The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-10-12

est in the spot then. Who was DR.. Massin-
ger!
Z" told him that he was an old friend of
my father; that they had been in the army to-
gether in India, where the doctor by some
lucky speculations, made a small fortune:
that he retired from the service and bought
Lornden BeecheS, where he lived till the fire.
| added that he was rather an eccentric man.
who summed general society and held politi-
cal opinions which at one time caused some
scandal in the country.
"'This,' | explained, is probably the rea-
son why you did not meet him at Caulder-
wode in old Sir Iasper'S time. They had a
serious quarrel. | was too young at the time
to know the exact cause: but it was some
thing about poacher, and after it they did
not speak. think my father once tried tc
make it up; but this does not interest you
80 Not much-not at all, except so far as it
relates to YOU he replied tenderly. So you
were happy child hefeF'
YES | said, very happy. After India
these cool, green fields seemed like Paradise
The garden was my great delight. 1t extend
ed from near that great beech to the crest of
the hill. That part where the turf is so
smooth and level was the lawn. The road was
a good deal further back then, and it must
have been exactly where we now are that the
house stood / went on, taking nv bearings
as sailor would say, from the position of the
trees and the slope of the grass. Yes: here
ran the entrance-hall. and there close beside
where our darling sleeps, was the dining
ROOM
"The words were hardly out of my mouth
when my husband gave piercing shrek, and
staggered, pale and trembling, against the
gravestone.
60 Describe that house. he gasped; tell me
exactly what it was like
GO 1t was an old-fashioned, formal, red
| brick house. | said, 'and my room
There was an Oak-loored hail. he inter
| rupted, getting more and more excited, and
the dining-room was the second door on the
| right. 1t had a Turkey carpet on the floor,
and portrait on the mantelpiece'
"'Why, thought you did not know
began.
"Again he interrupted. is it so? Is it as I
have said! Was the center of that room here
| here where l stand-at the side of our childs
grave, over the place reserved for mine"'
"'I think So was my reply.
DO not think he said solemnly; 'be
sure. You little imagine what may turn upon
your answer. Fancy that you can rebuild the
place. Here ran the hall, you say. Well, you
! know what grOund-plan is. Make one in
your minds eye, and tell me whereabouts the
table would stand in that dining room.
81 did as he babe me, and after as good a
calculation as | could make found that it
would stand, as he said, over the place which
| had been selected for our last home.
"He turned aside with a deep sigh, and
babe me go home alone. He had to see his
| agent, and would follow.
"The rest of the day and all that night he
was restless and excited, but did not return to
the subject of our conversation in the Gene
| terry except once, when | said | feared he was
| i'll, and begged him to see the doctor | re-
member now with what strange warmth he
insisted that there was nothing the matter
with him. Then he turned the subject with
a laugh, and said when people shudder you
say, Some one is walking over your grave
| Well, | walked over my own grave to-day.
and sudden spasm made me call out. Does
that prove that am i'll.
"Tne next morning he started for London
Gas he said) on business; but | do not think
he ever went there. He sent me a telegram
from Redhill stating that he might have to go
abroad, and would send me word where to
write to him as soon as his plans were more
settled.
81 never saw him again, and leave YOU to
imagine the agony of suspense and fear in
which lived for nearly three months.
"NOw, Mr.. Byles, read over once more his
account of that strange and wonderful dream
the dream he had never told even to me,
and had almost forgotten; the dream, every
portion of which, except one, had been full
filled. Fulfllment of this one had become
possible
81 remember all about it, said Bvle; " go
on please. | don't quite see what it has to do
with the shooting, though"
"This will show replied the widow,
| Placing loose sheet Oh paper DeIOre MN :
"read.'
He read as follows:
Theron Farm, Oct. - | have been here
three days in perfect peace, and have had OPP
portunities of calm and reasonable reflection.
The dream can be fulfilled throughout, but
will it! All depends upon Mcdonnell, whose
cursed hands is in every detail of fultillment
He greeted me in my own house Just as the
man who showed me my grave had greeted
me on the moor. He brought the news of the
wreck, and was the first to suggest that Cauld-
erwolde could be mine. 1t was through him
that Sir Jasper made me change my name.
| When | left my wife in the cemetery | called
on Spinks and asked how that particular plot
of ground came to be allotted to me. He said
he had chosen it on the advice of the attorney
of the company, who was very friendly and
recommended it as the best place, on account
of it being on high land and bearing the finest
trees about. l asked the name of that attor-
ney and, of course, found il was Mcdonnell
| had introduced him to business at Caulder-
woulde when we were friends. And this was
his gratitude! He Shooced me my grdoe Not
precisely as in the dream for that would be
impossible, but as nearly as he could, being
alone. He will go on: | have a rooted pre-
sentiment that he will go on and send me to
that grave if | can give him the merest
chance. My only hope is to hide somewhere
where he cannot find me till the 31st of De-
cember has passed, and for that purpose | am
uclt' COlHtbllllSS tlllllh lUdt lily DtSG pan
would be to seek him out and kill him in self
defense. 1t would be self-defense morally
and legally too. My boy is dead The scoun-
drePs wife has the reversion of Caulder-
wolde under Sir Jasper's will, if die without
issue. lean prove motive. l could show how
he has followed me up, step by step. He has
dreamed that dream himself, l am confident
he has, but | could not prove that. No; l
will hide.
Nov. %. have had to tell Byles who am,
so as not to be turned out He will keep my
secret. | cannot write up my diary regularly
as used. ] suppose it is because | have not
my proper book | shall go home on the
LIST of January when | enter on my thirty
fifth year and am safe. Then will copy this,
and fill up all | have thought. | shall re-
member most of what has passed through nv
mind, and Sbyl and l will have a good laugh
over it.
Noe. 81. If the dream be true, / have lust
one month to live. Thirty-one days, IA hours,
A, $40 minutes When my boy was dying we
counted the hours and the minutes, but he
did not know when he was to die. Some
of my minutes have passed as / am writing.
This sort of thing will drive me mad | must
not think
| am in excellent bodily health. | even
sleep well; no dreams. My appetite is good,
only cannot bear the idea Of things being
killed for me. When | insured my life for
Sibyl the doctors said that all my organs were
perfect. What can happen.
Dec. 81. He found me out! have seen
| him! He will return and do his damnahla