The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-05

place, long Way from the Httle usALilt
town, or rather village, of Barnley.
confess T often felt very nervous about Mrs
Benson and her daughter living all alone
Cher husband being dead many years..
Except three women servants in the house,
and the coachman and his family who
lived in the lodge, there was no one nearer
than Burnley, four miles off. Beside, ii
was known that there was alarge quantity Of
plate in the house; and the little seaside
village was often the resort of smugglers
and other wild and lawless characters. One
day, while thinking of them, I felt SO
uneasy that I said to my husband:
'T hope, Henry, there is nothing wrong
with your mother; she has beenin my mind
all day"
"Oh," said he, "why should you feel
anxious about her to-day 1 saw her last
Tuesday; and if she were ill, Mary would
be sure to let US know. 1t is only one of
your 'fancies' little wife"
Still did not feel easy, for more than
once before my so-called fancy" had
proved to be a reality" SO I deter
mined that in few days I would
go and see Mrs. Benson, All that evening
1 could not get her out ofmy thoughts, and
it was a long time before went to sleep.
1 think it must have been about three
o'clock in the morning that woke in a
state of terror. had dreamed that
saw Mrs. Benson standing in the window
of her bedroom, reckoning me to come to
her, and pointing to female figure who
was stealing along under the shade Of the
trees in the avenue, for the moon was
shining brightly.
started up, thinking heard her calling
me. And here is the most extraordinary
part of it although l was now quite
awake, heard, as thought, voice say
ing to me:
go, tell Mrs Benson, Martha is deceiv
ing her; tell her to send her away al
once"
Three times these words seemed to bt
repeated in my ear. 1 can't describe
exactly what the voice was like; it was no
loud but quite distinct; and I felt as
listened that it was warning, and that
, must obey it. I woke my husband, and
and told him my dream and the words
had heard. He tried to calm my mind
: and evidently thought me foolish to be Sc
;, frightened by only stupid dream. I sale
: l would drive over the first thing aftel
breakfast, and see if anything NGs wrong
: with Mary or her mother. The only thing
that puzzled me was, that Martha shoult
, be mentioned as deceiving Mrs Benson
She acted as housekeeper and lady's-mait
to her, and was believed to be most. trust
worthy in every way. She had been fou1
years with her, and was much respected
She was SILENT reserved kind of person
o about thirty-fve years of age. One thin
> I had often remarked about her was, tina
G when speaking to any one she never looke'
= straight at them; but I thought it nigh
be from kind of shyness more than any
q thing else.
: AS soon as breakfast was over I set of
telling my husband I would likely not re
. turn until next day, and, if possible, h
was to come for me. He could drive owe
early and spend the day; and, we woul
return home together in the evening, if a
. was well with his mother.
When I arrived found Mrs. Benson an
l. Mary looking as well as ever, and every
" thing seemingly just as usual. Marth
y was sitting at work in her little room
which opened off hrs Benson's dressing
1t room. could not help looking at he
l. more closely than would have done q
another time, and I thought I saw loo
1t of displeasure cross her face at seeing me
10 Mary and her mother were of course de
a lighted to see me, and asked why Henr
st did not come, too. So I told them woul
st stay till the next day, if they would hav
me, and Henry would come for me ther
J. They were quite pleased at that arrange
10 ment; for it was not very often that m
rs husband could spend whole day wit
10 them.
;. AS the day passed on and nothing out {
d the way happened, began to think ha
!, frightened myself needlessly, and that m
% dream or vision might have been the resu
II of an over anxious mind. And the
ct Martha, what about her? Altogether I wa
10 perplexed. did not know what to thinl
ot but still felt certain underlined uneasines.
le offered up silent prayer to be directe
A to do right, and determinedto to wait patient
it ly and do nothing for while. almo:
At hoped I might hear the voice again, givin
l. me definite instructions how to act. Lunc
d passed and dinner also; and the eyenin
lie being very warm, for it was the middle {
July, we sat at the open window enjoyin
1 the cooling breeze that set in from th
y sea.
l. As they were early people, shortly afte