The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1880-09-02
HIILsBOROUGH, HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO THURSDAY, Sc

a word took a seat opposite me at
my table. This surprised me, as I
had given particular orders to the
servant that should on no account
be disturbed The manner in which
the intruder entered, so perfectly self
. possessed, taking his seat opposite
me, without a word, as though my
room and all within it belonged to
him, excited in me as much surprise
as indignation. As I raised my head
to look into his features, over the top
of my shaded lamp, I discOvexed that
! he was wrapped in thin cloak,
which efeCtually concealed his face
and features from my view and as 1
raised my head he spoke
"'What are you writing, Senator
from South Carolina?'"
"I did not think of his imperti-
nenCe at first, but answered him vol
UNFAIRLY
81 am writing a plan for the dissO-
luton Of the American Union (yOu
know, gentlemen, that I am expected
to produce a plan Of dissolution in
the event of certain contingencies.
"TO this the intruder replied, in
the coolest manner possible :"
Senator from South Carolina,
will you allow me to look at your
hand-your right hand2'
Gle rose, the cloak fell, and be-
held his face. Gentlemen, the sight
Of that face struck me like a thunder
clap. It was the face of a dead man,
whom eXtraOrdinaryevents had called
back to life. The features were
those of General George Washington;
yes, gentlemen, the intruder was
none other than George Washington.
He was dressed in the Revolutionary
costume, such as you see preserved
in the Patent Office"
Here, Mr.. Calhoun paused, appar-
emily much agitated. His agitation,
l need not tell you, was shared by
the company. Toombs at length
broke the embarrassing pause.
"Weh, we'll, what was the issue Of
the scene ?" Mr.. Calhoun resumed:
This intruder, as I have said, rose
and asked to look at my right hand.
As though I had not the power tore
fuse, I extended it. The truth is, I
felt a strange thrill peryade me at his
touch; he grasped it and held it
near the light, thus affOrding me full
time to examine every feature Of his
face. It was the face of Washington.
Gentlemen, shuddered as I beheld
the horribly dead alive look of that
visage. After holding my hand for
a moment, he looked at me steadily
and said in a quiet way:
" And with this right hand, Sena-
tor from Carolina, you would sign
your name to a paper declaring the
Union dissolved 7"'
'I answered in the affirmative.
Yes, said 1 'if certain contingency
arises, I will sign my name to the.
Declaration Of Dissolution But at
that moment a black blotch appear
ed on the back of my hand, an inky
blOtch, which 1 seem to see even
now. what is that?' said I, alarm
ed, I knew not why, at the blotch on
my hand.
" That said he, dropping my
hand, is the mark by which Bene-
dict Arnold is known in the next
world.
"He said no more, gentlemen, but
drew from beneath his cloak an OBJ
jeCt which he laid upon the table.
laid it upon the very paper upon
which I was writing. That object,
gentlemen, was a skeleton.
" There, said he, there are the
bones of Isaac Hayne, who was hung
in Charleston by the British. He
gave his life in order to establish the
Union. When you put your name
to a Declaration of Dissolution, why
you may as well have the bones Of
Isaac Hayne before you he was a
South Carolinian and so are you.
But there was no blotch upon his
right hand
''With these words the intruder
left the room. I started back from
the contact with the dead mans
bones, and-awoke. Overworn by
.abOr, I had fallen asleep and been
dreaming. Was it not a singular
1ream?"
All the company answered in the
affirmative, and Toombs muttered,
Singular, very singular" at the
same time looking curiously at the
back of his right hand, while Mr.. Cal |
noun placed his head between his
hands, and seemed buried in thought. |