Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-07-28
THREE MINUTES 10 TWELVE.

On cold December night some twenty
vcars ago. WHOM tie earth was bound In a
black frost, and the wind blew strong and
spitefully, 1 was returning home from
spending the evening at friends house.
situated some three or four miles out or
town. The sky was so black, the country
lanes were so dark, that I was truly
thankful when the scattered lights OF an
outlyiLg suburb began TO twinkle Ia tho
distance, and It was with sigh OF relief
that stepped under the first lamp came
to and looked at my watch. 1t was no
easy task, for the lamp had pane broken
and the strong wind blew the gas In all
directions and almost distinguished 1t.
read the time ut last-threc minutes to
l2-and, looking up from the watch face,
[ started to see a man standing close OPP
posire me. | had heard nothing OF his
anproach. We looked ct each other but
for a moment, yet It was sufficient timo 10
imurint his features indelibly on my
memory. A tall, shabby man, III n thread
bare black frook coat and 4 sccdy, tall hat,
hi, face lantern-jawed and sallow, his
owes sunken and lustreless, his board long
and ill-trimmcd In q tone OF elaborate
ciyilty nc asked me the time, thanked Lac
for my answer, and giving me good night
pnssed into the black darkness, which
seemed to engulf me like grave.
turned for moment to think of his
lonely walk In that grim obscurity, and
resumed my homeward way, laughing at
myself for the start he had given me, and
reflected that the strong wind had blown
away tho sound OF his approach. /
thought OF him as l sat and smoked my
njpo orcr nv fire. and felt u comfortable
shudder steal upon me as imagined him
facing tho bitter blast In his insufficient
clothing.
In tho course OF week or two the incl
dent-triiling enough, hcavon Knows
faded from my memory and thought no
more of 1t.
In those days was actively engaged In
tho timber trade, and the course of my
business took me q good deal about tho
country and brought me largely in con-
tact with the agents OF the different
noblemen and country gentlemen Of the
district. With one Of these agents, who
resided near the country town OF L., had
numerous transactions, and l used often
to run down to L. to meet him, for the
tswL was only fifteen miles away and
was on a limo OF railroad. 1t WAS q dull
little hole enough that only warmed up
into life when the militia were out or tho
aasizes were on.
One night l returned from L., having
just made largo purchase from my
friend, the agent, whose mastcr, sport
ing noblcman, was reduced TO cut down
the family timber. When fell asleep
that night / had worry simple but vivid
dream. 1 thought was standing on
lofty hill. BY my side stood voiled
figure, who, with a commanding gesture,
motioned me toward the town OF H.,
which lay In the far distance. Then l
awoke. ..
OF course explained the thing to my
self easily enough. L had been good deal
engaged In the neighborhood OF the place.
and had u large venture moro or less re-
motoly connected with II. Still tho dream
was 80 vivid that could not dismiss 1t
from my thoughts during the whole Of the
day, and when went to bed ut night |
wondered IL it would again visit me.
1t did come again, precisely the same
dream 10 precisely the same manner.
Onco more found convincing explana-
ton. Doubtless 1 had been thinking too
much about the first dream, and this had
given rise TO the second. But my e1pla-
nation did not convince me In the least.
Again was haunted by the thing all the
day, and when eumc home at night my
preoccupation was so evident that 10 at
tracted the attention OF my wife. Sho
questioned me upon the cause, and, only
too thankful 10 unboscm myself of what
was now almost trouble, told her about
the dream and its repetition. She had
the tact not to laugh at me, but was evil
dsntly little impressed by the narrative.
The third night it came again, if any
thing more vivid and startling than be-
fore. This time was utterly unhinged;
the pale face that fronted me in tho look
ing-glass was hardly recognizable for my
own. | went down to breakfast, filed
with forcboding Of some misfortune
bad news In my letters-I know not what
The maid entered with the letter-bag.
''There," said my wife, passing me a
letter Oil which was tho l.. postmark,
"that breaks your droam, John"
opened il hurriedly. It was from the
agent, requesting me to meet him ut L.
that day at one O'Clock TO arrange diff
Guilty that had arisen In the performance
OF his contract.
was intensely relieved. Here was an
opportunity of going to L., and perhaps
the very fact Of going would put me right.
There were two fast trains TO L. in the
morning, but decided TO go by the first.
regardless OF the fact That / should have
some hours to wait. So found Ely self
speeding away toward my destination.
The train was full. Pipes exhaled
their fragrance, newspapers were turned