The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-02-14


Der bedroom, beokoning me to come
her, aud pointing TO $ female figure WI
was stealing along under The shade Of Il
trees IN the avenue, for The room WI
shining brightly.
started up, thinking heard aer cal
ing me. And here Is The most ex,rao
dinsry part OF II sii--lhough was mo-
quite Awske, beard, as thought,
voice saying 70 me: 60 tell Mrs. Bel
son Martha is deceiyiBg her; tell her
send her away at once.
Three times these words seemed TO b
rercaied 10 my ear ! can't describe E,
aclly what the voice was like; Il WAS lou
bat quite distinct; SAD ieIt as | Iistene
thai Il was q warning, aud that mu.
obey Il. ! woke my husband and toll
bim my dream and the words ha
heard He tried to calm my mind am
esideully lhought me foolish to be 8
frightened BY only a stupid dream.
said ! would drive over The FIRST thin,
after breakfast and see il anything wa
wrong with Mary or her mother. Tn,
only thing that puzzled me was tha
Martha should be mentioned as deceivlns
Mrs, Benson. She acted as house keepe
aud lady's maid to her aud was believed
10 be most trustworthy In every way
She had been four years with her ant
was much respected. She was silent
reserved kind of person, about thirty five
years OF age. One thing had often re
marked about her was, that when speak
ing 10 any one she never looked straight
at them; but thought il might be from
kind OF shyness more than anything
else.
AS soon as breakfast was oyer set of,
telling my husband | would very likely
not Ietnrn until next day; aud, if posi-,
Die, he was TO come for me. lie could
drive over early and spend the day; aud
we would return home together 10 the
evening, il all was well with his mother
When arrived | found Mrs. Benson
and Mary looking as well as ever, and
everything seemingly just as usual. Mar.
tha 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 thought ! saw look
Of dispieasure cross her face at seeing lne
Mary and her mother were, of course,
1ehghted TO see me, and asked why Hen
ry dld not come too. SO | told them
would stay till the next day, If they
would like to have me, and Henry would
'one for me then. They were quite
pleased at that arrangement; for it was
lot very often my husband could spend
whole day with them.
AS the day passed on and nothing ont
II the way happened, began to think
iad frightened myself needessly, and
hat my dream or vision might have been
he result of an over anxious mind. And
hen Martha, what about her? Altogeth.
= ! was perplexed. | did not know
What to think; but | still felt certain
Iudehned uneasiness. offered up si-
ent prayer to be directed 20 do right,
nd determined TO wait patiently and do
Iothing for a while. ! almost hoped /
night hear the voice again, giving me
Iefinite instructions how to act. Lunch
'assed and dinner also; and the evening
eing very warm, for II was the middle
I July, we sat at the open window en-
Dying the cooling breeze that set In from
he sea.
as they were early people, shortly af-
n ten o'clock we said good night, aud |
'ent up 10 our bedrooms My room
'oked on The aveuue, sume parts of
hieh were IN deep shade, while in other
ats The moonlight sbone brightly I
IFongh breaks IN the trees. | did not I
.el ~ The least sleepy; aud putting out
" candle | sat by the window, looking
the lovely view; for / could see ile
1ast quite plaiulY, and the distant sea
Uttered like silver IN The moon light.
ID not think how long | had been sitting
iere, until ! heard the bail clock strike
veive. just Then heard, as | thought,
foolstep outside OF my door, wAict,
'menlly stopped theIe, aud then Ia
" seconds passed ON did not mind.
linking i might be one Of tie servants,
40 had been up later than usual, aud
as now going quietly TO bed. began
nndress, not lighting the candle again, q
! bad light enough from the moon. As
came towards the window TO close It, +,
W, exactly as in my dream, female
sure-evidently keeping iu the shade OF
6 'fees-going down the avenue. | de.
rInined TO follow aud see who II was,
Z now felt the warning voice was not
at TO me for nothing, and seemed 10 ,
I courage, girl though was, to fathotn ,
G mystery. ! hastily dressed, threw
'rk shawl over my lead, and going
'iselessIy down Stair, opened the glass I
'or In the drawing room window, and 1
i j 50 that could come in again. / {
pl 10 the shade Of the trees As much a. !
'ssible, aud quickly followed the path I
d seen the woman take Presently I
ard voices one was a mans other a wo-
1n's. Bat who was she! came close !
d got behind large group of thick .
fubs, ! could now see and hear them {
lte well, they we're standing Ia The 8
hii ] was 10 deep shade. Jna then 4
womsn turned her bead towards zoe. n
was Martial What did size want Q
ire ct that bour2 And who was this .
M ] wac puzzled. Where bad / seen q
u face beioref for that | bad seea II II