The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-04-08
The albany gegister.
wanted at the cross-Roads.

u
stood full in my path, and caught me by
he arm.
"Hallo!' said he, "you're just in time;
you're wanted at the Crossroads to-
night"
The voice was that of rufiian l fan.
cied myself attacked by highwaymau.
I stood quite still, and stroye to show
him by my manner that was able to
protect myself.
"What the dense am I wanted at the
Crossroads for2 Unless should choose |
it would be hard to get me there"
But instead of producing pistol and
demanding my money or my life, he
answered In an altered tone:
"Beg pardon I made mistake |
thought 1t was my brother and wanted to
scare him. Bad night, SIR"
"Veryl' said
You don't know the time?" he asked.
at was just sevea when l left the
train at L." said I.
"Thank ye," said the man, "good
night"
If his object had been robbery, proba-
bly, he had decided from my rough muff
lers, that was too poor man to be
worth the trouble.
: But after all, said, probably he spoke
the truth A man may have such q
voice without being highwayman.
So went on homeward, and soon found
myself under shelter, and partaking of a
warm and savory supper.
My mother was there, and my brother
Beu- Ben was a great, strapping fellow, |
who could beat any other boy of his age |
for miles around if it came to boxing or |
wrestling, and as good-humored boy as
ever lived q boy always with his mother, !
though he had already exercised his /
right to vote in one election.
When supper was over and we had
chatted an hour or two, we went up stairs /
together. We shared the same room.
The moment Ben's head touched the
pillow he always went to sleep. That
night l followed his sleepy example.
But did not sleep without dream
In which felt rough grip on my arm,
and was aroused by crying in my ear:
"Wake up you're wanted at the Cross
roads"
1t was SO real, so palpable, that when
started broad awake l actually believed
that some one vas in the room-the man
who intended the robbery or violence.
But when I lit my lamp the room was
empty, except myself and Ben, lying
snoring on his pillow
went to the door; il was locked. I
went to the window; the rush of rain
against the panes vas all I 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, / felt
sure had awakened nre I went to bed
and fell asleep again. Again I was
awakened by the same words this time
they came to my ear by an unearthly
voice.
'Wake up! you're wanted at the
Cross roads"
| again sprang from the bed and said
10 Ben
"Wake up! did you hear yelling ?'
My stars - said Ben CYCLING!
wake up! You fairly frightened me-
"Ben, said l, "wait until light the
lamp. L heard another voice. There must
be some one in the house or outside.
So we lit the lamp and searched but in
vain.
"Nightmare, said Ben, when / told
him my story.
"Ben," said I, ''what is there at the
Crossroads ?'
ga house"
He had lived in the neighborhood a
bong while, and l but short time.
"One little house, besides two oak |
trees and fence. An old man lives
there, q rich old fellow and biz of a |
miser, so the people say. He has grand |
daughter that keeps house for him. ~
"Ben," said /, ''that fellow may have
meant harm to them. / may be wanted |
st the Crossroads"
"Brother," said Ben, ego to sleep. |
Eou had the nightmare, and Ben |
plunged in between the blankets and was
soon snoring.
also in ten minutes was sleeping
scundly as before, but the awakening
quickly came again.
lopened my eyes to see girl standing
ut the foot ofthe bed. A girl with white
robes and golden hair all about her
shoulders, who wrung her hands and
cried. "Oh, wake up, you are wanted at
the Crossroads"
This time started out of bed, bathed
IN cold perspiration. / trembled like
Leaf, and had no doubt that I had re- |.
eeiyed supernatural warning.
"Ben," cried, "Ben, for the third
time have been told that am wanted
ss the Cross roads, and am going" II
:. And l began to dress myself as speed
ny as possible, listening meanwhile to
the storm, raging madder and wilder
than at any other period since its COM
mencement.
Ben demonstrated with me in vain.
At last he commenced to huddle on his 5
clothes.
off you have gone mad, I must On and
take care of you," he said. s.But fancy
another man going in storm like this 70 j
the Crossroads, because nightmare ad. ,
vises him TO do SO, and what would Won
think Of him ?" 'o0
] said nothing. All could have an
swered would have been: !,
II am impelled to go; I dare not re.
Sssss whatever may be thought of me-"