Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-08-07

How long I had been asleep I do
not know, but I suddenly started up,
the echo Of a long, sad cry ringing
in my ears.
I listened eagerly-sensitive to the
slightest sound-painfully sensitive
as one is only in the deep silence of
the night.
heard the old fashioned clock I
had noticed on the stairs strike three,
The revarberation Seemed to last a
long time, then all was silent again.
"A DREAM" I muttered to myself, as
lay down upon the pillow; Ma
deira is heating wine. But what
can | have beer dreaming OFF,
Sleep seemed to have gone alto,
gether, and the busy mind wandered
among the Continental scenes | had
lately visited, By and by l. found
myself in memory once more within
the Weggis church-yard. I was sat-
isfed; l had traced my dream to the
cries that I had heard there. I turn.
ed round to sleep again. Perhaps l
fell into a doze-I cannot say; but
again I started up at the repetition.
as it seemed outside my window, Of
that cry Of sadness and despair. I
hastily drew aside the heavy curtains
Of my bed-at that moment the room
seemed to be Illuminated with dim,
unearthly Highland | saw gradually
growing into human shape, the figure
Of. a woman. 1 recognized in it my
aunt, Miss Ringwood. Horror-struck,
l gazed at the apparition; it advanc.
ed lttle-the lips moved heard
it. distinctly say:
Regi'aaa INcstcar. The Mere be-
longs to you Compel Joh.a Mnyon
TO pay the debt Of honor =
I fell back senseless.
When next I returned to conscious
ness, it was when I was called in the
morning. The shutters were opened,
and I saw the red light of the dawn
ing Winter sun.
There is a strange sympathy be.
tween the night and the mind. All
ones troubles represent themselves
as increased hundred fold if one
wakes in the night, and begins to
think about them. A muscular pain
becomes the certainty of an incurable
internal disease, and headache sug-
gests incipient softness Of the brain.
But all these horrors are dissipated
with the morning light, and the after
glow Of cold bath turns them into
Jokes. So it was with me on the
morning after my arrival at The Shall
lows. I accounted most satisfactorily
for all that had occurred, or seemed
to have occurred, during the night;
and resolved that, though the old Ma
deira was uncommonly good, mus.
be careful in future not to drink more
than a couple of glasses after dinnert
I need scarcely say that l said moth
ing to Mrs. Balk Of my bad dreams,
and shortly after breakfast took my
gun, and went out in search of such
game as l might chance to meet with.
At three o'clock l SCI the keeper
home, as his capacious pockets were
pretty well filled, telling him that I
thought I knew the country, and
should stroll back leisurely. The gray
gloom of the November evening was
spreading over the sky as I came up
on a small plantation which l believ-
ed belonged to me. struck straight
across it; emerging from its shadows,
found myself by a small stream and
some marshy land; on the other side
another small plantation. A snipe
got up, I fired, and tailored it. I
marked the bird into this other plan
tation, and followed. Up got covey
of partridges-bang, bang-one down
by the side of an oak. | was about
to enter this covert when lady and
gentleman emerged, and, struck with
the unpleasant thought that I was
possibly trespassing. at once went
forward to apologize.
Before l could say word, the gen
tleman addressed me.
May I ask, Sir, if have given
you permission TO shoot over my pre-
serves?"
Il beg to express my great regret,
Sir, l replied, as I lifted my hat in
acknowled gment OF the lady's pres
ence, that should have tre>pas>ed
upon your land. can only plead,
as my excuse, that fully believed /
was still upon the manor belonging
to The Shadows"
Gentlemen who 60 out shooting
ought to know the limits of their es
tates," ne answered harslly; "the
boundaries OF Tie Shadows are well
defined, nor is the are:l they contain
50 very extensive. Yon have no right
upon this side the s;rea.n, Sir; obIige
me by returning
merely bowed, for l was nettled
by his tone, and as | turned away |
noticed that the young lady whisper
ed to him.
Zone moment, Sir" he said,- "my
daughter suggests the possibility Of
your being the new owner Of The
Shadows. May ask if this is SO p
1t had not occurred to re before,
but understood in a moment to
whom l had been speaking, and | re-
piled:
Yes, Mr.. Maryon-my name is
Westcar.
Such was my introduction to Mr..
and Miss Maryon. Tile proprietor Of
The Mere appeared to be a gentleman,
but his manners were cold and re-
served, and careful observer might
have remarked perpetual restless
ness in the eyes, as if they were phys
ically incapable Of regarding the same
object Tor more than moment. He
was about sixty years Of age, appa-
rently; and though he now and again
made an effort to carry himself up
IL L 4