Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-02-22

very important taking place until the
last Year, during which time | had been
married. My husband was harrister.
We lived in the north If England. Nv
mothcr-in-law, Mrs. Benson. and Mary.
one Of her daughters, lived some miles
AWAY from lis, near the seacoast Ii
was y very lonely place long way
from the little fishing town, Or rather
village, Of Burnley. | confess often
felt very nervous about Mrs. Benson
and her daughter living alone cher nus
band being dead many years.. Except
/ three women servants in the house, and
the coachman and his family, who lived
III the lodge, there was no one nearer
4 than Burnley, four miles off Besides,
il was known that there was large
quantity of plate i'll the house; and the
little seaside village was often tho re-
sort Of smugglers and other wild and
lawless characters. One day while
thinking of them, | felt 50 uneasy that
| said to my husband IL hope, Henry,
that there is nothing wrong with Your
mother; She has been III my mind all
day"
"Oh, said he, why should YOU feel
20 anxious about her to-day | lsaw he
last Tuesday; and If she were i'll, Mary
would be sure to let Us know. 1t is
only one OF your tances, little wife.
Still | did not feel easy, for more
than once before my so-called fancy had
proved 70 be u reality, 50 determined
that III few days | would 90 and see
Mrs. Benson. All that evening could
not get her out Of my thoughts, and il
was u long time before ] went 10 sleep
| think it must have been about three
o'clock liz the morning that | awoke III
a state Of terror. | had dreamed that
saw Mrs, Benson standing III the window
Of her bedroom, beckoning me To come
to her. and pointing 10 female figure
who was stealing along under the shade
Of the trees i'll the avenue, for the moon
was shining brightly.
| started up, thinking heard her
call me. And here is the most extraor-
dinary part Of it although was now
quite awake, | heard, as | thought. il
Voice saying to me: tio tell Mrs Rem
son Martha is deceiving her: tell her 10
send her away Mt once.
Three times these words seemed "a
be repeated in my ear. ! can't describe
exactly what the voice was like. il wa@
not loud, but quite diatinct and | felt
as | listened that it was warning, and
that must obey it, | woke my hlls-
band and told him nv dream and the
words had heard. lie tried 70 calm
my mind and evidently thought me
foolish to be so frightened by only 4
foolish dream. | said | would drive
over the first thing after breakfast and
see if anything was wrong with Mary or
her mother. The only thing that puz-
zlcd me WAS that Martha should be men
toned rs deeeiying Mrs. Benson. She
acted rs housekeepcr and lady's maid
to her, and was believed TO be most
trustworthy in every way. She had
been four years with her, and was much
respected She was Il silent, reserved
kind Of person, about thirty-iivc Years
Of age. One thing had often remarked
about her was, that when speaking to
any one she never looked straight at
them: but thought it might he from i
kind Of shynees moro than anything
else.
Az soon Is breakfast was over | sci
Off telling my husband | would very
likely not return until next day; and IL
possible, he was to come for ME, He
could drive over early and spend tire
day; and We would return home to
gether in the evening if all was we'll
with his mother.
When arrived found Mrs. benson
and Mary looking AZ well as ever, and
everything seemingly just ~ usual.
Martha Was sitting at work III her little
room, which opened OIL Mrs. Benson's
dressing-room. could not help look
ing at her more closely than ! would
have done 1T another time, and
thought saw a look Of displcasure
cross her face 1T seeing nc. Mary and
her mother were, Of course, delighted
TO see me, and asked why Henry did
not come too. SO told them | would
stay till the next day, if they would
have me, ana Henry would come for
me then. They were quite pleased Mt
that arrangement, for it WAS not very
often my husband could spend d whole
day with them.
As the dav passed Oh and nothing
out Of tho way happened ! began to-
think lad frightened myself needless
Il, and that my dream or vision might
have hoen the result If ali oycr-anxjous
mind. And then Martha, what about
herr Altogether | was perplexed. n
did not know What - think but | still
felt 4 certain undetinod uncasncss. |
offered up silent prayer 10 be directed
10 10 right, and determined e. wait IA
tienty and do nothing fer i while.
almost hoped | might hear the voice
again, giving me definite instructions
how ID act Lunch passed, and dinner
aIsa. and tho evening bong lery warm.