Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-05-08
3NjscellN ne q Il & 4.
The Unspoken Warning.

am no heleyerin the supernatural.
never saw any ghosts. never heard any
strange noises none, at least, that could
be acco for on natural principles.
nevVr saw lights round the he'd. or heard
knocks on the head board, which proved to
be ..GOre. runners of sickness or death
never hid even dreams come to pass, and
as to spirits. in the common acceptation Of
The term. since the days Of the Fox girls.
my very presence has always been a dam
per. ain not of the sort who are always
on the lookout for signs and wonders ; and
if want OF .alth in spiritualism or super.
u tnraIism is SIN. ought to have been
the last one t., look fnr 70 marked a-you
may name it what YOU please. call 1t d.
vine interpnsitlon. as the one | am about
tO relate. al, the witnesses to which--and
they are not f.w-are still living.
One bitter cold day in winter. merry
party OF us nestled down under furry
robes, went to meet an appointment with II
friend living "A few miles distant with whom
we were to spend the Afternoon. and IN
the evening to attend "a cnncert to he held
near by. The slrishing was delightful.
the air keen and inspiring. the host and
hostess genial as the cracking fires in the
CRATES, and the invited guests, OF whom
there We're many besides ourselves. in that
peculiar visiting time. which only old-time
friends. long parted. can enjoy. Restraint
WAS thrown aside we cracked jokes. we
chartered like nagpes, and not a little of
the concert. which promised rare treat to
our unscphisticatcd ears. All went merry
as a marriage bell. and merrier than some.
till Just before tea. when was seized with
a sudden and accountable desire to 60
hone. accompanied hy dread or fear OF
something. know not what, which made
the return appear not matter ot choice.
but u thing imperative. tried to reason
it away, to revive anticipations OF the
concert: thought of the Disappointment
it would be to those who came with me to
give it up. and running ovei in my mind
the condition in which things were left at
home could find no ground for alarm.
For many years part of the house had
been rented to a tr stv family; our child
ren were often rocked in the same cradle.
aud hall the time ate at the same table;
locks and bolts were til ngs unused. and j"
deed AS in word We wc,e neighhOrs. In
their care had been left a hoy Of ten years.
the only one of the family remaining at
tttIJc. WIN hutN NuCu uS A'o'''
school he was expected to bring in wood
and kndIngs for the morning fire. TAX.
supper alone or with little Clara, as he
chnsr and otherwise pass the time as he
pleased. omly that h" must not 90 int" th'
street to play or on the pond to skate. IL,
had been left many times III this way. ana
had never given occasion for the slightest
uneasin ss; still as this nameless fear rev
upnn me. it toak the form Of a conviction
that danrrr of sume sort threatened this
heloy, child.
was rising to 60 and ask Mr.. A--io
take me hume, when so'ne one said, You
are very pale. Are yon ill!
No. / answered, and dropping back in
the chair, told them how strangely had
been rxrrcisr,i for the last few minutes,
adding I really must z" home.
There was perfect chorus Of vocer
against it. and for little time was silenc,
e,i though not convinced. Same one laid
the matter before Mr. A.. who rep led.
Nonsense! -t,dlie is a good boy to mind,
will do nothing in our absence that he
would not do if we were there. and is en-
joying himself well at this moment I'll
warrant
This answer was brought to me in tri
umph. and l resolved to do as they said.
not think about it, But at tea my
trembling hand almost refused to carry
food to my lips. and found it utterly i'm
possible to swallow mOuthful. A death
like chill crei.t ever NE. knew that every
eve was on me as left the room. MIR.
A. arose. saying, in a changed voice
and without ceremony. Make hastc-bring
the horse round we must go right away.
never saw her in such state before;
there is something in it, He followed mr
to the parlor, bnt before he could speak. ]
was pleading as for dear life that not a
moment be lost in starting for home. Il
know. sail I. it is not all Imagination.
and. whether it is or not shall certainly
die if this dreadful incubus is not removed
shortly.
All was now confusion; the teatable
deserted. the meal scarce tasted. and my
friends. alarmed AS much at my looks as
at my words, were as anxious tO hurry me
off as they had before been to detain me
To me those terrible moments seemed
hours. yet am assured that not more than
half an hour elapsed from the time my
fears first found expression before we Were
on the road towards hume. A horse some
what noted for tiretness was before US, and
with only two in the cutter-the rest staid
to the concert. and made Mr.. A-prOm
ise that if nothing had happened we would
returu--we went over the road at rapid
pace. kn W from the frequent repetition
Of u peculiar signal that the horse was be-
ing urged to his best yet grew sick with
inpatience at the restraint. l wanted to
tlv. All this while nv fears had taken no
definite shape. only knew that the child
was in danger. and telt impelltd to hurry
to the rescue. Only once was the silence
broken in the three-mi!e journey, and that
was when. on reaching an emiaence from
which the house was in full view, said.
THANK God the house isn't on fire.
That was my own thought. said Mr..
A but there was NO Stacking of speed.
On nearing home cheerful light was
glimmering from Mrs. Els window.
and before the vehicle had fairly siopped
we were clear, of it, and opening the door,
said in the same breath. where's Eddie :
Eddie Why he was here little while
ago answered Mrs. e.. pleasautly.
striving to dissipate the alarm she saw
written on our countenances. He ate
supper with the children. and played "a
while at marbles; then spoke OF tibbey
Rose having picture book, aud that he
wanted to see it-fou'll find him over
there.
With swift steps Mr. A-crossed the
street to the place mentioned. but returned
with, He has not becn there Eddie was
remarkably fond Of skating. and my next
thought was that he had been tempted to