The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-04-03
T&sEuspoken SsatSkng.

\ ~ j.
am no believer in the SUPERNATURAL.
l never saw any, ghosts, never heard
any noises; none, at least, that could
mot be accounted for on natural prin-
ciples. I never saw lights round the
! bed, or heard knocks on the headboard,
which proved to be "forerunners Of
sickness or DEATH" never had even
dreams "come to pass;o. aud to spirits,
in the common acceptatlon OF the term,
since the days of the Fox girls, my very
presence has been almost damper. l
am not one of the sort who are always
on the lookout for signs and wonders;
and if want of faith in spiritualism or
lsupernaturalism is sin, l ought to
have been the last one to look for so
marked o a-. you may name 1T what
you please, / call it divine interposition,
as the one am about to relate, all the
witnesses in which-and they are not a
few-are still living.
|, One bitter cold day in winter mer-
~ party of us, nestled down under fur
ry robes, went to meet an appointment
with friend living few miles distant,
with whom we were to spend the after
noen, and in the evening to attend a
concert to be held near by. The sleigh
ing was delightfl the air keen and in
spiriting, the host and hostess genlalas
the cracking fires in the CRATES, and
the invited guests, of whom there were
many besides ourselves, in that pecu-
| liar visiting trim, which only oldtime
| friends, long parted, can enjoy. Re-
straint was thrown aside; we cracked
Jokes; we'chatted like magpies, which
promised q rare treat to our unsophisti-
Gated ears. An went merry as q mar
riage bell, and merrier than some, till
Just before tea, when Iwas seized with
sudden aud unaccOuntable desire to
go home, accompanied by dread or,
fear of CsomethipgCl knew not what
witch made the return appear, nat a
matter of choice, but a thing impera-
tive. l tried to reason it away, to re-
vive anticipations of the concert; /
thought of the disappointment it would
be to those who came with me to- give
it up, and running over in my mind the
condition in which things were left at
home, Icould find no ground for alarm.
For maHy years part of the house
had been rented to a atEpsty' family; our
children were often rocked in the same
cradle, and half the time ate at the
same table; locks aud bolts were things
unused, and in deed as IN word we were
neighbors In their care had been left
boy of ten years, the only one Of the
family remaining at home, who knew
that when he returned from school he
was expected to bring in wood and
kindlings for the morning fire, take
81,
he chose, and otherwise pass time as he
he pleased, only that he must not go
into the street to play or on the
pond TO skate. He had been left many
times in this way, and had never given
occasion for the slightest uneasiness;
still, as this nameless fear grew upon
me, it took the form of conviction
that danger of some sort threatened
this beloved child.
l WAS rising to go and ask Mr.. A =
ts take me home, when some one said,
"You are very pale. Are you ill!
"No," | answered, and dropping back
in the chair, told them how strangely l
had been exercised for tho last few min-
utes, adding, "I really must 90 home"
There was a perfect chorus of voices
against it, and for little time was
slenced, though not convinced. Some
one laid the matt W
who replied, "Nonseus,. Eddie is a
good boy to mind, will do nothing in
our absence that he would not do if we
were there, aud isesjOying himself we'll
at this moment, Tll warrant"
This answer was brought to me in
triumph, and resolved to do. rs they
said, mot think about it," But at tea
my trembling hand almost refused to
carry food to my lips, and | found it
utterly impossible to swallow a mouth
fnl. 4 death-like chill crept over me,
and knew that every eye was on me
as left the room. Mr.. A arose,
saying in q changed voice and without
ceremony, "Make haste-bring the horse
round; We must 60 right away, never
saw you in such state before; there is
something in it," He followed me to
the parior, but before he could speak
was pleading as for dear life that not
moment be lost in starting for home.
IL know" said |, az is not all imagina-
ton, and whether it is or not, shall
certainly die if this dreadful incubus is
not removed shortly"
All was not confusion; the tea-table
deserted; the meal scarce tasted; and my
friends, alarmed as much as my looks as
ut my words, were as anxious to hurry
me off as they had been before to detain
me. To me those horrible moments
seemed hours, yet am assured that not
more than half an hour elapsed from the
time my fears first found expression be-
fore we were on the road toward home.
A horse somewhat noted for aeetness
was before us, and with only two in the
cutter-the rest staid to concert, and
made Mr.. A. promise that if nothing
had happened we would return-went
over the road at rapid pace. | knew
! from the frequent repetition ofapeculiar
signal that the beast was being urged to
his best, yet ] grew sick with i'm
patience at restraint. l wanted to fly.
All this while my fears had taken no
definite shapes | only knew that the
child was in danger, and felt impelled
to hurry to the rescue. Only once was
the silence broken in that three mile
journey. and that was when, on reach
ing an eminence from which the house
was in full view, said, "Thank God +!
the house isn't on fire."
"Phat was my own thought" said Mr..
A., but there was no Stacking of
speed, On nearing home n cheerful