The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-02-07

| CdAuuS W0. AuU ucDo 10 tH0 uOoC GA
traordinary part of it although wa
now quite awake, heard. as l thought
. voice saying to me: "Go tell Mrs
Benson Martha is deceiving her; tel
her to send her away at once"
Three times these words seemed to b.
repeated in my ear. l can't describ,
exactly what the voice was like; it wa!
not loud, but quite distinct; and fell
as listened that it was warning, an(
that 1 must obey it. woke my hus
band and told him my dream and thu
| words had heard. He tried to calm
my mind and evidently thought M
foolish to he so frightened by only 8
stupid dream. l said would drive
over the first thing after breakfast ant
see if anything was wrong with Mary
or her mother. The only thing thai
puzzled me was that Martha should bt
mentioned as deceiving Mrs. Benson
She acted as housekeeper and lady.
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 a silent, re.
served kind of person, about thirty-five
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 Nigh,
be from kind of shyness more than
anything else.
AS soon as breakfast was over SET
of, 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 to-
gether in the evening, if all was well
with his mother.
When l arrived found Mrs. Benson
and Mary looking as well as ever, and
everything seemingly just as usual.
Martha was sitting ut work in her little
room. which opened off Mrs. Benson S
dressing-room. l could not help look
ing at her more closely than l would
have done ut another time, and
thought l saw look of displeasure
cross her face at seeing me. Mary and
her mother were, of course, delighted
to see me, and asked why Henry did
not come, too. So l told them l would
stay till the next day, if they would
have me, and Henry would come for me
then. They were quite pleased at that
arrangement: for it was not very often
my husband could spend a whole day
with them.
AS the day passed on and nothing out
of the way happened, began to think
l had frightened myself needlesslv, and
that my dream or vision might have
been the result of an over-anxious
mind. And then Martha, what about
her? Altogether was perplexed.
did not know what TO think; but still
felt certain underlined uneasiness.
offered up silent prayer to be directed
to do right, and determined to wait pa
tiently and do nothing for while. l
almost hoped l might hear the voice
again. giving me definite instructions
how to act. Lunch passed and dinner
also, and the evening being very warm,
for it was the middle of July, we sat at
the open window. enjoying the cool
breeze that set in from the sea.
AS they were early people, shortly
after ten clock we said goodnight
and went up to our bedrooms. My room
looked on the avenue, some parts OF
which were in deep shade, while in
other parts the moonlight shone bright
ly through breaks in the trees. l did
not feel in the least sleepy. and, putting
out my candle, l sat by the window,
looking out at the lovely view; tor /
could see the coast quite plainly, and
the distant sea glittered like silver in
the moonlight. l did not think how
long had been sitting there, until l
heard the hall-clock strike twelve. Just
then heard, as I thought. a footstep
outside of my door, which evidently
stopped there, and then in few Sec
onds passed on. did not mind, think
ing it might be one of the servants,
who had been up later than usual, and
was now going quietly to bed. Ibegan
undrcss, not lighting the cand lie
again, as had light enough from the
moon. AS 1 came toward the window,
to close it, l saw, exactly as in my
dream, a female tigure--evidehtly keep
ing in the shade of the trees-going
down the avenue. l determined to fol-
low and see who it was, for now felt
the warning voice was not sent to me
for nothing, and l seemed to get cour-
age, girl though l was, to fathom the
mystery. l hastily dressed, threw a
dark shawl over my head, and, going
noiselessly downstairs, opened the
glass-door in the drawing-room win
dow, and left it so that l could come in
again. kept in the shade of the trees
as much as possible. and quickly fol-
lowed the path 1 had seen the woman
take. Presently l heard voices; one
was a mans, the other wOman's.
But who was she? l came close and
got behind a large group of thick
shrubs. l could now see and hear them
quite well; they were standing in the
light; l was in deep shade. Just then
the woman turned her head toward me.
1t was Martha? What did she want
there at that hour? And who was this
man? l was puzzled. Where had l seer
that face before? for that l had seen il
before was certain; but where, anC
when, could not remember. He wa;
speaking in a low voice, and did no
hear very distinctly what he said. Blu
the last few words were: "And why
not tonight? Delays are always dan
gerous, especially now, as they are be
ginning to suspect me-"
| DCCduSc MT. DeuSOI > uduSutcI-Il
law is here, and she is sleeping in thu
room over the plate closet and woult
be sure to hear the least noise. Wal
until tomorrow night; she will be gon
then. But. indeed, John, l don't Xix
this business at all. think we'd bette
give it up. No luck will come of it.
am sure"
"Look here, MARTHA" said the man
81 have chance of getting safe Of
now. l have it all settled, if yo
will only help me to get this oil
woman's plate. With that and fe,
little trinkets 1 happened to pick up
few years ago, you and may set up i
business over in America. The othe
fellows will help me. Meet me her
tomorrow night, to let me know tina
all is safe for us. See here. hav
brought you valuable present. Kee
| it until the plate is secure with me; fo
YOU must stay here until all blows ovel
then make some excuse for leaving, an
} come over and join me in New Yorl
l ~ 4