Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-03-26
Tale of the South.
BY A SOUTHERN MAN.

N''>'NA y
name of Saunders came from a neighbor
ing State into one of its eastern counties
in quest of a place of settlement. He
was well dressed and we'll mounted, and
travelled alone.
At the close of fa,iguing days ride,
he stopped at house of entertainment,
which was the neucleus or central point
of struggling backwoods village, con-
tanning some fifteen or twenty inhabitants.
The host was grim, sour visage1 man,
with small, sinister looking eyes which
twinkled like burning points between the
heavy fringe Of The pointed eyebrows.
The tavern building seemed 10 have been
left in an unfinished stale by the work.
men, and looked ruinous and old for want
Of paint and repairs.
On entering the bar room, which was a
dingy, kalf-lighted apartment, Mr.. S.
found few men, very ordinary both in
dress and appearance. retailing to each
other the gossip and news ofthe neighbor-
hood. He sealed himself in their midst,
and awaited in silence the announcement
of supper.
After eating hearty meal. feeling both
fatigued and drowsy, he requested TO be
conducted TO his room. The landlord
taking lamp in one hand and the saddle
bags of the traveller in the other, went out
of the bar room into the yard, requesting
/ Mr.. Saunders TO follow him.
At the extreme end Of the tavern build
ings they ascendeG fight Of rude steps
TO an upper story. Entering a narrow
dark passage, Mr.. Saunders was shown
into a small, uncomfortable room, fur
rSshed with bed, chair, and small
table, bade bis guest good night and re-
tired.
As the door of the room was without
lock or fastening Of any sort. Mr.. Saund-
ers placed the table and chair against ii
blew out the light and laid down.
Oveicome with fatigue and drowslness
he soon fell asleep, bul almost immediate
ly awoke quiyerng in every limb, and IN
state Of extreme mental perturbation. tie
had dreamed a vivid and most frighuul
dream.
In his vision he saw man, grim and
dark, asceIfling the outer steps OF the pas
sage which led to his room. He bore a
long glillering knife in his hand, and
came up the steps with slow and silent
tread. At sight Of him, feeling of ap-
prehension-a presenliment that danger
was nigh-came over the dreamer.
He sprang out of bed, opened his door
and stepped out into the passage. Oppo'
site his room he saw another door,
through which he felt impelled 10 seek an
escape. Opening it, he saw hole in the
middle of the floor, over which he saw
the iimbers OF a bedstead were extended,
the cord hung down 10 the floor beneath.
AS he was in the act Of seiziEg this 10 let
himself down, he awoke and found that
it was all dream. lie 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 a few moments, his nerves became
quiet and he again fell asleep, dreaming
the identical dream over, and awoke, as
before, trembling and afllighted.
He got out OF bed, removed the chair
and table from his door, and opening 1t,
saw. what he failed to observe before, that
there was another door close shut, oppo-
site TO his room.
The full moon had risen and lit up the
passages and upper rooms OF The Inn'
which were without shutters, with the ra-
dance aLmos, of day. Curiosity and The
excitement of his dream prompting, he
stepped across The passage and gave the
opposite door genlle push with his hand.
1t flew wide open and displayed to the
eyes of the now startled traveller, the very
object and arrangements he had seen in
his dream. In the middle of the room,
there was a large hole, made by the re-
moval of short piece Of plank, across it
~ the uncorded limbers Of bedslead,
ON which depended stout rope, that
acIIed almost TO the floor below.
Thoroughly alarmed by the literal and
terly unexplained verifeslion OF his
cam. MIR. Saunders returned to his
N room, dressed himself in great haste
d with his saddle bags thrown over his
N, stepped out upon The platform at the
ad of the stair steps. His intention,
Is 10 leave the tavern, and. If possible
lodgings for the night at respectable
king house he had passed on the out
ITS of the village. The next morning
he could send for his horse and pay Tor
his bill by messenger, and thus avoid
explanations which might prove unpea'
san! both to the landlord and TO himself.
The shadow of large tree, which
stood few wards distant from The end of