The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1877-08-23

he could not str, ana ms 2fts TO
CALI out alarm only resolted in
I the most agpnizing silence Then
1 he heard the omihous sound steal
Ithyfeet approach, and he kpsE that
robbers were creeping in upes her
robbers in disguise-rob9 with
faces painted bIaek-and ill he
could not move, could not scFs b out,
could not wake and warn d dear
wife and children Of imi nding
death. 4 ~
He was in terrible distEass, Rem-
edfas il the,yefy all. .heibreatg vas
impregnated with sefiml \ it
made thick and 80 aaas.
ed him. The stepscame nearer, they
stopped at the door; there was the
noise of gentle force being used, end
then the door swung slowly back and
disclosed two black faces, lookingun-
earthly and demoniac in the pale,
lurid, ghastly light, He thought they
looked thus before he saw them; but
for all that, the sight of them made
him shudder and grow faint, They
advanced noiselessly they drew near
the bed of the innocent sleepers-
and, in the next few moments, an
eternity of tortures was compressed
in the bosom of that fond husband
and father, who was compelled tore
main motionless and silent and see
them prepare to slay all that he had
on earth to love.
They reach the bed-they lean oy-
er it-they listen to the breathingof
the sleepcrs-and then their sharp
knives CLEAN aloft with deadly poisc.
One moment thus-and then, as the
knives flashed downward they called
forth one single wild,prolongedshriek
of woe and terror, and Silas Austin
again found himself awake and
trembling, and covered all over with
a cold, clammy perspiration,
THANK Hcaven!" he murmurcd,
at length; 1T was but Il drcam!"
For more than an hour he lay
awake-thinking over it and con.
graduating himself that, after all, it
was only dream-tho natural re-
suit of great fatigue, a too hearty
supper, and his own foolish fancies.
Then he went to sleep again. only to
trrum the sruiv tiriug uvrr again.
He slept no more! the terrors Of the
night possessed him like spirit; IN
felt, as he afterwards expressed it, as
if the hand of heaven was turning
him homcwards.
The next morning as soon as any
one was astir, he dressed himselfand
went out. At the earliest possible
moment he purchased Il brace of pis-
tolls, powder and balls, loaded his
weapons, pntting two bullets in
each, secured them about his person,
and took the first train back to his
home.
His return was a happy surprise
to wife; but when she found he stag
gcrcd into her arms, and then sank
down pale and spocchlcss on the
nearest seat, she became alarmed.
There is nothing the matterwith
me, my dear Hannah, except fatigue
from my long hard ride" he said,
"but are you sure YOU are all well
herc?"
"Oh, yes Silas, very sure"
"Heavens be praiscd!'' he rcjoined
"for l have had two such painful
dreams about you that | was almost
afraid to come home.
What with talking and eating, for
he had scarcely tasted Il morscl
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, rasping sound.
At first he took no notice Of it, but
when it at length ceased entirely,
and was soon after followed by u
noise like the slow and gradual rails
ing Of a window, the truth suddenly
flashed upon him, and his whole nor-
vous system reccivcda u heavy shock.
He sprang up in bed wide awake
with Il feeling of sudden terror, not
unlike what he had experienced in
his dreams. He listened intently.-
The sound Of the raising window had
ceased, and he fancicd he heard some
one crawling through it,ond speaking