The Grand Haven news., 1865-04-26

THE SKELETON IN THE WELL.


Of the inhabitants were rrayersing the
highways and enjoying the agroeableness
of the weather. Among the number
there was tall yonng man, apparently
not more than twenty-five years OF age.
In his right hand he carried cane, and in
his left small carpei-bag. His gait was
quick, and from bis expression heappeared
to be bent upon some important errand.
In this manner he went along, occasional
! " glanciug around to view the surround
ing objects. He had hardly gone quar-
ter of n mile when. he came to small
street, which was in the suburbs of the
town. He turned and proceeded up this.
Presently, after walking but short dis
tance, he arrived at an inn. Here he hes
itated; and, after viewing the exterior, he
muttered to himself the following words:
1t is very singular that Ibis is the
first inn Ihave seen throughout my route.
However, / will put up here"
So saying he entered the building, and
having registered bis name, he was shown
to his room. After ordering his dinner,
he went into bis apartment to rest him
self. His order was Immediately respond
ed to; and after eating he prepared to re-
tire, intending to parlake of long and
hearty sleep, SO that early the next morn
| ing he might visit the various merchants
of the town. He accordingly went to bed
and was soon wrapt in slumber. While
thus sleeping he had dream that made
the strongest impression on him. We
will give it as from the lips Of the dream
er:
II thought that | had arrived at the
same town, but in the middle of that
evening, which was really the case, that
/ had put up at the same inn, and gone
Immediately, as an unacquainted stranger
would do, in order to see whatever was
worthy of observation in the place. |
walked down the main street into another
street apparently leading into the country.
/ bad gone no great distance when |
came to church, which stopped TO ex-
anime. After satisfying my curiosity, |
advanced to bv-path which branched of
from the main street. Obeying an i'm
pulse which could neither account for
nor control, struck into this path, tho
it was winding, rough, and unfrequented,
and presently reached miserable cottage,
in front of which was garden covered
with weeds. / bad no great difficulty in
getting into the garden, for the hedge had
seveml wide gaps in it. approached an
old well that stood solitary and gloomy
in distant corner; and looking down in
to it, beheld, without any possibility of
mistake, a corpse which had been stabbed
in several places. | counted the deep
wounds and wide gashes. There were
SIX"
At this moment he awoke with his
hair on end, trembling in every limb, and
cold drops of perspiration believing his
forehead---awoke to find himself comfort
ably in bed, his carpet-bag lying near him,
and the morning sun beaming through
bis curtain. What difference! He
spraug from his bed, dressed himself, and
as it was yet early, sought appetite for
breakfast by morning walk. He went
accordingly into The street, and strolled
along. The farther he went the stronger
became the confused recollection of the
objects that presented themselves TO his
view.
"It is very strange" said be to HIMSELF
81 have never been in this place before,
and ! could swear that I've seen this
house, and the next and the other on the
left."
! On he went, till he came TO corner of
a street crossing the one down which he
he had come. Before long he arrived at
the chnrch with the architectural features
that had attracted his notice in the dream !;
and then the high-road, along which he
had pursued bis way, coming at length
to the same by-path that had presented
itself TO bis imagination few hours be-
fore--there was no possibility OF doubt or
mistake Every tree and every turn was
familiar to him. He hurried forward no
longer doubling that the next moment
would bring him TO the cottage; and this
was really the case. In all its exterior
appeeraoce'it corresponded with what he
had seen in bis dream. Who, then, could
wonder that he determined to ascertain
whether the coincidence would hold good
in every poiutf He entered the garden
and went directly to the spot where be had
seen the we'll; but here the resemblance
failed; there was none. He looked in ev-