Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-05-23
Three Minutes to Twelve.


wind blew strong and shrewdly, l was
returning home from spending the eve
nlng at friends house, situated some
three or four miles out Oftown. The
sky was so black, the country lanes
were so dark, that 1 was truly thankful
when the scattered lights of an outfy-
ing surb began 10 twinkle in the dis"
tauce, and it was with Sigh of relief
that l stopped under the first LAMP
post came to and looked at my watch.
1t was no easy task. tor the lamp-post
had pare broken and the strang wind
blew the gas in all directions and all
most extinguished ii.
read the time at last-three min-
utes 10 twelye-and, looking up from
my watch.lace. | started 10 see man
standing close opposite me. had
heard nothing Of bis approach. We
looked at each ober but Tor a moment,
vet it was time sufficient TO imprint his
features indelibly on my memory. A
tall, shabby man. in threadbare,
black flock coat and seedy tail hat
his face Ian ern- -jawed and saliow, his
ewes subken and lusterless, his beard
long and ill-trimmed. In a tone o.
elaborate civility he asked me the
time, thanked me for my answer, anc
giving me good night passed into the
black darknese. which seemed 10 en-
gulf him like grave.
l turned for moment TO think o.
bis lonely walk in that grim obscurlty'
and resumed my homeward way, laugh
lng at myself for the start be had given
ne. and rejecting that the strong vino
had blown away the sound Of bis ap'
proacb. Thought OF mm as 1 sal and
smoked my pipe over my fire, and tell
comfortable shudder steal upon me
as J. imagined him facing the bitter
blast in his insufficient clothing.
In the course of week or two the
lncident-triAing enough, heaven knows
faded from my memory, and
thought no more OF it.
In those days 1 was actively en-
Q aged 10 the timber trade, and the
course of my business took me a gooC
deal about the country, and brought
me largely in contact with the agents
OF the different noblemen and country
gentlemen of the district. With one o
these agents, who resided near th'
country town OF L., l had numerous
transactions, and 1 used often to run
down 10 L., 10 meet him, for the town
was only fifteen miles away, and wal
on line of railroad. It was a dull llttl'
hole enough, that only warmed up into
life when the militia were out or the
assizes were on.
One night returned from L., having
inst made large purchase from
ny friend the agent, whose mas
ter, a sporting nobleman, was reduced
| 10 cut down the family timber. Wher
fell asleep that night 1 had veri
simple but vivid dream. thought
was standing Oh a lofty hill, BY M
side stood yelled figure, who, with
commanding gesture, motioned m'
| toward the town of L., which lay 10 The
| far distance. Then | awoke.
Of course, explained the thing to
myself easily enough. 1 had been
GOOD deal engaged ~ the neigh5orhooC
| of the place, and had large venture
more or less remotely connected wit
lit. Still the dream was SO vivid tha
| could dot dismiss it from my thought
during the whole Of the day, and .whC
| went to bed at night l wondered it
would again visit me.
1t did come again; precisely the sam
dream. Once more | found con
vincing explanation. Doubtless l hat
been thinking too much about the frs
dream, and this had given rise 10 th
second. But my explanation did nc
convince me in the least; again wa
haunted by the thing throughout th
day, and whes I came home at nigh
my preoccupation was so evident tina
liz attracted the attention OF my wife
She questioned me upon the cause, and
only the thankful 10 unbosom mysel
of what was new almost trouble,
told her about the dream and Its re
petition. She had the tact not to laug
| at me, but was evidently little in
pressed by the narrative.
The third night 1t came again,
| anything, more vivid and startling tha
before. This time l was utterly ur
hinged, the pale face that fronted me L
the looking glass was hardly recosnii
able for my own. L went down
breakfast, filed with ioreboding
Q some of some misiortune-bad news !
nv letters-I knew not what.
The maid cutters with the letler'ba.
There said my vile, passing me
! letter on which was the L. post-marl
D That breaks your dream, john
e l opened it hurridly. 1t was fro
the agent, requesting me 10 meet hi
at T. that day at | o'clock, 10 arranl