The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-09-28
Murder by Mistake.

| NAVEucE ny NhAStakG.
The following homcly but interest
ing narrative is related in one of the
English magazines. 1t proves that
dreams are not always to be disrc.
garded, and shows that there is some.
times remarkably strong sympathet-
ic connection between ones sleeping
ideas and wakeful motives of Others:
"Five and twenty years ago, rs
was returning home one evening from
st. Cere, was overtaken by storm
| was on horseback; and my horse,
alarmed at the hail and lightning, be-
came rcstiye, and refused to go step
i'll advance. dismounted, and taking
the reins, attempted to urge him for
ward, when fortunately | perceived
lights ahead. proceeded towards
them, and ut length reached a n,isera-
bic howell. Upon raising the latch,
discovered man and woman covering
over wretched fire. cmployc in weav.
ing baskets Good evening to you,
my friends said in the dinlect of the
country; 'but sorry weather this The
worthy denizens of the hut cast on me
looks any thing but gracious; howev-
or, that caused me but little conccrn.-
| asked them to make room by their
fire, assuring them | was willing to
meet any expense | might incur, and
proceed to throw q heap of iaggots on
the elnbers without the slightest ccrc.
mony. DO you take us for innkecp-
ers 2 inquired the female, in shrill
angry tone. took out my purse and
gave her five franc piece.
';The sight of the coin modified her
at once. 'Ah = said the horrid old
witch, 81 see you are good gentleman.
and kind and she resumed her task,
The storm however, ragged with una.
ba,cd violence. The gale threatened
to carry away the hovcl, and my horse
stood neighing and paving the ground
under the shed where had fastened
| him. twas idle to thiuk ofventuring
forth, set Icould scarcely reckon upon
finding a sleeping apartment in That
miserabIcabode
| "Well, sir" said the woman, Sit
would be n sad thing % 60 beyond the
doors suctf IL night as tllis. Y 8 tare
but poor folks, and haze no bed worthy
for such fine gentleman; but if you
don't mind going up there, pointing
to ladder and kind of garrett at
any rate you will be able to keep
yourself dry
| Somehow the woman's looks did
not please ME at all. However, there
was no hel for il, besides was fresh
from the army, and no mlksop; and so
| climbed up accordingly, and gained
my loft forthwith. | then stretched
my cloak across the worm eaten boards
that composed the floor, and inspite of
storm and wind, was soon fast asleep.
"Strange enough, but had scarce
fallen asleep, wheen must needs set
to dreaming, Imagined myself snugly
seated with the girl of my heart at my
side, when on sudden perceived
surging high above her head face
most grizzly to behold. 1t was the
. same that graccd my gentle hostess of
the hovel. She had hatchet in her
hand, and made rs though To strike
me. strove to rise and take flight,
but in vain-my limbs refused their
Office. On my examining them more
closely, | discovered they were severed
ut the joint. The change thus sudden
ly wrought in them had the effect of
arousing me from my slumber, and
dispelling the fearful vision. At any
rate, wake up | did, and found myself
still in the garret, with my head pill
lowed ON my cloak. | bent my head
to listen If | could hear aught, bat save
the howling Of the storm, all was silent.
Somehow or other, could not rid my
self ofthe painful impression occasiohed
by my dream. 1t struck me to indulge
i'll peep through one of the many
chinks of rotten, wormcatcn boards.
and accordingly | proceeded TO take
an observation Of things that might be
passing below. The man and his
wife were still bending ovor the fire,
but they had discontinued their work
and were conversing in low whispers.
81 tell you, there's more coin in chat
purse than you could earn during the
rest of your lifetime said the female.
"WclI, what then? Why, take it,
to be sure! Catch tight hold of his
legs, and mind the rest of him follows
them; then pitch him down the hole,
and leave tho rest for me- showing a
mason's mallet in her hand.
"Wo'll lay him down somewhere on
the road, and folks will think that he
was killed by fall from his horse and
as she spoke she extinguished sor,
of nondescript lamp used by the peas.
antry i'll those parts.
The fire was long since out, SO
could see nothing. They continued ia
whisper, but it such low tones as to be
utterly inaudible. | trust am not q
greater coward than my neighbors;
still own felt very much the reverse
of comfortable, for be it remembered
that | had not single offensive weap.
on about me. For moment con
sidered the notion ofjumping down the
trap door, aud clearing. the ladder m A