Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-06-20
strange Phenomena.

cIh part VI NeW oIh, llFcu u iOHc-
ly widowed mother. Her husband
had been dead many years, and her
only daughter was grown up and
married, living at a distance of
mile or so from the family mansion.
And thus the old lady lived alone
day and night. Yet in her conscious
innocence and trust in Providence,
she felt safe and cheerful, did her
work quietly during the daylight
and at evening slept quietly. One
morning however, she awoke with an
extraordinary and unwonted gloom
upon her mind, which was impress
ed with the apprehension that some
thing 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 60 abroad
to give vent to it, unbosoming her.
self to her friends, especially to her
daughter. With her she spent the
greater part of the day, and to her
she several time repeated the recital
Of her apprehensions. The daughter
as often repeated the assurance that
her good mother had never done in
jury to any person, adding, 81 can
not think any one would hurt you,
for you have not an enemy in the
world" On her way home she call
ed 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 mansion she re-
ceived ANSWERS similar to those of
her daughter: "You have harmed
no one in your lifetime; surely no
one will modest you. Here, Rover"
she said to stout watch dog that
lay on the floor: "here, Rover, go
home with Mrs. Mosher, and take
care Of her" Rover did as he was
told. The widow went home, milk
ed her cows, took care of everything
out of doors, and went to bed as u.s.
ual. Roger had not left her for an
instant. When she was fairly in
bed, he laid himself down upon the
outside, and as the widow relied up
on his fidelity, and perhaps chided
herself with needless fear, she fell
asleep. Sometime in the night she
awoke, being startled probably by
slight noise outside the house. 1t
was so slight, however, that she was
not aware Of being startled at all,
but heard as she awoke noise like
the raising of window near her bed,
which was in a room on the ground
floor. The dog neither barked nor
moved. Next there was another
sound, as if someone 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 violent spring from the
bed and at the same time something
fell on the floor, sounding like big
log. Then followed other noises
like the paving Of dogs feet, but
soon all was still again and the dog
resumed his place on the bed with
out having barked or growled at all.
The widow lay awake, suffering, yet
not deeming it best to get up. But
at last she stepped out Of bed and
struck light, and there lay the
body of man extended on the floor,
dead, with knife in his hand. The
dog had seized him by the throat
with grasp of death, and neither
man nor dog could utter sound un-
til all was over. The man was the
widows son-in-law, the husband of
her only daughter. He coveted her
little store Of wealth, her cattle, and
land; and instigated by his sordid
impatience, he could not wait for
the decay of natureto give her prop
erty up to him and his, as the only
heirs apparent, but made this steal
thy visit to do deed of darkness
in the gloom of the night. A fear