The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-01-28

L
, that George was nowhere about when came
and | knew he could not have come in since
without my knowledge Therefore it's dream
t It is certainly dream, and there's an end o.
it,"
And with this trimmed my lantern anC
proceeded to test the temperature Of the furna
ces. We used toldo this, should tell you, by the
introduction Of little roughly-moulded Jumps
of common fre-clay. If the heat is too great
they crack if too little they remain damp
and moist; if Just right they become trm ano
smooth all over, and pass into the biscuit
stage.
Well took my three little Jumps Of clay,
put one in each oven, waited until | counted
five hundred and then went round again tC
see the results. The two first were in eapl-
tai conditions the third had flown into dozen
pieces This proved that the seggars might
20 at once into ovens One and I've, but that
number Three had been -overheated, and must
be allowed to go OH cooling for all hour or
two longer.
/ | therefore stocked One and Two with nine
rows of seggars, three deep gu each shelt-lett
the rest waiting till number Three was Ill q
condition to be trusted and, fearful of falling
asleep again, now that the firing was in pro-
gresS walked up and down the rooms to keep
myself awake. This was hot work, however,
and could not stand it very long; 80 | went
back presently to my stool by the door, and
fell to thinking about my dream. The more
I thought of it, the more strangely real it
seemed, and the more | felt convinced shat
was actually on my feet, when l saw George
get up and walk into the adjoining room. |
was also certain that had still continued to
see him as he passed out Of the second room
into the third, and that at that time | was
even following his very footsteps. Was it pos
sible | asked myself, that [ could have been
up and moving, and yet not quite awake
had heard of people walking in their sleep
Could it be that was walking in mine, and
never walked till had reached the cool air of
the yard? All this seemed likely enough; SO
| dismissed the matter from my mind, and
passed the rest of the night in attending to
the seggars, adding fresh fuel from time to
time to the furnace of the first and second ov-
ems, and now and then taking turn through
the yards. AS for number Three it kept up
its heat to such a degree that it was almost
day before I dared trust the seggars to go in
it.
Thus the hours went by, and, at half past
seven on Thursday morning. the men came
to their work 1t was now my turn to go off
duty but wanted to see George before left
SO waited for him III the counting house, while
ii lad named Steve Storr took my place at the
ovens. But the clock went on from half-past
seven to a quarter to eight-then to quarter
past eight; and still George never made his
appearance. At length when the hand got
round to half past eight, ] grew weary Of
waiting, took up my hat ran home, went to
bed slept profoundly till past four in the after
noon.
That evening went down to the factory
quite early for had restlessness upon me,
and | wanted to see George before he left for
the night. This time found the gate bolt
ed, and | rang for admttance."
Glow early you are Benz" said Steve Storr
as he let me in.
"bir Barnard's not gone p [ asked quick
ly, for | saw at the first glance that the gas
was out iii the counting house.
"Ile'e net gone" said Steve because he's
never been"
''Never been"
NO; and what's stranger still, he's not been
home either, since dinner yesterday"
But he was here last night ??
''Oh, yes, he was here last night making
up the books Jehn Parker was with him till
past six; and you found him here, didn't you,
at half past nine p
I shook my head.
We'll, he's gone, anyhow. Good night ?"
Good night"
took the lantern from his hand, boted
him out mechanically, and made my way to
the baking houses like one in a stupor.-
| George gone Gone without word OF warn
ing to his employer, or of farewell to his fell
| low-workmen! | could not understand it. |
/ Ill: La,,iIJaroJ
incredulous Istunned Then came hot tears
doubts, terrifying suspicious. l remembered
| the wild words he had spoken few nights
back; tht strange calm by which they were
| followed my dream of the evening before.
had heard of men who had drowned them
selves for love; and the turbid Severn ran
close by--so close, that one might pitch a
stone into it from some of the workshop win
| dows.
These thoughts were too horrible / dared
not dwell upon them. | turned to work, to
free myself from them, if could; and began
examining the ovens. The temperature of
all was much higher than on the previous
night-the heat having been gradually in
creased during the past twelve hours. 1t was
now my business to keep it on the increase for
twelve more after which it would be allow
| ed, as gradually, to subsde, until the pottery
was cool enough for removal. To turn the
seggars, and add fuel to the two first furna-
ces was my first work. As before, | found
number Three in advance Of the others, and SO
| left it for half an hour or an hour. | went
round the yard, tried the doors, let the dog
loose and brought him back with me to the
| baking houses for company. After that | set
my lantern on shelf beside the door, took a
book from my pocket and began to read.
remember the title Of the book as well as
possible. 1t was called Bowkers Art of Ang-
ling, and contained little rude cuts Of all kinds
of artificial flies, hooks, and other tackle. But
| could not keep my mind to it for two min
utes together; and at last gave it up in dis
pair, covered my face with my hands, and fell
into a long absorbing painful train ofthOught.
/ A considerable time had gone by thus, maybe
an honr, when was reused by the low whim-
pering howl from Captain who was lying at
my feet looked up with start just as
had started the night before, and with the
same vague terror, and saw, exactly in tht
same place and III the same attitude, with
the freight full upon him George Bar
nard.
At this sight, a fear heavier than the fear O
death fell upon me, and my tongue seemed
paralvzed in my mouth Then, Just as last
night, he rose, or seemed TO rise and went SLOW
ly out out into the next room. A powe
stronger than myself appeared to compel me
reluctantly to follow him. saw him pas
through the second room, cross the threshold
Of the third room, walk straight up TO the over
and there pause. He then turned, for thu
first time, with the glare Of the freight pour
ing out upon him from the open door Of tht
furnace, and looked at me, face to face. lr
the same instant bis whole frame seemed t.
glow and become transparent, as if the mr.
q were all within him and around him; and II
j that glow he became, as it were, absorbed nat
+ the furnace, and disappeared.
/. l uttered wild cry, tried to stagger from
the room,and fell insensibe before l reached
p the door.