The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-02-23

piece of plank, across 1t lay the uncorded
timbers Of bedstead, from which de-
pended stout rope, that reached almost
to the floor below.
Thoroughly alarmed by the literal and
utterly unexplained verifcation of his
dream, Mr.. Saunders returned to his
own room, dressed himself in great haste
and with his saddle bags thrown over his
arm, stepped ont upon the platform at
the head of the stair steps. His inten-
tion, was to leave the tavern, and, if
possible get lodgings for the night at q
respectable looking house he had passed
on the outskirts of the village. The
next morning he could send for his horse
and pay his bill by messenger, and thus
avoid explanations which might prove
unpleasant both to the landlord and to
himself.
The shadow of large tree, which
stood few yards distant from the end of
the building, fel! upon the platform, and
nearly half Of the stair steps. A brilliant
moonlight rested on the yard and all
other objects on that side of the tav-
ern.
| Just as Mr.. Saunders stepped out on
the platform, he saw man come round
the corner of the house. He had large
butchers knife in his right hand and
looked wistfully around him as he ad-
vanced. AS soon as he came to the bot
tom step, he began to ascend the stairs
with slow and silent tread. In ap-
peArance, movement and weapon, he was
the exact counterpart of the image seen
by Mr.. Saunders in his dream.
/ What was the traveller to do, unarmed
as he was, to escape the menacing peril?
He fel: glued to the spot upon which he
stood by the very imminence of the dan
ger which apparently confronted him.
The leap from the platform to the earth
would imperil both life and limb A
face to face encounter with an armed
man, could only end in his being desper-
ately wounded or Immediately killed.
Nor was there even time to escape
through the room with the hole in the
floor, for the desperate had already
mounted to the highest illuminated step,
and was only few feet distant from Mr..
Saunders. a .
/ Summoning all the the resolution he
could command, he cried OUT
"Who comes there?"
Startled by the voice, the man threw
up his face, and Mr.. Saunders at once
recognized him as the landlord of the
inn. Without saying word, he turned
almost ran down the steps, to the house
on the outskirts of the village, where Of
ter some entreaty, he procured lodging
for the night. ,si .q-
/ Early the next morning, he sent a mes.
senger for the horse, with money to pay
his bill. He made no mention of the
occurrence of the previous night, and, as
| |soon as his horse was brought mounted
him and resumed his journey. 81
> Some years afterwards, he met his for
mer host, face to face, upon one of thu
streets of Columbus, Ga. They immed'
lately recognized each other, but in {
moment the quandam landlord threw
down his eyes. seemed much abashed
/. and hurried quickly by without saying I
word. a, .oFr ;,,l47 a.....l ,.7' .-fas s.r~ =
= WAS q murder really meditated in thi
j case? and was the dream which aroused
q the Intended victim veritable premoni
! ton sent to rescue him from impending
. death! These are questions which tn
= writer viii not undertake to answer. H
' can vouch however, for the literal trut
Of the facts herein related. They wer
. communicated to him by the Rev. r. N
3 Saunders, Of Alabama, son of the gentle
a man to whom, the monitory dream wa
vouchsafed. b t2oio'o ~ 10 s1u2f eli r,aaj