Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-04-29
MISCELLANY Y
pren0nitien.

VI AidDWiiid WAS cOulpdlallNt WautIIFeS,
a gentleman BY the name Of Sauhd rs
came fiom neishborns state into one Of
ills eastern counties in quest Of place of
settlement. He was well dressed and we'll
mounted, and travelled alone.
AT the cI Sc of a fdigling days ride,
he stopped at a house of entertainment
which was the nucleus or central ONT of
a >traagli"g backwoods village, containing
some fifteen or tN ehty inhabitants. The
host was a grim. sour vi>aged man, with
sinister locking yes, which twinkltd hike
burning points beneath the heavy fringe
of The prom nrnt eyebl ows. The tavern
buildings seemed 10 have been left in an
unfinished condition by the workmel, and
looked ruinous and old for want Of rpairs.
On entering the bar-room, which was a
diney, half-hghtcd apartment, Mr.. Saun. 4
ders 'oumd few men, very ordinary in
both dress and appearance, engaged in re-
failing to cash other the gossip ~ d news
of the nrigLLorhood. He seated himself
in their midst, and awaited in silence the
announcement Of supper.
Alter eating a hrarty meal, feeling both
fatigued and drowsy, he requested 10 be
ing lamp in ore hand and the saddlebags
Of the traveller in the other. went out of
the har-room into the yard, requesting Mr..
Saunders 10 follow him.
At the extreme end of the tavern build.
ings le aScended fight of rude steps TO
an upper story. Entering narrow dark
passage, MIR. Saunders was shown INFO
small uncomfortable room, furnished with
bed, one chair. and small table. The
landlord placed the lamp on the table, bade
his guest eod night, ard retired.
As the door OF The room was without
lock or fastening OF any sori, Mr.. Saun.
.drrs pac d the table anl chair against it,
blew cut ihe light, and laid down. Over
come with fatigue and drowsiness. he soon
fell asleep, but aim >t Immediately awoL e
quiyering in every limb. and in state OF
'xreme mental perturbation. lie had
dreamed vivid and most lrightfu dream.
In his vision h.. saw a man, grim and
dark ascending the outer steps Of tie pas
sage which led 10 his room. He bore
lung, giitterIne knife in his hand, and came
up the strrs with SOW and silent tr, al.
At sigli Of him feel, Of apprehension
came over The dr. amer He sprang out of
bad oF,.n.sd tbs, i, and sssfai,d s..to
lie passage Op,Fsite 10 the room he saw
a, other or through which lie fell impell-
e'l 70 make an escape. Opeuing it, b. saw
u hole IN the middle of The floor, over hich
lie timhers were extended. the cord hang
ing down to thr floor beneath. As he was
ia the act of seiziug this to let himself
down, he awoke and found that it was all
hut d dram. HI. was still in bed, and the /
chair and table remained in the position he
had placed them against The door.
After revolving the dream in his mind
for few moments, his nerves became
quiet. and he a. ain fell TO sleep, dreamed
the identical dream over, and awoke, as be- I
fore, trembling and affrighled.
He got out of bed removed the chair
and table from the door, and opening it,
saw. what he had failed TO observe before,
that there was another door close shut. OPP
po,ite to tie room. The full moon bad
risen, and lit up the passage and upper
rooms 4 t the inn. which were without shut
tets, with the radiance almost of day. Gu
riosity and the excitement of his dream
prompting, he stepped across the passage
and gave the opposite door gentle push
with his hand. il flew wide open, and
displayed TO the eyes OF the now startled
traveller the very objects and arrange
menis he had seen in his DEAN. In the
middle of the room there was a large hole
made by the removal OF short pieces OF
plank ; across lay the uncorded timberS of
a bed,teal, from which depended a stout
rope. that reached almost TO the hJor of
the room below.
Thoroughly alarmed by this literal and
utterly unvxpllinable veriiication of hi>
dream. Mr. Saunders returned TO his own
room, dressed himself in great haste, AMI,
with his saddle bags thrown over his arms,
stepped out upon the platform at the head
of the sfair-SIeps. His intention was TO
leave the tavern, and, if possible. get lodg-
ings for the night at Respectable hooking
house he had passed on the outskirts OF the
village. The next morning he could send
for his horse and pay his bill by "a messen-
ger, and thus avoid explanations which
might prove unpl, asant both to the land
lord and himself.
The shadow of large tree, which stood
few yards distant from the building fell
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 tavern.
just as Mr.. Saunders stepped out on the
platform, Ile saw a man come roun1 the
curnrr of the house, and walk in the di-
rection of the steps. lie held a large
butchers knife in his righl hand, and ook
ed wisIially around him as he advanced.
As soon as be came 10 the bottom step, he
began 10 ascend The stars with slow ST.
lent tread. appearance, movement and
weapon. he was The exact counterpart If
the image seen by Mr.. Saunders IN his
dream.
What was the traveller to 10. unanned
as he was. to esrape the menacinG peti
He tell glued to tie rpot upon winch he
stood by the very imminence of tile dap-
ger which apparently confronted him. To