Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-03-04

the lodge, there was no one nearer than
Burnley, four miles off. Beside. it was
known that there was large quantity
of plate in the house; and the little sea-
side village was often the resort OF
smugglers and other wild and lawless
characters. One day, while thinking of
them, I felt so uneasy that [ said to my
husband:
Il hope, Henry, there is nothing
wrong with your mother; she has been
in my mind all day.
"Oh,' said he, ''why should you feel
anxious about her to-day? | saw her
Tuesday and, if she were i'll, Mary
would be sure to let us know. 1t is only
one of your 'fancies,' little wife.
Still I did not feel easy, for more than
once before my so-called Clancy had
proved to be "reality = so | determin-
ed that IN few days l would go and
see Mrs. Benson. All that evening I
could not get her out Of my thoughts,
and it was long time before went to
sleep [ think it must have been about
9 O'Clock in the morning that awoke
in state of horror. | had dreamed that
| saw Mrs. Benson standing in the win
dow of her bedroom, beckoning 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 ex-
traordinary part of it although I was
now quite awake, / heard, as | thought,
voice saying to me
go tell Mrs. Benson Martha is de-
ceiving her tell her to send her away
at once"
Three times these words seemed to be
repeated in my ear. can't describe
exactly what the voice was like it was
not loud, but quite distinct; and l felt
as 1 listened that it was warning, and
that | mast obey it. l awoke NV hus-
band, and told him my dream and the
words l had heard. He tried to calm
my mind, and evidently thought me
foolish to be so frightened by only stu
pid dream. 1 said l would drive over
the first thing after breakfast, and see
if anything was wrong with Mary or her
mother The only thing that puzzled
me was, that Martha should be mention
ed as deceiving Mrs. Benson. She acted
as housekeeper 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 silent, reserved kind of person,
about 80 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
be from kind of shyness more than
anything else.
AS soon as breakfast was over / set
off, telling my husband l would very
likely not return until next day, and, il
possible, he was to come for me. He
could drive over early and spend the
day. and we would return home togeth.
er in the evening, if all was we'll with
his mother.
When | arrived l found Mrs. Benson
and Mary looking as we'll as ever. and
everything seemingly just as usual
Martha was sitting at work in her little
room, which opened off Mrs. Benson's
dressing-room. could not help looking
at her more closely than / would have
done at another time, and I thought
saw a look of displeasure cross her face
at seeing me. Mary and her mother
were of course delighted to see me, anG
asked why Henry did not come, too 81
| told them would stay till the mex
day, if they would have me, and Henry
would come for me then. They wert
quite pleased at that arrangement, for il
was not very often my husband coult
spend a whole day with them.
AS the day passed on and nothing ou
of the way happened, | began to think
had frightened myself needlessly, anc
that my dream or vision might hav,
been the result of an over-anxious mind
And then Martha, what about her I? AL
together | was perplexed. | did no
know what to think, but l still felt
certain underlined uneasiness. | Offered
up silent prayer to be directed to d
: right and determined to wait patientl,
: and do nothing for while | almos
} hoped | might hear the voice again, CIV
| ing me definite instructions how to act
: Lunch passed and dinner also, and tn
evening being very warm, for it was th,
J middle of July, we sat at the open win
dow enjoying the cooling breeze that Sc
in from the sea.
: As they were early people, shortly al
} ter 10 o'clock we said ''good night" an
went up to our bedrooms. My roor
/ looked on the avenue, some parts Q
: which were in deep shade, while in 9th
e er parts the moonlight shone bright
0 through breaks in the trees. [ did nc
;. feel in the least sleepy; and, putin