The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-06-07

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together. We share one room.
The moment Ben's head touched
tue pillow he always went to sleep.
That night 1 followed his example.
But I did not sleep withouta dream
"a 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
Gross Roads"
1t was so real, so palpable, that
when startled broad awake I actual.
ly believed that some one was in the
rJoul-the man who intended robbery
or violence. But when | had lit
my lamp the room was empty, except
myself and Ben, ying snoring on hia
pillow.
l went to the door !; it was looked
/ went to the window tho rush of
rain against panes was all I heard.
| even went across the passage to my
mothers room. She was awake.
There had been no unusual sound she
was quite sure.
Ouly dream, born of my meeting
with the strange man upon my road,
l felt sure had awakened me. I went
to bed and foil asleep again. Again
l was awakened by the same
words-this time they came to my
ears by an unearthly voice
"Wakc up, you are wanted at the
Cross Roads,"
| again sprang from the bed aud
said to Ben:
"Wako up did you hear a yell.
ing y
MY STAR" said Ben, cycling |!
wake up ! You fairly fright ened me-"
"Ben,' said |, "wait until I light
the lamp. heard another voice.
There must be somo one in the house
or outside"
So we lit the lamp. aud We searched j,
but in vain.
"Nightmare," said Ben when told
him my story.
"Bcn," said I, "wbat is there at the
Cross Roads -
CA bouse," said Ben
He had lived in the neighborhood
a lo' G while, and but short time.
"One little house, besides two oak
trees and fence. An old man lives
there, rich old fellow, and bit of
miser they say. His grand daughter
keeps house for him."
"Ben," said I, "that fellow may
have meant harm to them, | may be
wanted at the Gross Roads,
"Brother," said Ben, ego to sleep.
You had nightmare''-a Ben
plunged in between the blankets aud
was soon snoring again.
J. also in ten minutes was sleeping
soundly as before, but tho wakeuing
quickly came again.
opened my eyes to see girl
standing at the foot of the bed. A
girl with white robes and golden hair
all abont her shoulders who wrung
her hands and cried, "Ob, wake up =;
you are wanted ut the Cross Roads,
This time started out Of bed bath.
ed in cold perspiration. I trembled
like leaf, and had no doubt that I
had received supernatural warning.
"Ben," cried, "Ben for the third
time I've been told that am wanted
at the Cross Roads, and I am going"
And | began to dress myself as
speedily az possible, listening mean
while to the storm, raging madder and
/ wilder than any other period since
its commencement. @
Ben demonstrated with me in vain.
At last lie began to huddle on bis
clothes.
"If you have gone mad, must 20
with you and take care Of you," he
said. "But fancy another man going
in storm like this to tho Cross
Roads, because nightmare advises
him to do SO, and what would you
think Of him ~
said nothing. All could have
answered would have been
81 ain impelled to 60 / dare not
refuse, whatever may be thought Of
! me-"
In ten minutes we were splashing
through mud and rain along the
road. 1t was perfectly dark; now
and thon blazing red star in tho dis.
tauce told us that lamp wns gloam-
ing through the rain 10 some cottage
window, but otherwise We would not
have been conscious of our proximity
/ to any habitation whatever. At last
nearing the spot where the road from
s. crosses! the road from P-----
we were indeed, in as solitary place
as could be we'll imagined.
The house, which abutted on the very
anglo of tho roads called in familiar
parance the Cross Roads, was the
only one for some distance in either
direction, and certainly on such
night we wore not likely to meet r any
travellers.
"Well," ho said, chow now I will
you 60 homo and have another night.
mare
But hardly had the words escaped
his lips when a Shrek broke on The