The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-05-15
A Dream.

One Winter evening about SO
years ago, q post-chaise, with a sin.
gle gentleman inside it, drove up to
the little inn on the Pentland Firth,
in the North Of Scotland, where pas.
sengers who were going to cross to
the Orkneys usually spent the night.
The gentleman, whom we will call
Mr.. MacT., was the owner of a large
estate, and an old house which had
belonged to ais family for hundreds
of years. in the Mainland. or chief
Of the Orkney Islands, and was now
about to visit his property. 1t was a
clustering stormy night, but that
only made mere pleasant the cigar
and the glass of whiskey and the
cracking wood-fire by which MacT.
sat chatting with the landlord, who
WAS an old friend both OF his father
and himself, and who was proud of
entertaining the youth laird" as he
called him, with his widest tales OF
adventure on the sea. They did not,
however, sit late, for Orkney packet
sailed very early in the morning, and
MacT., soon found himself in his
coy, Well-appointed little bedroom.
The wind was chanting a grand
Berserker melody, and the sea was
roaring deep bass accompaniment.
MacT., loved those sounds, for they
had often been the lullaby of his
childhood, and soon fell asleep. For
some hours he slept without an image
or a thonght reaching his mind but
at length, when the morning was
glimmering gray in the east. a strange
dream came " trouble him. He
DIRE tanned that he was in the ancient |
banquetiIg hall of his old house, in
the Mainland. sitting at the head of
q very long table. The banqueting
hall was now really almost in a ruin,
but in his dream MacT. saw it hung
with tapestry, and blazing with a
hundred lights. The table was filed
on both sides, and he though, he
glanced curiously down its length
to see who his guests were. AS he
looked he shuddered in his dream.
Those who sat at the table with him
we're all his dead ancestors for many
generations back. He knew their
faces and dresses well from their
portraits in the picture gallery. Next
20 him sat his own father, who had
lied about year before. And at
he bottom of the table sat a fair
haired man in a dress of skins, who
vas a Morse chieftain, the founder
Of the family. 1t seems to him that
he sat for some minutes as if spell.
pound. while the spectres murmured
ogether in low, hollow tones. At
ength they all rose, and slowly, one
|
~ one, in turn. left the hall. But
'efore they went, each one paused
It the door, and turning, raised his
and in a warning attitude. fixed his
yes on MacT., and said in q deep
dice, the word beware" The
Jacket starts in 20 minutes, sir"
ried loud voice at the door, reus-
ne MacT. suddenly from sleep.
confused at first, yet soon remem-
ering where be was, sprang out of
ed and began hurriedly 20 dress
imself. Being a bad sailor. his
rst glance was naturally enough at
ne sea. close to which the inn stood.
he wind had risen in the night
he waves thuudered on the shore, 81.
nd the little Orkney packet was
Dssing up and down like a limpet
hell. AS he gazed, his strange
ream rose up with sudden distinct 9
ess before MacT.'s mind. He was
fected with q good deal of thorough
;otch superstition. Besides he did :
Dt much like the looks of the sea,
Id SO he resolved not to go till to-
srrOw. That day the Orkney
acket was lost with every man on ;,
bard, and MacT., and his little n
life, who was left at home with the
Ibies, had 10 thank that warning ;,
cam for his life.-The Argosy. :,