Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-08-21

STRANGE PHENOMENA.

About forty years ago, in tho western
part Of New York, lived lonely widowed
mother. Her husband had been dead
many years, and her only daughter was
grown up and married, living distance
Of mile or so from the family mansion
And thus the old lady lived alone day
and night. Yet in her conscious inno-
cence and trust in Providence, she felt
safe and cheerful, did her work quietly
during tho daylight and ut evening slept
quietly. One morning, however. she
awoke with an extraordinary and I'M
wonted gloom upon her mind, which
was impressed with the apprehension
that something was about to happen to
her or hers SO full was she OF this
thought that she could not stay at home
that day, but must go abroad to give
vent to it, unbosoming herself to her
friends, especially to her daughter -
With her she spent tho greater part of
the day, and to her she several times
repeated the recital of her approximations.
The daughter as often repeated the as
surance that her good mother had never
done injury to any person, adding: II
cannot think that any one would hurt
you, for you have not an enemy in the
world" On her way home she called
on her neighbor who lived in the last
house before she reached her own. Here
she again made known her continued
apprehensions, which had nearly ripened
into fear, and from the lady of the man
sion she received answers similar to those
of her daughter, "You have harmed no
one 10 your lifetime, surely no one will
modest you" Here, Rover she said
to stout watch dog that lay on the
floor; "herc Rover 90 home with Mrs.
Mosher, and take care Of hor." Rover
did as he was told. The widow went
home, MIXED her COWS, took care Of
everything out Of doors, and went to
bed as usual Rover had not left her
for an instant When she was fairly in
bed, he laid himself down upon the out
side, and as the widow relied upon his
fidelity, and perhaps child herself with
needless fear, she fell asleep. Some
time 10 The plight she awoke, being
startled probably by slight noise out
side the house. Ii was so slight, how
ever, that she was not aware Of being
startled at all, but heard as she awoke
a sound like the raising of u window
near her bed, which was in room on
the ground floor. The dog neither barked
nor moved. Next there was another
sound, as if some one was in the room
and stepped cautiously on the floor. The
woman saw nothing, but now for the first
time felt the dog move as he made vio-
lent spring from the bed, and at the
same moment something fell on the floor
sounding like a heavy log. Then fol-
lowed other noises like the paving of
dogs feet, but soon all was still again
and the dog resumed his place on the
bed without having barked or growlcd
at all. The widow lay awake, suffering,
yet not decming it best to get up. But
at last she stepped out of bed aud struck
light, and there lay tho body of man
eXtcn0eo OH bnc uOoT, ucuu, WIFI large
knife in his hand. The dog had seized
him by the throat with grasp Of death,
and neither man nor dog could utter
sound till all was over. The man was
the widows son-in-law, the husband Of
her only daughter. He coveted her lit
tie store Of wealth, her house, her cattle,
and her land and instigated by his sor-
did impotence, he could not wait for
the decay of nature to give her property
up 70 him and bis. as the only heirs ap-
parent, but made his stcalthy visit TO do
deed Of darkness 10 the gloom Of the
night A fearful retribution awaited
him. The widows apprehensions, com
muncaited to her mind and impressed on
her nerves by what unseen power we
know not, the sympathy Of the woman
who loaned the dog, and the silent but
certain watch Of the dog himself, formed
chain Of events which brought the
murderer's blood upon his own head, and
which are difficult to bc explained with.
out reference 10 that Providence who
numbers the hairs Of our heads, watches
the sparrows fall, and shapes our ends,
roughhcw them as wo will.-Harper's
WeeLIU.