Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-10-02

country extending MANY |
lilies in every direction. Hon. John A.
'inghom, who used to represent the dis
riot in Congress, called it the Switzer-
and of Ohio. The people are at least
fifty years behind many other portions
f the State. They still live in the rud-
st log cabins. the sites for which have
'een dug out ofthe hillsides. The chief
is tobacco raising and has
,een for half century past. They pro-
luce very poor quality of the weed,
md after laborious process of curing
t is sold for about So ger hundredweight|
md shipped to Baltimore. where it is
exported to France and Germany to be
Used in manufacturing. On account of
he insurmountable hills the people
travel almost exclusively on horseback,
and a Journey of eighteen or twenty
miles is considered days ride.
THE MURDER.
Some twenty years ago drover and
cattle buyer was known to have gone
down into the county for the purpose Of
up drove of horses and cat
tie, for the Baltimore market. He was
known to have had considerable money
upon his person, and was last seen at
dusk as he left little town called Wings
vile on his way to another called Sarahs
vile, about four miles distant. he said
to his host at the former place that he
would ride on and reach the latter place
by bedtime. Nothing more was thought
of the matter at Whigsville for several
weeks, until some friends of the drover,
came there inquiring for him, and then
it was discovered that he had never
reached Sarahsvllle at ali. It is Temem-
bered by the good people of Whigsyille
that the night on which the drover de-
parted from their village if became very
dark, and they say that murky clouds
overhung the sky in every part and
vivid flashes of lightning, followed by
terrific peals of thunder, came in rapid
succession. But it was not till late at
night that the threatened rain began to
descend.
A FRUITLESS INVESTIGATION.
The friends of the man who had thus
suddenly disappeared made as careful
an investigation of his disappearance as
it was thought possible to make under
the circumstances. He had no near re-
latives, having lived q life Of celibacy,
and thus the matter died cut sooner than
IL
people of that section remembered the
mysterious disappearance and related
during all the intervening time curious
legends of the probable manner of his
taking off. Old settlers have departed
from the stage of existence and another
generation has been born, aud still On
stormy nights and during certain sea-
sons of the year the story Is related by
oil Oh
shudder and draw closer around the
cabin hearth.
THE DREAMER.
But within the week the mystery has
seemed to have as supeEstitious and
wonderful a partial sal sas it had
origin A young La ~ eighteen
years of age, and VII 16cordingly
born some two years VI the drover's
disappearance and could have only
heard the story as a tradition, had 8
wonderful dream, whiehaNasinmshorl
that the drover had h
his body concealed i1f
Hearing the peculiar r = 50|
the case your corresp0nd6& y I'D Upon
the young lady. She was found at hel
parental house, an unpretentious farm
residence situated upon the hillside
She is of light complexion, rather retir.
ing in manner, not especially pretty
but possessing remarkable eyes. They
are large, and, although bright, still pos
sess an indescribable dreaminess that
cannot fail to attract attention. Upon
being presented 10 a stranger she dis
played the diffidence natural in one u.s.
ed to the ways Of the world. But upon
my remarking that | had come to hear
her relate her dream she seemed to re-
gain possession Of herself, and, keeping
her eyes fixed upon the ground, spoke,
almost word for word, as follows:
THE DREAM.
II had heard the story of the disap.
pearance of the drOver, twenty years
ago. just as every one has in these parts,
and [ had dwelt upon it much in my
thoughts. 1t seemed to me very strange
and very unjust, and [ could not rest
within myself and have it all remain a
mystery. So had [ been thinking last
Thursday night after retired, and up
on dropping asleep think | immediate.
ly began to dream. 1t seemed to me
that / was in a place familiar to me,
though on account of the great darkness
| could not certainly recognize land
marks. Presently the lightning began
to flash and the thunder to roar and be-
tween the flashes | began to see where
[ was. [ knew it was the portion of the
road about mile beyond Sarahsville
toward Whigsville. I was walking
along, but at length [ sat down and
something seemed to say. Wait and see
what will happen did SO, and almost
Immediately Igbeheld a man, stranger
to me, riding up the hillside. He seem
ed in great haste, and | thought he was
hurrying on to Sarahsviile before the
rain should come. So far as I was con-
cerned | did not care to seek shelter, but
something seemed to call all my atten-
ton to the stranger. Almost immediate.
ly saw another man emerge from the
darkness of fence corner opposite, and
with a heavy club or bludge0n in his
hands he ran up behind the man on
horseback and dealt him terrible blow
on the head. There was fall, groan
and then [ seemed to awake although,
as | am now certain [ did not. That
was simply part of the dream. When
I next looked the murderer was conceal
ing the body of the dead man in huge
hollow tree. [ recognized this place
also and still awaited developments
ne IuUTUG1GT IGhI lOOh Tie money from
the saddle bags and placed it in a large
bag of his own, and, taking the saddle
from the horse turned him loose. Then
taking the money in his hands he start
ed away. AS he did so flash of light
ming. shining full upon his face, reveal
ed William Styles, my father! 7 then
screamed in reality and awoke. At first
I thought nothing in particular of the
peculiar revelation, deeming it only a
nightmare but the more [ thought of
the matter the more it impressed me,
and [ was absolutely led to go to the
spot whare it seemed to ME the body was
csncealed.n
THE DISCOVERY.
did you find anything that resem
Died the spot pictured in your dream? ?"
Certainly; [ recognized the spot
shown in the dream and knew that I
could go directly to the spot. Upon ar.
irving there and examining the ground
l found nothing remarkable; but was
not satisfied with superficial examina-
ion. 7 pOt q shovel. and djooinp onoonr