The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-08-09

der and grow faint. They advanced
noiselessly they drew heal the bed of
the innocent sleepers-and, in the next
few moments, an eternity of fortunes
was compressed in the bosom of that fond
husband and father, who was compelled
to remain motionless and silent and see
them prepare to STAY all that he had on
earth to love.
They reach the bed-they lean over it
they listen to the breathing of the
sleepers-and then their sharp knives
CLEAN aloft with deadly poise. One
moment thus-and then, as the knives
flashed downward they called forth one
single wild, prolonged shrek of woe and
terror, and Silas Austin again found
himself awake and trembling, and
covered all we with a cold, clammy
respiration.
"Thank Heavenl" he murmured, at
length; ait was but a dreamr"
For more than an hourhe lay awake
thinking over it, and congratulating
himself that, after all, it was only a
dream-the natural result of great
fatigue, a too hearty supper, and his own
foolish fancies. Then he went to sleep
again; but only to dream the same thing
over again. He slept no morel the
terrors of the night possessed him like
a spirit; he felt, as he afterwards ex-
pressed it, as if the hand of heaven was
turning him homewards.
The next morning, as soon as any one
wa astir, he dressed himself and went
out. At the earliest possible moment
he purchased a brace of pistols, powder
and balls, loaded his weapons, putting
two bullets in each, secured them about
his person, and took the first train back
to his home.
His return wa a happy surprise to his
wife; but when she found he staggered
into her arms, and then sank down pale
became alarmed.
"There is nothing the matter with
me, my dear Hannah, except fatigue
from my long hard ride" he said, "but
are you sure you are all well here"
ooh, yes Silas, very sure"
Heavens be praisedp' he rejoined;
"for I've had two such painful dreams
about you thatssI was almost afraid to
come home.".
What with talking and eating, for he
had scarcely tasted a mOrsel through the
day, it was past one o'clock when he
retired to rest. He had Just began to
fall to sleep when he heard a light, rasp-
ing sound.
At first he took no notice of it, but
when it at length ceased entirely, and
was soon after followed by a noise like
the slow and gradual raising of awindow,
the truth suddenly flashed upon him,
and his whole nervous system received a
heavy shock.
He sprang up in bed, wide awake,
with a feeling of sudden terror, not I'M
like what he had experienced in his
dreams. He listened ~intently. The
sound of the raising window had ceased,
and he fancied he heard some one crawl
ing through it, and speaking to some one
else in a guarded whisper.
Then it was he heard the stealthy
steps as in his dream, the same gentle
forcing back of the door, and to his dis
may beheld two human figures with
black faces, each with a long cleaning
knife in his hand, gliding towards his
sleeping wife.
Suddenly, with a pistol in each hand,
the apparition of the husband rose up be-
fore their astonished gaze, the last
earthly sight they were to look upon.
Before they had time to recover there
was a bright flash, a crashing report,
and both came heavily to the floor,
with two bullets lodged in.the breast of
each,
We pass over the wild fearful scene
hat followed as the wife and children
sprang up with screams of terror. In
ten minutes the two robbers were dead.
On washing the paint from their faces,
they proved to be Mr.. Austin's neigh
bors, who had come to kill his wife and
children, and get the money that they
believed to be in the dwelling. He had
been warned by a dream, his family
saved, and the villains punished.