The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-09-20
rs-ss nni..,.. =. Twelve.

On . cold Decembcr night some
years ago. ~hcn the earth Vas bound 10
black frosi and the bitter wind blew strof
And shrewdly Was returning home fio
spending the evening sts friends hous
situated some three or four miles out
town. The sky was 40 black. the count'
lanes we're 20 dark that WAS truly shanl
ful when the scattered lights Of On outl,
Ing suburb began 10 twinkle in the di
tance. and II was With sigh OF relief thu
stopped under the first lamp post ! cam
10 and looked 81 my watch. II was y
easy task. for the strong wind blew ,h
gas 10 ali directions and almost ertin
gnished 1t
Tread Q time st last hFee lAinutes \
twelvs--and looking up from the watcl
face. ] started 10 zee man standing clos
opposite me. had heard nothing Of hi
approach. We locked At each other bu
for moment. yet IL Was sufficient time h
i-psi.t III. s.~t~.>. ;.A.aisiy my .>S~
ory. a tall. shabby man. IN threadbare
black frock coat aud seedy, tall hat. hi,
face lantern siawed and sallow, his eye,
sunken and lustreless aud his beard lonf
and i'll trimmed. In tone OF elaborate
civility he asked me for the time thanked
me for my answer aud bidding me good
night passed into the black darkness
which seemed TO engulf him like grave.
turned for moment TO think OF bis
lonely walk in that grim obscurity, and re-
sumed my homewsrd way. laughing
myself for the start he had given me. and
reflected that the strong wind had blown
away the sound Of his approsch. Thought
Of him as sat and smoked my pipe over
my fire and felt an uncomfortable shud-
der steal upon me A. l imagined him fac.
ing the bitter blsst with his insufficient
clothing.
In the course OF week or two the Incl.
dent--tlAing enough. heaven knows
faded from my memory, and thought no
more OF it,
In those days l was actively engaged in
the lumber business, and il took me good
deal about the country and brought me
largely in contact with the agents OF the
different noblemen aud country gentlemen
OF the district.
With one OF these agents, who resided
near the country town Of l.. had numer-
ous transactions, and used often to run
down to l.. to meet him. for the town was
only 10 miles away and was on line Of
railroad. 1t Was dull little hole enough
that only warmed into life when the mil
itia we're ont or the assixes we're on.
One night returned from L.. having
just made large purchase from my friend
the agent, whose master, . sporting noble
man, wos reduced to cut down the family
timber. When I fell asleep that night !
had very simple but vivid dream. II
thought was standing on lofty hill.
BY my side stood veiled figure who with
. commanding gesture smotionei me tow
ard the town Of L., which lay in the far
Then I awoke
OF course, explained the thing to my
self easily enough. I had been engaged
good deal 10 the neighborhood Of the
place, aud had large venture r-1re of less
with it. Still tbe dream was so
vivid I could mot disr'ss ~ from my
thoughts the whole ~. ana when went
70 bod at night : wondered il it would
lgain visit rse.
II ala co-e again; precisely the same
,rse.n id he same manner. Once moro I
!, 4nd convincing explanation. Doubt
sss, I had been thinking too much about
he first dream and this had given rise to
be second. But my explanations did not
onvince me in the least. Again l was
aunted by the thing throughout the day.
nd when ! came homo at night my preoc.
upation was so great that it attracted the
ltention OF my wife. She questioned me
pom the cause, and. only too thankful to {
nbosom myself Of what was now trouble /
told her about the dream and its rereti 6
on. She had the tact not to laugh at
e, but she was evidently little impressed
ith the narrative. II
The third night 1t came again, II any. 9
ling more vivid and startling than be- I
re. THIS time was utterly unhinged {
he pale face that frented me in the I
oking glass was hardly recognizable as 8
y own. ! vent down to breakfast, filed 9
ith 70 rebodmg Of some misfortune .
ID news ia my letters 4 knew not what. +
The maid entered with the letter bag t
There" said my wife, passing me = let
: on which was the L. postmark, "that y
eaks your dream, John" Il
| opened it hurriedly. II was from the y
ent. requesting me to meet him at l.. J
at day d ono o'clock 10 arrange q diff.
Ivy which had arisen 10 the performance
his contract.
! WAS intensely relieved. Here was an L
'portunity Of going TO l.. and perhaps Il
0 very fact Of going would put me right. 81
,ere we're two fast trains 70 l.. in the q
Drning. but decided 10 take the first, q
gardless Of the fact that should have b
me hours to wait So soon found my ii
II speeding away toward my destination. l.
se train was full. Pipes eIhsIed their D
lgrancs. newspapers were turned and
tened, and there was that leisurely e,
nd Of conversation that prevails among b
sn going of on an early train TO their o
- work. ! soon discovered that had b
len smong . party Of barrissers. and ia
cir chief topic was peculiarly interest VI
: csss which vas to be finished today st 4
Q Il sssizss.
HE must sum up against the prisoner = y
ID . gentleman with fat. forid face Ii