Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-09-23

Tor near upon Q year, the man who was
then my mate in the lighthouse, died;
and, mainly through my fathers recon
mendation, the Italian was appointed
to be my Companion in his place. I was
pleased that the poor fellow was thus pro.
yided for but yet | had rather that he had
been given any other post than that; not
from any assignable cause, or Of course
this could have been prevented; but from
a vague uncomfortable feeling that | had
always had in connection with him, such
as | should not have dreampt of mention
ing to his prejudice. Ibid not mention
1T, | am perfectly certain. even to my
mother.
When / found myself in the narrow
lighthouse, alone with this man upon the
waste OF waters, this a~ntipathy increased.
| could not meet him on the winding
stairs without a shudder [ loathed
his company in that little sitting room
upon the lower story, which when my old
mate was with me had seemed as comfor
table a parlor as need to be, and when |
was at work in the lantern, / was forever
thinking, what is he doing below there
and whereabouts shall | find him when |
descend? | do not think that | was
afraid Of him, then. Time was, when
had not quailed from a death-struggle
with a far more powerful man than he,
and had come off victor but still | did
not fancy taking my rest in the snng lit
tie bed chamber as Of old, knowing that
this man was awake, and watching,
all the night long.
Still, beyond being reserved and tact
turn, and having this something repeIiant
about him which / cannot explain, there
was nothing evil to be said against the
poor Italian foreigner and | was ashamed
OF myself whenever | reasoned about the
matter, for feeling as | did,
On the night of this day, twelve years
tago. the sixteenth of August 1871, my
father was off duty at home and while he
lay in his bed, combating with a certain
Idea, which Swallowed his mind like q
nightmare, my mother shook him in pite-
Gus terror.
Husband, cried she. Husband, I
bad a fearsome dream, and it seems so
like the truth that / am miserable
Wake, wake! | do believe our George
is being murdered by the Italian man /
Great Heavens !" cried my father
Why was awake, just now, by that
very dream, and cannot shake it off my
mind, do what | will. But it must be
only fancy i consider how full the poor
fellow has always shown himself to be of
gratitude to US all, and what could he
get by the murder Of our George ~
George keeps all his savings in his
room at the light house." returned my
mother, sobbing. cannot help
Hark ibid you hear that scream ?"
Two or three shrieks rang through the
house as she spoke and my sister Mary
with her hair ~disheyelled, and in her
night dress rushed into the room.
"Oh mother | father r. cried she L shant
stay any longer by myself (; | haye dream.
ed a dream that haunts me whenever l
shut my eyes. When | to my room, just
now, come to you | thought tae Italian
was at my very heels, who seemed before,
in my sleep to be numbering Georgey.-
He has murdered brother George, | do
believe"
You dreampt that ?" exclaimed her
parents.
Yes said she. i dreampt that he
cut my brothers throat in the light house. ;
My father rose III haste, dressed him.
self, and started at once, for the fishing
village over against the rock, which was
my lonely dwelling place. 1t was a ten
mile walk, and when he had been about
two ho,,ro mon HE ,uav ond 81 uroC fvo
o'clock, he mel me coming %homeward,
with a distressed and unwonted look
Little did | understand why he wrung my
hand, and welcomed me so heartily, with
out even asking how it was that / came
to be upon the chalk. downlands, there,
at suoh an hour. instead of at your post.
| had tale to tell him, which / was, by
that time, ashamed to relate !; although
| had started on the way expressly to do
so.
Father said |. Il have done a
foolish, cruel, cowardly thing
George he replied forgive you
tell it to me. | am too glad to find you
alive and we'll for reproach say on.
have quarrelled, farther, with the
poor foreigner, although he has not de.
served it. have given him fair warn
ing that l will not be his mate in the
light house any longer"
THANK Heaven T. cried the old man.
Nay" said !, surprised enough, but
it was q hard thing to do, since had
nothing whatever to justify it except a
dream"
"A dream r exclaimed my father with
a look of terror. What! another
dream? Did you dream that he was 60
ing to murder you, lad?
Yes, father. Dreampt that dream
two hours ago and ever now, in the
broad daylight, feel that | could not
venture to sleep another night apon the
rock, with that man only as nay compan-
ion,
Heaven forbid you should, responded
led my father, solemnly.