National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-05-31

but soon perceived that that bell had been
rung by no earthly power, for the vibra-
ting needles made no ineligible sign, and
| knew that the sound had been produced
by current of atmospheric electricity
acting upon the wires.
Smiling at the nervousness which caused
me to start at so ordinary an occurrence,
! turned from my desk, and again sat
down by the fire. But smile rs would,
aud reason as | might, felt that was
fast succumbing to vague toundationless
fears. Thinking that the atmosphere OF
the room, which felt close and hot might
have something to do with my peculiar
condition of mind, | flung open the door,
and stepped outside. in T.. % hope that the
cool air might scare away the phantoms
of my brain. As crossed the threshold,
the midnight express crashed past with II
speed uol force which shook every tim
Der OF the building, and utterlng loud
shrek, disappeared into the tunnel at the
end of the steep Gradient, on the summit
of which my station was placed. When
it had gone, there was Stiffness stiffness
broken-it | can call it broken-only by
the peculiar signing of the air passing
across the wires, which is heard even in
the calmest of nights. ! stood and lis
tened to the strange, melancholy, Eolian-
harp like sound, now SO faint as 10 be
almost inaudibl,, and anon swelling into
II wild low wailing. looked up and saw
| Orton and the Pleiades, and thought how
often on nights, not long ago, when | had
watched for Maggie in the wood, had
gazed up through the tall sombre pines
and watched their trembling fires. From
that my mind reverted to the earnestness
with which my wife had asked me to
remain at home that night, and the un
usual pensiveness of her manner when she
babe me goodbye. What &C uld be the
meaning OF it all As a general rule, !
had a mos profound disbelief in omens,
presentiments, and all sorts of supersti
tion but in spite Of it, felt that would
have given good deal at that time, TO be
transported Just for one minute to my
home, to see whether all was well there
might have called up my assistant, who
lodged in farmhouse not tar distant, and
gene home; but as | could give no good
reason for going away, | resolved to stay
ere | was, and get through the night
as Jest | could. " If this goes on, said |
to myself as turned inside again, and |
poked up the Goals with rather more noise
and vigor than was absolutely necessary
-"i this goes on much longer, | shall |
have to consult a doctor, that's plain.
For | knew that the causeless apprehen-
sions which | experienced were often only |
the symptoms of an unusual state OF bodily |
health. | filled my pipe and lit it, but
the weed had lost its usual tranquilizing |
power As the wreaths curled slowly .
upwards, | saw my wife's face looking at
me tearfully as when had left her Again
the bell rang sharply; but, as before no
intelligible sign was made by the needles,
leaned my elbows on the desk, and,
with my head between my hands, watched
their Aending motions. An hour might
have passed thus, when once more | was
startled by the clang of the bell This
time it was louder and more urgent, and,
it seemed to me, though perhaps may
err here, with peculiar unearthly sound,
such as | had never heard before. am
utterly unable to tell in what manner the
was produced, but it seemed
as if there mingled with the metallic ring
the tone of human vOice-and 1t was
the voice of one knew. The needles, !
now observed, began to make signs which
| understood; and slowly. as if some novice
we're working the instrument, the letters
- Come" were signaled. No sooner had
| read If the final Sc" than, to my
Mt and terror, distinctly saw
the handle of my instrument, although
was not touching it at the time, as if
grasped by some invisible hand, move
rapidly, and make the signal Under
stoodn which the receiver of Il message
at the end of every word.
A cold thrill ran through me, and felt
as if every drop of blood were leaving my
heart. C uld have been the subject of
IA optical delusionl ! knew that such
was not the case, for | had plainly heard
the click of the handle as it turned, and
now | could perceive that another word
was being slowly spelt ont. But so be-
wildered and terrified was |, that | tailed
to catch the signs. Again my handle
moved, and this time made the signal
- Not understood" With an overwhelm-
ing feeling of awe, | watched the dials
ntently while the letters were agan sig
nailed, and this time ' cad :" II e-m-e."
Then there was cessation of all motion
Tor a second or two, and once more the
needles resumed their incoherent vibra-
lions. stood petritied with fear and
half believing that | was in
lream, for reason refused to accept to the ,
evidence of sense. Could that be a mes
sage for me? If so. whence came it ?
What hand had sent it Could it be that ,
some power higher than that of nature
.lus warned me of impending danger q
should | obey the mysterious summons? :
While | thus deliberated the bell again
sounded with cangor still more loud {
mperous and unearthly, and, after few :
movements, the magnets re- =
peated the words Come home-come i
lomen the handles moving as before. :
'Ould remain at my post no longer. Come =
what might, felt that ! had no alterna- I
i've but to obey. Iran to the house where 9
he clerk lived, and on rousing the in .
mates and gaining admission, told him t
hat he must take my place Immediately, $
IS had been suddenly called away. The
nan seemed somewhat surprised at M 7
xcted and startled manner, but what III |
aid or did | cannot recollect. On entess
ng the stable where my horse was stalled, n
perceived saddle hanging on the wall l.
nd knowing that | could get over the d
round more swiftly riding than driving, W
threw it on his back, and in a minute or a
wo was dasblng along the road in the il
irection of home. shall never forget
hat ride Although | urged my horse W
18th whip and voice till he flew rather b
han galloped. the pace was far too slow o
,r nv excited mind. Woods, bridges
,itb the moonlit streams whipping beneath