The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-01-29
THE HORRIBLE DREAM!
CHAPTER I.

-
A CHAPTER ].
There was cloud on the brow Of Sir John
Hawthorne, as he descended to his library at
an earlier hour than usual and his abstracted
look and heavy tread betokened more than
ordinary degree of mental excitement The
expression of his countenance was not that OF
anger; rather it might be imagined that some
heavy calamity had fallen upon or was impend-
ing. over him. The servants looked at one
another in dismay as he passed silently through
the hall and none dared to intrude upon an
abstraction so deep, so gloomy withal IN Its
aspect, as to impress with degree OF awe, and
almost of fear. The door of the library closed
heavily after him, and he paced the room for
many minutes with rapid stride, and with his
arms folded upon his breast.
eft is folly" he at length said, go allow
myselfi to be thus moved. The most supersti
tious could hardly yield himself more entirely
TO the. yagsries of an idle fancy. 1t was but
dream; and why can / not persuade myself
that it was so, and not be unnamed as /
am"
Bnconsciously he continued to pace the floor,
and,at length threw himself into chair, and
in an distracted manner seized volume which
lay near him. His eyes rested upon the words,
batIan hour had flown by and not page had
been turned, while every faculty seemed absorb
ed by some eyer-present thought. In despair
he threw the book from him, and at the same
moment the door was softly opened by his
daughter Julia-a sweet girl of seventeen-at-
tired for a morning walk. As his glance fell
upon her, his brow contracted, and with halt
suppressed groap, he turned his head away, as
if the sight Of his child had brought some
vision of horror before him.
"Father! dear father, are you i'll" ex-
claimed Julia, throwing her arms about him
in sudden alarm. Why have you risen SO 20
early, and what is the cause of this unusual
emotion? You are pale, too; pray tell me,
father, has anything occurred to distress
your"
''Nothing-nothing, my daughter. sleep
less night and feverish dreams have made me
restless, so that have risen somewhat earlier
than usual" He attempted to smile, as he
kissed her cheek, and with manner which
forbade further inquiries, added-"but, my
daughter, what calls you out at this early
hour? The dew hangs yet heavy on the grass,
and the morning air is too damp for you, my
child"
"Nver fear for me- father; my walk will not
be long; am only going to visit poor Jenny
Deane. She has been sinking more rapidly for
the last few days, and yesterday she sent her
little brother, to ask me to come to her early
to-day for she had something to impart to me
fand wished to see me alone"
"Eyer bent on errands of mercy, my sweet
child God bless you'll for you are a blessing
to us all" There was an unwonted fervor i'll
his manner as he drew her toward him and
kissed her brow as if some fearful apprehen-
sion had taken possession of him, which rem
dered her dearer than ever to his heart.
She started and gazed wonderingly into his
face, while tear dimmed her clear blue eye,
and she said tremulousiy.
'eI wish nv dear father would tell me what
has happened to disturb him." ~
Nothing, my precious child. Now 60, but
DO not let poor Jennie's secret detain you be-
yond the breakfast hour, for our guests will
miss your sunny face" Again he tried to smile,
but the effort only threw deeper shadow on
poor Julia's brow, and she went out with a
heart less light than that with which she had
entered.
1t was not long before her mother, with a
hurrid and peturbed manner, entered the libra
ry. 81 have come to you," she said, "jn com
pliance with Julia's request; she tells me that
YOU are disturbed; pray tell me the cause,
John, and let me share it, whatever it may be" )"
She drew her chair beside him, and laid her
hand upon his arm.
sShe is right" he replied, "believe me, Ara
bella, some horrible woe is impending over us.
God aiune knows what it may be, but that some
heavy, some bitter calamity hangs like sword
suspended with single hair over our heads, l
feel as surely as if it were all revealed before
me now. You may call it folly, superstition,
what you will and haye tried hard to think
so. but the awful conviction is ever present to
me. 1t has been revealed to me in dream,
eyery circumstance of which has passed away
from me; but the impression left upon my
mind is of vague, an underlined, shadowy
vision of horror. So intense was the agony IT
awakened. that I sprung from my bed, and
when was standing in the centre of the room
with the perspiration starting from every pore
my hands clenched in my hair, and as my eye
fell on the mirror near me, it gave back TO my
gaze such picture of frantic horror as trust
never again to look upon. My hair stood up:
right upon my head my face was livid an
ghostly, and my eyes almost starting from theli
Sockets. You slept profoundly, and I would
not disturb you Strange as it may seem tc
YOU. cannot recall one feature of that awful
dream but when restless and wretched-for
-eonld not throw off its dreadful influence
descended to the library, in the vain endeavol
to Danish it from my remembrance suddenly
cur darling child entered, and IN moment some
mysterious influence seemed to cluster acou
her, and to connect her with all the horrible
agony of that haunting vision. Gracious
Heavens what is the awful doom that awaits
my child" I'll
envy dear husband, surely this is unlike
Yourself to be so moved by dream. Horrible
as it was, reflect for moment that it a0as o"f'
a dream Come, come, free your mind from
this impression it is mere weakness. si
Charles expects you to join in the fox hunt to
day. and in the excitement of the chase yol
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