The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1868-02-29


doubling that the next moment would
bring him to the cottage; aud this was
really the case. In all It's exterior ap,
pearances it correspon ded with what he
had seen in his dream. Who, then,
could wonder that he determined to as.
certain whether the coincidence would
hoid good in every pointY He entered
the garden, and even went round the
cottage, which seemed to BE inhabited
but ncwhers could he ind any signs of
well. He then FASTENED back to the
inn in state of excitement hayd to de.
scribe. He could not make up his
mind to allow such extraordinary coin
cidences to pass uunoticed. But how
was he TO obtain clue to the awful
mystery? lie went to the landlord,
and asked him directly to whom the
cottage belonged that was on the by
road to him
81 wonder, SIR" said he, what caus.
ed you to take such particular notice of
that wretched little hovel? 1t is in.
habtcd by an old man aud his wife,
who have the character of being very
unsocial. They scarcely ever leave the
house, see nobody, and nobody goes to
see them. | never heard anything
against them beyond this. Of late,
their very existence appears to have been
forgotten, aud [ believe that you are
the first who for years has turned their
steps to the lonely spot"
These details, instead of satisfying his
curl osity, only reused it the more.
Breakfast was served, but he could ca.
none aud lie felt that if he presented
himself to the merchants in such a state
of excitement they might think him
mad. lie walked up and down the
room and looked out of the window, en-
deavoring to interest himself ip quar-.
rel between two men 10 the street; but
the garden and cottage preoccupied his
mind and at last, snatchipg up his hat,
he made his way into the street. Has
tening to the nearest magistrate, be re.
lated the whole circumstance briefly
and clearly.
at is very strange" said the officer,
Sand after what has happened, don't
think it would be right to leave the mat
ter without further investigation. l
will place two of the police at your
command; you can then go once more
to the hovel, and search every part of
it, You may, perhaps, make some very
important discovery"
He allowed but very few minutes to
elapse before he was on his way accom-.
panied Gy the two officers. After knock
ing at the door, and waiting for some
time, the old man opened the door. He
received them somewhat uncivily, but
showed no mark of suspicion when they
told him they wished to search the
house.
every well; as fast aud as soon as
you please" was the reply.
Have you we'll here ?"
No, sir; we are obliged to get our
water from spring about quarter of a
mills distant"
They searched the house, but dis
covered nothing of any consequence.
Meanwhile the old man gazed upon
them with an impenetrable vacancy of
look, as if he could not understand why
they were intrudiug on bis property.
Finally, they forsook the cottage, with.
out finding anything to corroboratc their
suspicious. BY this time a number of per.
sons had collected together outside,
having been drawn to the spot by the
sight Of stranger with two policemen.
They were asked if they knew anything
Of well in those parts. They replied
they did not the idea seemed TO per-
plex them. At length an old woman
came forward leaning on a crutch.
"a we'll? said she. /" Is it well
you are looking for? That has been
gone this thirty years. remember as
ii it were yesterday, how l used TO
throw stones into it just to hear them
splash in the water"
"DO you remember where that well
used to be 2" asked the gentleman
As near as l can recollect," replied
the old woman, it is on the very spot
where you arc now standing"
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