The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-09-16


a magic circle, out of which l could
not stir; plait his ladder against my
back, as though were cucumber
frame, and mounting upon my shoul-
ders, trowel in hand, would mutter
some cabalistic words, addressed to
surrounding nature, explanatory of my
being sacrificed; at which period /
was wont to be awaked with the chat
tering of my teeth. Once, l remem-
ber throwing myself upon the protec-
ltion of a policeman who happened to
be patrolling the desert for the greater
security of the ostrich-eggs; and he,
instead of taking the Provincial Grand
into custody, pointed to the collar of
his own uniform, upon which, in place
of number was emblazened the fatal
triangle which proclaimed the Peeler to
be Deputy Grand Arch himself. My
state of mind became at length so un-
supportable that l was obliged to take
a friend into my confidence. / did not,
of course, confide to him the secret,
but | told him of the anxiety which
was continually consuming me regard
ing it.
WELL" said Jones, after having list
ened patiently to the sad recital-he
was very well meaning young man,
only rather volatile-"I have plan
which, / think, will benefit you for
your sake although l know the whole
thing is NONSENSE am ready to be-
come free mason myself; then, you
see, you will have a confident being
in whom you may repose your trouble.
We will retire together for an hour or
so every day into some lonely spot
down the well, or up the chimney, or
into the House of Lords while they are
dispatching business and there we
will converse about the secret, if there
be secret, and relieve your mind"
This project transported me with
Joy and gratitude. l made the neces-
sary arrangement with the officials i'm
our lodge for Jones admission, without
of course mentioning my particular
reason for getting it done, and he came
down to my house from London upon
the evening preceding his installation.
| had been useful to Jones more than
once in the way of lending him a little
money when he was therefore not sur
prised when, We were sitting together
after dinner over our wine, he request
ed of me the temporary loan of a ten
pound note.
However, as there was small ac-
count already between lis, moved as
an amendment that the sum should be
decreased by one-half to which, after a
slight discussion, my friend acceded,
and retired to rest apparently satisfied,
with five pound note of mine in his
purse.
We lay in a double bedded room,
for the convenience of conversing upon
my all engrossing topic, and We fell
asleep while talking of it. 1 was
awaked in the morning by the entrance
into the room of my companion, ready
dressed, aud with his hat on, as though
he had been out for an early stroll.
"Why, l never heard you get up, l
must have slept very soundly."
"You did," replied Jones in a SOL
emn and unusual tone: every, very
soundly; and you dreamed, l think ?'
I" L believe you, my boy" cried /,
chuckling with the thoug ght of how
soon such things would be all over
81 just did dream"
"You dreamed of the secret, did YOU
not?" continued he.
"Of course 1 did," said I "I always
do dream of the secret"
Indeed" observed Jones, with an
unpleasant dryness in his manner :;
Sand do you always talk in your sleep?"
felt exactly as if a jug of ice-cold
water had been poured down the nape
of my neck.
! We were both silent for about a
minute, and then Jones quietly re-
marked: "I think you mig ght Just as
well make that five pound tenner, do
you know %
SNAKE it twenty" exclaimed 1 with
eagerness, "oblige me by accepting a
twenty pound Eote."
"Thank you," replied Jones coolly
81 think will. From what you said
last night" added he with grim smile,
81 understood that you had not so
much money in the house."
Then remembered of having made
f use of that little terrible, or delicate
evasion, in order to get rid of his i'm
! portunity upon the previous evening.
BY his reminding me of it thus boldly,
it was evident that 1 must have put
myself into his power indeed.
"Do you know alp" inquired 1
hoarsely.
WE'LL" said he carelessly, "there
is no need for my being masoniied;
know all about the -" He enun-
ciated the awful secret, the mystery of
the ages, the hidden wonder, as though
he were retailing some political title
tattle of the clubs. "You see," he
continued, "you awoke me, and kept
me awake by repeating it so very dis
: tlnctly over and over again, that have
got it without pay. / could not forget
it even if l would. Since you seemed
to be in such admirable case for it. I
could not help trying that experiment
/ with which you are doubtless ac-
t quainted-of interrogating sleeping
person regarding the subject of his
dreams, and your answers were aston.
ishingly clear and pertinent. never
was spectator of anything more inter-
; esting and curious. 1t is positively a
contribution to psychological science.
think, indeed, that | shall publish an
n ~