, 1864-06-27

Somewhat reassured by these appeals
which had in them 50 little of hostile
character, and to which circumstances gave
so truthful a complexion, Jane, the younger
of the two sisters, asked the elder, in low
voice, what they should do. "Shall We
admit him?" she said; "for it would be
cruel to refuse him shelter in such night
as this. We could meyer forgive ourselves
Mary, if the poor ma1sh9uld perish in the
storm" ........-.
at is true, Jane,e replied her sister
we could not indeed. We will admit him
and trust the result to God. He win not
allow deed of charity and benevolence to
be turned into an instrument of crime.
Saying this, Mary approached the door, and
placing her hand on the bar, put one other
query ere she undid it. "Are you," she
said, addressing the person Without are
you really in the situation you represent
yourself to be?"
'Before God, am" replied the voice
from without, cmphatically. "Admit me,
for heavens sake! You have nothing to
fear from me-"
In the next instant, the bolt was with
drawn, the door few open, and in walked
man in the garb of a soldier. The brass
plate on his cap glittered in the light Of
the lamp held by the younger sister, who
stood at some distance from the door, and
from beneath the greatcoat he wore peeped
the dreaded red livery Of the king. One
fearful and simultaneous shriek from the
sisters, as they fed frantitally into the in-
terror Of the house, told Of this horrid re-
alization of their Dreams The soldier, in
the meantime, walked into the kitchen, but
any one who should at this instant have
marked his countenance, would have seen
very little in it to indicate the fell purpose
for which there seemed good reason to fear
he had come. He was, in truth, young,
handsome, and sirgularly good-loOking
man, with face expressive Of great good
nature ana millness Of disposition. Little
regarding these indications Of character so
different from that which occupied their
minds, the sisters continued to express their
horror and alarm in wild shrisks, and in the
most piteous appeals for mercy. On their
bent knees they imploredit; OGcrinSallthey
had if their lives were only spared. The
soldier, benumbed and exhausted though
he was, seemed to forget his own suferings
in contemplating what he appeared to con-
slider as a most extraordinary and unaccout-
able scene-the terrified sisters on their
knees, irrploring his mercy.
aGood y.oniea," !" kssat l5Bgth Said /. THAT
is the meaning of this? What are you
afraid Of? Is there anything in my ap-
pearance so dreadful as to excite this ex-
traordinary alarm. IF there be, l never
knew it before; and am very sorry 70 End
it out now. l am sure / intend you no
harm-nono in the world. God forbid |
should am but too grateful to you for
having opened your door to me; and but
too happy to get near this cheerful fire."
Again somewhat ealmod by these friend
" expressions, so different from what they
bad expected, the sisters ceased their fran
tic cries for mercy; aud though yet far
from being reconciled to their tremendous
visitor, they became alittle more composed,
when the soldier, perceiving the effects Of
his disclamations, followed them up by
repeated assurances of the perfect ibno-
cence Of his intentions, and Of the perfectly
accidental and harmless nature of his visit
These asscyeratiOns, delivered, as they were,
in mild aud concihatory tone, eventually
induced the sisters not only to look with
less alarm on their unwelcome guest, but
to desire him to take scat by the fire.
We will not say, however, that this act Of
kindness was dictated by pure beueyolence.
We win not say that it was done more with
view to disarm their still dreaded visitor
Of any hostile intentions he might enter
tain towards them, than from any feeling Of
compassion. Be this as it may, however,
the soldier, after throwing of his snow
covered great-coat, gladly availed himself
of the invitation Of his hostesses, and sat
him down before the fire.
"Now, my good friends" he said, after
having warmed himself little, and having
still further abated the terrors Of the sisters
By moro kind and gentle words, "will you
be SO good as tellnie why yon were so much
afraid Of me when FIRST entered the house
for / cannot understand it--seeing that
you yourselves opened the door, and Of
your own accord, aud must therefore have
been prepared 70 see somebody or other.
Was it my cap and red coat that frightened
you soi Come, tell me now, eandidly.s
The sistels looked to each other with q
faint smile, and an air of embarrassment ;
but with an expression Of inquiry which
said as plainly as an unspoken expression
could say it-a Shall we tell hinlf" o .'t.
Their guest perceived their difficulty,
and saw very clearly that there was sOmo.
thing to explain--sOmething that they did
not altogether like to avow. Observing
this
"Come, now, out with itr' be said,
laughingly and, depend upon it, shall
not be the least offended, however uncom-
plimentary il may bo to myself" a
Well, them" said the younger sister,
{" I will tell you. Both my sister and ]
dreamt, very lately, that soldier eamo into
this house here, as you have done, and
murdered US. We both dreamt the same
dream at different times, and without it:
being previously known to either Of US
Now, you'll allow that therewas littlewoudel
that we should have been 50 much alarmed
at your appearance"
a0dd enough, said the soldier, laughing
j" but, in my opinion, very particular non
sense. Had you dreamt Of asoldier comins
to court you, it would have been mucl