” Left alone, Colonel Holt rang the bell, desired Simmons to put out COMIC OOO SS (CO) :