The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-10-16

q
Our voice is music, when we speak,
With gentle words to grace it,.
NyG = - y = - 81 & ~ "
vvkNTED A'r THE GROSS ROADS :
I was in q hurry to reach home.
No wonder, for it was the widest
night 4 had ever known in all MY
life, and the country over which I
took my way as bad as country roads
in general. Consequently I was
walking at q. great rate. with the
collar Of my rough coat over my ears,
and acomforter tied over my soft hat
and under my chin, to keepit on and
protect. my ears, when suddenly q
man stood full in my path, and
caught me by the arm.
.S"HulloI" said he, "You're just in
time; you are wanted at the cross
roads to-nightl'
The voice was the voice of ruff
fan.
fancied myself attacked by a
highwayman. I stood quite still,
and strove to show him by my man
ner that I was able to protect myself.
tfWhat the deuce am I wanted at
the cross roads for?" said I. "Unless
I choose, it will be very hard matter
to get me there?" 2l.su
But instead of producing pistol
and demanding my money or my
life, the man answered in an altered
tone. 8gH bYA taf1 1stH
BEG pardon, / made mistake.
/ thought it was my brother, and I
wanted to frighten him. Bad night,
sir"
'FVery," said L
s'You don't know the time, sir p"
he asked.
cit was seven when L left the train
at L." said.
'Thank ye, sir" said the man.
"Good night"
seGood night" said I.
If his object had been robbery,
probably he had decided from my
rough appearance that 1 was too poor
man to be worth the trouble. But
after all, 1 thought probably he
spoke the truth. A man may have
such voice without being o high
wayman, no doubt. So I went home
ward, and soon found myself under
shelter, and partaking of warm and
savory supper.
My mother was there and my bro
ther Ben. Ben. was great strap
= ping fellow, who could beat any other
4 boy of his age for miles around, if it
came to wrestling or boxing, and as
good-humored o boy as ever lived; O.
boy always to mother and I, though
he had exercised his right to vote
already in one Presidential election.
When supper was over, and we had
chatted for an hour, we went up
stairs together. The moment Ben. s
head touched the pillow, he always
went to sleep. That night, I follow
e9 his example. But I did not sleep
long without dream-a dream in
which I felt a rough grip on my arm,
and was aroused by cry in my ears.
''Wake up! You are wanted at the
cross roads"
It was so real, SO palpable, that
when I started broad awake, I actual
ly believed that some one was in the
room; the man who intended robbery
or violence. But when I had arisen,
and lit my lamp, the room was empty,
except myself and Ben, who lay
snoring on his pillow.
went to the door; it was locked.
I went to the window; the rush of
rain against the panes was all I heard.
Ieven went across the passage to my
mothers room. She was awake;
there had been no unusual sound, she
was sure.
Only Z. Z. dream dream born OF my meeting
the strange man in the road, I felt,
had awakened me. I went to bed
and fell asleep again. Again was
Awakened by the Same words, this
time shrieked in my ear by an un-
earthly voice.
"Wake up, wake up. You are
wanted at the cross roads," -
I was on my feet once more, and
caught Ben.'s hand as he came over
toward my bed. ar
'sWhat ails youP" he cried.
"Nothing," said I. "Did you hear
voice?"
''Yours," said Ben, yelling woke
me up; you fairly frightened me-"
"Ben., ,"asid ], swat till light
lamp; Z heard another voice. There
must be some one in the house or
outside"
So I again lit the lamp, but we
searched in vain. t
ssNiphtmara - aaid Ran vvhan T