Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-09-25

great darkness could not certainly
recognize landmarks. Presently
the lightning began to flash and
the thunder to roar, and between
the flashes | began to see where |
was. | knew it was the portion of
the road about a mile beyond Sa-
rahsville, toward Whigsville. was
walking along; but at length | sat
down and something seemed to say /:
Wait and see what will happen /
did so, and almost Immediately |
beheld man, stranger to me, riding
up the hillside. He scented in great
haste, and | thought he was hurry
ing on to Sarahsville before the
rain should come. So far as | was
concerned | did not care to seek
shelter, but something seemed to
call all my attention to the stran-
ger. Almost Immediately | saw
another man emerge from the dark
ness of a fence corner opposite, and
with a heavy club or bludgeon in
his hands he ran up behind the
man on horseback and dealt him a
terrible blow on the head. There
was fall, a groan, and then |
seemed to awake ; although, as |
am now certain / did not. That
was simply a part of the dream.
When | next looked the murderer
was concealing the dead man in a
huge hollow tree. | recognized this
place also and still awaited devel-
opments. The murderer next took
the money from the saddle bags
and placed it in large bag of his
own, and, taking the saddle from
the horse, turned him loose. Then
taking the money in his hands he
started away. AS he did so flash
of lightning, shining full upon his
face, revealed William Styles, my
father! then screamed in reality
and awoke. At first / thought
nothing in particular of the pecu-
liar revelation, deeming it only a
nightmare; but the more thought
Of the matter the more it impressed
me, and was absolutely led to 90
to the spot where it seemed to me
the BODY was concealed
THE DISCOVERY.
"Did you find anything that re-
sembled the spot pictured in your
dream?"
+ Certainly; l recognized the spot
shown in the dream and knew that
| could go directly to the spot.
Upon arriving there and examining
the ground | found nothing re-
markable, but / was not satisfied
with a superficial examination. /
got shovel, and, digging among
the rotten wood, | found what you
have heard"
GA skeleton, which you are con-
vinced is that of the dead drover?"
''She bowed her head, but made
no audible reply.
"What is the truth in regard to
the finding of portions of a saddle
supposed to be that of the lost
drover?" asked |.
"Oh, l should have remarked as
| proceeded with the story of my
dream," said she, "that the murder
er seemed to hide the saddle be-
meath pile Of leaves and brush
not far away, first digging hole in
the ground"
"Did you search here?"
"No, l didn't; but after had dis
covered the skeleton and had told
about it to some of the people l
told them where to dig for the sad
die, and they did so, and found all
that could have remained of it
through the years, viz; the stirrups,
the buckles, etc., much decayed
with rust"
Thanking.the young lady for her
courtesy in relating her dream, and
filled with wonder that her account
should so closely have followed that
of the neighbors, | went away to
make further Inquiries. | found
that the bones, after lying in state
for day or two, had been inferred
in the graveyard; that the portions
of the saddle found were still on
exhibition, and | examined them.
They consisted of one stirrup and
two buckles, all exceedingly old and
eaten with rust. They are kept at
the harness-makers.
Upon inquiry among the people
of the town it was discovered that
considerable suspicion, wholly on
account Of the dream, fastens upon
Mr.. Styles, the father of the girl,
but as he is dead already, no crimi-
nal prosecutions will probably be
begun against him at present. 1t
was remembered that he had for
many years before his death been
noted far and wide as the most con.
summate coward in the whole
region. He could hardly be per-
snaded to go out at night, and du-
ring thunder-storms his fear was
painful to behold. He usually be-
took himself to his cellar and COW
cred his face with his hands in an
ecstasy Of agony.
All in all, the case is certainly one
| - II. Z. -. =. = L