River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-10-29

OF them all managed to begin first, but
just as he pronounced the opening words,
Mr.. E.. interrupted him.
pardon me-" he said. IL know all
your little arguments, so I'll go and talk
with the ladies for a half an hour, while
you run them over; when you get
through send for me, III come and si9eep
yoa clear ont Of the arena -
And with that the exasperating man
bowed himself out Of the dining room.
A DREAM THAT WAS NOT ALL A
DREAM
On the more remote banks of a little
stream that flows int the Danube at a
point distant about 20 mites from Vienna,
lived, near thirty years age, one Kaspar
Graetz. Here he cultivated the few acres
on which his foreiathers had toiled, and
reared his sturdy pragency, wholly un.
concerned by the events of the great
world around him. OF cities he knew
nothing, for his longest journeys from
home were limited to the neighboring vii.
lage markets, whore he disposed of the
produce of his LABOR. A more unimag.
NATIVE life than this can hardly be con.
ceived and that Kaspar, of all men,
should, through the inStrumentality Of a
dream, have been the means of develop.
ing the details of foul double murder,
and of bringing the perpetrator to justice,
may well excite our curiosity.
The SHOWS Of some sixty winters had
begun to leave their hoary traces on his
head, when Graetz, now reaping the
moderate reward ofhis lifelong frugality
had, after many consultations with his
| faithful Frena, determined to transfer
his heaviest cares to younger hands, and
seek comparative rest for his and her de-
clining years. The necessary arrange
ments for this purpose ere soon com.
pleted, and the good couple were content
ed in the hope which the steady industry
of their children inspired.
1t was IN the summer succeeding this
change that Kaspar was one night dis.
turbed by dream which overcome him
with all the vivid force Of reality itself
III was. - said he, as he related the story
of his vision to his wife, ''in the outskirts
Of what must have been very great city;
streets and houses seemed innumerable (;
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
| powerful; and, beyond the walls rose up
towers and spires and other lofty build
ings, 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 ! stood gazing at all these great
things, | became hungry,-so hungry.
Now that am awake, should wonder
how another could know when / am hun
CRY | did not wonder in my dream. and,
when man with kindly look led me in.
to the gdsthGus on the other side of the
street in which | stood, and gave me
cheese and bread and good wine, it seem.
ca but natural that he should have done
SO. And far was not sufficiently
grateful to him for his lberality, for | do
not remember thanking him as | ought,
aud would If he were TO do do me a great
kindncSss again. But, when had stated
my appetite, looked through the win.
dow at a small house opposite, and there
! saw deed which made my very blood
curdlc. This house adjoined another or
one side, and was separated from thu
house on the other side by narrow gate
way, and the gate was closed. and, al
though the blinds covered them, ] saw
into the interior as plainly as if the whole
front had been entirely removed. In this
house were three apartments only, Il
bedroom and parlor in front, and q
kitchen, as long as both these rooms, in
the rear. Behind the house was gar.
den, entered both from the gateway and
the outer door of the kitchen and in the
garden was well, the mouth of which
was surrounded by low wall of mason.
ry. By and by saw man and his wife
both well advanced in years, rise from
the bed in their room-for il seemed to
me that the day was about tn break-and
repair together to part of the wal
which | could see was was broken and
from the opening they drew forth bag
full of golden coins, every one of which
they carefully counted and then put back
again, covering the place with a chest Of
drawers, containing their clothing, which
they had before removed to get at the
hiding-place of the money. All this was
simple enough SO far, and gave me nc
uneasnesS. ] did not, somehow, stay t.
consider that looking through brick and
plaster walls, and windows with heavy
blinds over them, was anything ont of the
ordinary course Of things; and would
have passed, suppose, to something
else, if my attention had not been arrest
ed by the sudden appearance Of maj
whose countenance was the most
forbidding ever laid eyes on
| should know that face thousand year!
hence, if might live so long. 1t nov
seemed to me that he had watched The
movements Of the old man and his wife
before had observed him and that thi,
sight Of the gold had maddened him. lii
face wore the expression Of fiend o
hell and, while seemed TO know hi
intent, had no power to speak, or ever
to give warning to his doomed victims by
the utterance Of any sound whatever
Even motion was taken from me, and
could give no sort OF signal 10 the un
, conscious pair of the dread fate which
now knew awaited them. How the ruf
fan entered the house, ] cannot tell II,
seemed TO be there just as naturally as
was able 10 see whatever occurred there