Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-06-26

WANTED AT THE CROSS ROADS.
was in q hurry to reach home
No wonder, for it was the widest
night had ever known i'm all my life,
and the country road over which, L
took my way was as bad and as dark
as country roads in general. Conse-
quently was walking at great rate,
with the collar of rough coat over
my ears, and q comforter tied over my
soft hat and under my chin to keep
it on and to protect my ears, when
suddenlya man stood full in my path,
and caught me by the arm.
"Hullow said he. "You're just in
time; you are wanted at the Cross
roads tonight"
The voice was the voice of a ruffian.
1 fancied myselfattacked by a high
wayman.
Istood quite still, and strove to
show him by my manner that was
able to protect myself.
"What the deuce am I wanted at
the Cross roads for?" said I. "Unless
choose, it would be hard to get me
there"
But, instead of producing a pistol
and demanding my money or life,
the man answered in an altered tone.
"Beg pardon. made mistake
1 thought it was brother and wanted
to frighten him. Bad night, sir"
"Very!" said I.
"You don't know the timer" he
asked.
at was seven when / left the train
at L." l said.
"Thank ye," said the man. "Good
nightw
If his object had been robbery, pro-
baby he had decided, from my rough
muffiers, that was too poor a man to
be worth the trouble.
But after all, l said, probably he
spoke the truth. A man may have
such a voice, without being a high
wsayman, no doubt.
So / went on homeward, and soon
found myself under shelter, and par
taking of warm and savOry supper.
Mother was there and my brother
Ben. Ben was great strapping fell
low who could beat any other boy of
his age for miles around, if it came to
wrestling or boxing, and as good-hu-
mored boy as ever lived; boy al
ways to his mother, and thought he
had exercised his right to vote already
in one Presidential election.
Whom supper was over and we had
chatted for an hour, we went up stairs
together. We share one room.
The moment Ben's head touched
the pillow he always went to sleep
That night 1 followed his example.
| NJ i cin nj N
dream in which felt rough grip on
my arm and was reused by a crying
in my ear.
"Wake up! you're wanted at the
Cross Roads y
1t was so real, sopapable, that when
l started broad awake i actually be-
lieved that some one wasin the room;
the man who had met me on the
road, perhaps, and who intended rob-
berry or violence. But when / had lit
my lamp the room was empty, eX-
cept myselfand Ben, lying snoring on
his pillow.
went to the door; it was locked
went to the window; the rush of rain
against the panes was all | heard.
even went across the passage to my
mothers room. She was awake;
there had been no unusual sound, she
was sure,
Only dream born of my meeting
with the strange man upon the road j
felt sure had awakened me. Again |
was awakened by the same words
this time shrieked in my ear by an
unearthly voice.
"Wake up! wake up you're want
| ed at the Cross Roads.,'
l was on my feet once more, and
I caught Ben's hand as he came to my
bed. "What ails you ?" he cried.
Nothing" l replied. "Did you
hear voice ~
Yours" said Ben, Cycling wake
up You fairly frightened me-"
"Ben," said l, "wait until | light
the lamp. heard another voice.
There must be some one in the houst
or outside.n
So l lit the lamp, and we searched
but in vain.
Nightmare" said Ben, when,
told him my story.
"Ben," said I. "what Is there a
the Cross Roads ?n
in the neighborhood long while, anC
not long.
"One little house, besides two oal
trees and fence. An old man live
there, a rich old fellow, and bit of ,
miser they say. His grand daughte
keeps house for him"
"Ben," said /, "that fellow may
have meant harm TO them. Imay b,
wanted at the Cross Roads.
"Brothcr," said Ben, go 10 Sleep
You had n nightmare"-and BeI
, plunged In between the blankets ant
was soon snoring again.
also in ten minutes slept soundl,
as before, but the awakening cam
again,
l opened my eyes to see a girl stand
ing at the foot of my bed. A girl il
white robes with golden hair all abou
her shoulder, who wrung her hand
and cried, "Oh, wake up! you ar
wanted at the Cross Roads"
= This time | started out of bed bath
= ed in cold perspiration. | tremble
like leaf, and had no doubt but that
had received supernatural warning
"Ben,n | cried, "Bcn, for the thir
time | have been told that | an
wanted at the Cross Roads and an
d going.n b..
i And began TO dress myself speed
% ly as possible, listening meanwhile I
e storm, raging madder and wilder tina
at any other period since its CON
- mencemcnt.
Ben demonstrated with me In vaiI
At last he also began TO huddle on Ii
clothes.
'If you have gone mad, | must q
In with VOu and take care of VOur h
said.
"But fancy another man going in
storm like this 10 the Cross ROadi