The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-10-30
"A Dreamthat was not all a Dream

n ULVUtM tUUu " WD NV WAA ~ IA WI hA
On the more remote banks of little
stream which flows into the Danube at q
point distant about twenty miles from
Vienna, lived, near thirty years ago. one
Kaspsr Graetz. Here he cultivated the
few acres on which his foretathers had
toiled, and reared his sturdy progeny.
wholly unconeerned by the events OF the
great world around him. or cities he
knew nothing, for his longest Journeys
| from home were limited.to the neighbor-
ing village markets, where he disposed
of the produce OF his labor. A more un-
imaginative life than this can hardly be
conceived; and that Kaspar, Of all men,
should, through the instrunsentality Of a
dream, have been the means OF develop
ing the details.o foul double murder,
and of bringing the perpetrators to JUS
tice, may well exotic our curiosity.
| The SHOWS Of some sixty winters had
begun to leave their hoary traces on his
head, when GraetZ, now reaping the mod
crate reward of his lifelong lrugality,
had, after many consultations with his
faithful Fr@na, determined to transfer
his heaviest cares to younger hands, ana
seek comparative rest for his and her
declining years. The necessary arrange
ments for this purpose were soon COM
pleted, and the good couple were con-
tented in the hope which the steady in
dustry of their children inspired.
| 1t was In the summer succeeding this
change that Kaspar was one night dis
turbed by dream which oyercame him
with all the vivid force OF reality itself.
IL was," said he, as he related>the story
Of his vision to his wife. sin the outskirts
of what must have been avery great city
streets and houses seemed innumera
BILE; nay, all the villages in our
district, if thrown together, would
not have made so many streets
and houses. And, farther on, saw
huge, embattled. walls, strongly fortified
against an enemy, be he ever SO power
ful; and, beyond the walls, rose up
towers and spires, and other lofty build
lings, the like of which we have never
seen, save in the pictures which the
showmen bring to our door, and which
we look at through perspective glass.
And, as l stood gazing at all these great
things, l became hungry-so hungry.
Now that. / am awake, / should wonder
ihoW another should know when ! am
hungry; did not wonder in my dream,
and, when man with kindly look led
me into the gast-haus ON the other side
of the street in which ! stood, and gave
me cheese and bread, and good wine, IL
seemed but natural tnat he should have
done SO. And | fear / was not sutfi-
ciently grateful to him for his liberality,
for do not remember thanking him as
Iought, and would if he We're to do me
SO great a kindness again. But, when
IL had sated my appetite, looked
through the window at small house
opposite, and there l saw deed which
made my very blood to curdle. This
house aqjoined another on one side, and
was separated from the house on the
other side of a marrow gateway, and the
gate was closed. The windows. OF the
small house were also closed, aud, al
Ithougl the blinds covered them, saw
into the interior as plainly as ii the
whole front had been entirely removed.
In this house were three apartments
only-a bedroom and parlor in front,
and q kitchen as long as botn these
Irooms, In the rear. Behind lhe house
was a garden, entered both from the
gateway and the outer door OF the
Kitchen; and in the garden was q well,
the mouth OF which was surrounded by
la low wall OF masonry. BY aAd by 4
saw man and his Vile, both well adj
/ yaneed in years, rise from the ped in
i their room-ior it seemed 70 me thai day
was about to break-and repair together
to a part of the wal winch, could see
i was broken; and from the opening they
{ drew forth u bag full OF golden coins
every one of which they carefully
counted, and then put back again
covering the place with chest o
drawers, containing their clothing, which
Il they had before removed to get a
tue hiding-plaee OF the money. Al
this was simple enough SO far, and gavt
ME no upeasIness. did not, somehow
stay to consider thai looking through
brick and plaster walls. and Windows
: with heavy blinds over them, Was any
thing out OF the ordinary course .
things; and would have passed, sup
pose, 10 something else, il my attenlioi
4 had not been Rested by the sudden AZ
pearance OF u man whose countenane
was the most torbiddlng i ever laid eye
Q on. should know that foe thousant
: years hence, il might live so long. l
now seemed to me lhat he had watche,
: the movements of the old man and hi
!. wife before l had observed him; aud tina
: the sight of the gold mad maddened him
4 His face wore tue expression OF "a fen
: of hell, and, while seemed 10 know hi
intent, had no power to speak, or eve
!, to give warning to- his doomed victim
Dy the utterance oi any sound whatever
I Even notion WAS taken from me, ana
, could give no sort ot "a signal to the uI
conscious pair OF tne ufeau late Wnlch
Inow knew awaited them. Ho,
lie ruilian entered the hous
- can not tell. He SCENE
: : to be there just as naturally as wa
? able TO see whatever occurred there; fo
the doors and wlndOws we're, in vision
: still secure. l do not understand this
but so it was. AT last, the eyil-face
man drew his knife, and whetting
g noiselessly upon the fleshy part OF hi
!. left hand, rushed into the bedroom, an
u struck furious bow with Eis weapo
}, at the wife, who was nearest the doc
The wound, though CHASTITY enough, wa
g not at tine moment mortal; forthe shriek
= of the poor woman, in her ,endeayer 1
s alarm her husband and call him to he
side, still ring in my ear. The old man
l. fate was at once decided; for, though
II made a bold front against the villIar
# the cruel knife entered his heart at th
e first blow. and, after bound like lths
Q loi a lusty youth, he fell lifeless upon th
r floor. The cries OF the woman, now b.
b i looming weaker from loss OF blood, WEI
]. then quickly stopped; lof the demon
l. as he seemed to be, plunged his knit,
with bitter curses, again and again int
n her vitals. Why, OIL why could
: neither speak nor move? AS soon q
q he was made sure that both his victim
y i ..,-,o AaaA tha m n I, tar had a in