The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-06-25
WANTED AT THE CROSS
ROADS.

was IN hurry TO reach homo
No wonder; for it was the widest
night l had ever known in all my
,iile, and the country over which |
took my way as bad and dark as
country roads in general, Conse-
quently was walking at a great
rate,with theIcoilar Of fmy rough coat
over my ears, and a comforter tied
over my soft hat and under my
chin, 10 keep il on and to protect
my ears. when suddenly a man
stood full in my path and caught
me by the arm. n IVI{ etT1,I
"lullo ?" said he, "You're Just
in time; you are wanted at the
cross roads to.nighti" f'N
The voice was the voice of a ruff.
fan. ' '1' . 81 VI. b.. '' .3"'
| fancied myself attacked by a
highwayman.
stood quito still, and strove to
show him by my manner that /
was able TO protect myself. 49,.
"What the deuce am l wanted at
tho crossroads for?" said 1. "Un-
less l choose, it would be a very
hard matter to get mo there"
But instead Of producing pistol
and demanding my money or my
life, the man answered in an alter.
ed tone.
"Beg pardon. Imadc mistake
I thought it was my brother, aud
wanted to irighten him. Bad night
sir"
very" saidI.
"You don't know tho time, sir?
he asked.
at was seven when left tht
train at L." said. ~. sr...
THANK ye, sir said the man
Good night r an,i
"Good night" said I,
If bis object had been robbery
probably he had decided from my
rough appearance that / was to-
poor u man to be worth tho troub
10.
But after all, 1 thought, proba
bly, he spoke the truth. A maj
may have such a voice withou
being a highwaym0n. no doabt.
Sol went on homeward, and 500
found myself under shelter, ant
partaking of warm and savory
supper.
Ny mother was there and m,
brother Ben. Ben was q greu
strapping fellow who could bca
$ any other boy of his ago for mile
around, if it came to wrestling o
boxing, and as good humored
) boy as ever lived; a boy always t
I mother and l, though he had ez
ercised his right to vote already i
+ one Presidential election.
!, When supper was over, and W
had clhttcd Tor an hour, we wen
n up stairs together. Wo shared on
room together., JD,,
The moment Ben 3 head /toucho
the pillow be always went toslceI
That night | followed his exam
pie. ua asr'
r But l did not sleep long will
u out a dream-a dream which felt
H. rough grip on my arm, and WI
reused by a cry in my ear:
Wake upl You're wanted
the cross roads-."
d 1t was so real, SO palpablo tn
when l started broad awake l a
tuaIly believed that some ono w
in the room /; the man who hi
. met mo on the road perhaps, al
who intended robbery or violenc
IS But when l had arisen, and lit m
7. n lamp, the room was empty, exec
myself and Ben, who lay snorir
on his pillow. z lGoib9H
90 l went TO tho door; it was loo
\, ed. Iwept 10 the window; u
ii rush Of rain against the panes W
2 all l heard. / oven went aero
Gis the passage to my mothers roo
n, She was awake; there had been
+. unusdai sodhd she was sure q
y Only o dream boin pf me'
"a ing the strange man in the road,
~ felt had awakened mo. | went
bed and. fell asleep, again. Aga
: L. was awakened by the sal
= words, this time shrlekedln
~ earby an nnearthly voice: do
d" Awake up, wake up. You o
- wanted atlthe cross roads" ;" " y
ne iIwas oD my feet once moro, a
n caught, Ben's hand as ho cal
v oyer toward my beda,oa opg Va
.GWhat nils you?.r no cried. 50gt