The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-03-28

At Wo0 Az VIC SPAAuS va AooV ahol
prepared to leave my western home tt
attend the bridal Of a brother il
Huntsville, Ala. / have been such q
Jonas of a traveller that | canno,
avoid shuddering at the sight Of
water; but on that occasion my mind
was so flied with pleasant anticipa
tions of a reunion with relatives and
friends, that | was ANNOYED during
my preparations with usual forebod
ings and vague fears.
/ babe adieu to my friends al
Shreveport with a light and happy
heart, although my husband, being
Judge of the Eighteenth judicial dis.
frict, of course could not leave his
duties and accompany me. He WAS
holding court at the time repaired to
she boat, and one Of his personal
friends escorted me thither but, as
the steamer would not leave until
after dark, he would come down as
soon as he could adjourn court to bid
me adieu. had on my arm hand
some travelling companion or satchel,
which had just purchased, perfectly
new and lightly filled. To my di..
may and horror. | had no sooner put
my foot upon the steamer than the
chain of the satchel snapped in two,
and it rolled down at my feet.
If | had had the intellect of an
Alexander or a Cesar | could not
have battled with the sudden gloom
and terrible apprehension of approach,
ing evil which from that moment
took entire possession of me.
There" l exclaimed, sit il an
evil omen. If it were possible l
would not 60 on this boat"
My companion, of course. laughed
end endeavored to quiet my apprehen-
xicns; and conscious of the silly
weakness L betrayed. concealed any
further evidence of it from him.
do not tell this to the judge" /
requested. HE is afraid of my pre-
sentiments and 1 know he would
feel uneasy"
did not say any more. for 1 knew
that boat was the only opportunity |
would have of leaving for some time.
the river being exceedingly low and
navigation difficult.
Ny husband came down after
awhile and introduced me to the only
person on board of his acquaintance,
An elderly gentleman, Mr.. E., whom
he requested to take charge of his
family.
restrained all expression of un.
easiness until after my husbands de
parture. when freely confessed to the
old gentleman the singular hallucina-
ton which had taken possession of
me.
The old man, in a genial and pleas
ant manner, soothed nv apprehen-
sions, and the boat went steaming
down the river
1t was Saturday night sleepless
one to me-and all the next day,
with every knot the beautiful river
palace made down the winding cur
rent my hear felt shortened of its
throbs, as a malefactor who sees the
gibhet rise in the distance toward
which he veers.
Late i'm the evening of Sunday the
boat was mOored to the shore wooding
and We were all leaning over the
guards--some talking; but | peered
into the somber and melancholy gloom
of sad and solemn-l oking twilight.
My presentiment had taken by this
lime such possession of my mind that
1 had been able to speak of nothing
else; but oh! horror! while | was
standing there a new revelation of
terror smote upon my soul. Was it
some voice whispering to me from the
land of shadows? Whence whence did
it come? 1t WAS distinct as any utter
snce ever heard in my life.
You. you only. are menanced-
only your life trembles In the balance"
l held at that time my little daugh-
bv the hand. | had just folded away
two other little darlings in their berth
Happin-ss and wealth were mine. [
had all which could render life de-
sirable.
l cannot describe the feelings which
now took possession of my soul.
Powerless helpless. / was conscious
that my fate agltated adverse powers,
and that the dread moment sped on
ward on the wings Of the lightning.
We adjourned to the cabin, where
Mr.. e. and myself sought divan. the
chandeliers flashing with radiance. is
contrast to the solemn landscape with
out.
"Mr. Ell remarked, "our catas.
trophe will soon arrive-and I shall