The Penn's Grove record., 1884-05-24
Brother Ben.

countr over which 1 took my way as
had as country roads in general. Con-
sennentlyI was walking at a great rate,
with the collar of my rough coat over
my oars and comforter tied over my soft
hat and under my chin, to keep II on
and protect my ears, when suddenly a
man stood full in my path n caughI
me by the arm.
uUuuolp said he, you're just in
time: YOU are wanted at the cross
tO-night.'
The voice was that of a rufiian.
fancied myself attacked by a hlgh-
way-man l stood quite still, stroVe
to show him by my manner that was
able to protect myself.
what the deuce am | wanted at the
crossroads for?" said l, "Unless L
choose it will be a hard matter to get
me there"
But instead of producing a pistol ana
demanding my money or my lie, the
man answered in an altered tone:
oBeg pardon, | made a mistake. l
thought it was my brother, ana l "aLC.
ed to brighten him. Bad night, SlrF'
every" said l,
"You don't know the time slr?" he
asked.
at was seven when left the train at
"L," said.
''Good-night.n
''Good-uight," said |.
If his object had been robbery, prob
ably he had decided from my rough
appearance that | was too poor a man
to be worth the trouble. But after all,
thought, probably he spoke the truth.
A man NAV have such a voice without
being a highwaymaa, no doubt. so /
went hOmeWard and soon found myself
under shelter, and partaking of a warm
and savory supper.
NV mother was there and my brother
Ben. Ben was a great strapplng fellow
who could beat any other boy OF his
age for miles around, If 1t came TO
wrestling or boxing, and a good-natu-
red boy as ever lived; a boy always TO
mother and me, though he had eXercl-
sed his right to vote in one Presidential
election. When supper was over, ana
we had chatted for an hour, we went
up stairs toq ether. The moment Ben's
head touched the pillow he always went
to sleep. That night | followed his
example, But l did not sleep long
without a dream-a dream in which l
felt a rough grip on my arm, ana was
reused by a cry in my ears:
"Wuke upl you are wanted at the
cross roads"
1t was so real, SO palpable, that when
l became broad awake L actually be-
lieyed that some one was in the room;
the man who intended robbery or yio-
lence. But when | had arisen, and lit
my lamp. The oom was empty, ex-
cept myself and Ben, who lay snoring
on his pillow. l went TO the door; it
was locked. l went to the window;
the rush Of ram against the papes was
all / heard. L even went across the
gsSfagse tG fRSta bait III sss6R "HH" SH SHHdH%SSaf
Only a dream born of my meeting the
strange man IN the road, l felt had
awakened me. l went to bed and fell
asleep again. Again l was awakened
by the same words, this time shrieked
in my ear by an unearthly voice:
"Wake up, wake up. Yos are want
ed at the crossroads"
L was on my feet once more, and
caught Ben's hand as he anne over to-
ward my bed.
"What ails you?" he cried.
Nothing" said l. odd you hear
\ voice?"
yours" said Ben, cycling woke
me up; you fairly frightened me-"
Ben" said |, ''wait till light a
lamp; L heard another voice. There
must be someone in the house or out
side"
So 1 again lit the lamp, but we
searched in vain.
Nightmare, -" said Ben, when l told
him my story.
"Ben," said l, ''what is there at the
cross-roadsP"
"One little house, beside two oak
trees and a fence. An old man lives
there-a rich man, and a bit of a miser,
they say. His granddaughter keeps
house for him.
Ben, that fellow may have meant
harm to them. L may be wanted at the
CROSSROADS"
Brother" said Ben, ''go to sleep.
You had a nightmare" and Ben plum
ged in between the blankets and was
oAollllS oS"lh'
l also, in ten minutes, slept as sound
ly as before, but the awakening o
came again.
l opened my eyes to see a girl stand
ing at the foot of my bed. A girl In
white robes, with golden hair all about
her shoulders, who rung her hands and
cried, ''Oh, wake up, you are wanted
at the crossroads"
This time l started out of bed, Dathed
in a cold perspiration. | tremDled like
a leaf. l had no doubt that / had re-
ceiyed supernatural warning.
"Ben!' l cried; ben, for the third
time l have been told that am wanted
at the crossroads, and | am going"
And / began to dress myself as speed
lily as possible, listening the while to
the storm raging wilder and wilder
than at any other period since its COM
meneement.
Ben demonstrated with me in vain.
At last he also began to huddle on his
clothes.
''If you have gone mad | must go