The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-06-23
Mrs. Sherman'S Dream.

Mrs. George Sherman, living with her
husband on Il farm in Western Kan, was
left with her little boy, four or five wears
of age. and IA half-brecd Indian known "a
Jack, while her husbanp paid a business
visit To Ellsworth, ~thirty-iive mile away.
Jack had been with the family two wears,
and though at times nrUru~c and sulky ,he
had always proved faithful. Sherman
money sent on from the east BY 4 brother,
for whom he was to invest it. The sub
Jet had, of course, been talked over be
tween him and his wife. but neither of
them had the least idea that Jack suspec-
tel the nature of the GRAND.
Mrs. Sherman could Use firearms and
sclf-reliant ma She had a navy IT.
volver for her protection, though "a a
matter of fact she would have smiled at
the idea of any danger coming To her.
The country was clear of lawles- charac-
terS, two or three savage dogs were at
hand to take care of strangers, and Jack
could be depended on with his carbine in
case of necessity.
Sherman went away On horseback. 1t
would take him the best part of a day to
reach Ellsworth, a. he had to make a
stop e~n-route. He would be detained
there Il day. and would reach home, leav-
ing a. he did on Monday morning, on
Wednesday morning, This was based on
the calculation that he would leave Els
worth on Tuesday night and ride all
night. 1t was in the latter part of June,
with beautiful weather and good roads.
Nothing out of the usual routine occur
red until Tuesday night-that L. Mrs.
Sherman observed nothing To rouse her
suspicious, although she afterward recall
ed several strange incidents. For in
stance. the husband had not been gone
an hour when one of the dogs howled in
the most dismal manner, and when the
~half-breed sought to quiet it the animal
showed his teeth and seeIpel revengeful.
1t was remembered, too, that Jack APP
peared independent and defiant, and
when the wife gave him orders he took
his own time about obeying them. He
slept in the stables. and one of the dogs
generally kept near him, but when night
came on the first day both CANNES were
determined to sleep in the farm house,
and both were admitted. II was the
same on the next night. On Monday
night the bruteS seemed To hear some one
walking about outside, hut Mrs. Sher-
man gave the matter little thought, be
lieving the noise To have been occasioned
by Il loose horse.
ON Tuesday night She went To bed at 9
o'clock. having seen that everything was
secure, and she had scarcely dozed off be
fore she began dreaming. The dream
began with the arrival of Il letter from
the east that the money was coming. Ii
was in the evening. and husband and
wife talked the matter over a. they sat
near an open window. This was just
what did occur in reality. but i'll her
/ dream Mrs. sherman saw the half-breed
crouch down under the window outside
To listen. She saw him creep away i'll
the darkness, and realized that he was in
possession of the secret. She dreamed
that her husband rode ava to Ellsworth
lust a. ne had done. and that after he
had gone Il vicious looking half-breed,
with Il scar on his left cheek, came To the
stable in the night and had IL long
talk with Jack. She could not hear
what they said. but their looks and ac-
tons indicated evil. By-and-hy they
left the stable. and she saw that Jack had
his carbine and the other Il revolver.
They went down the road toward Els
worth about two miles, and halted ut a
ford.-This was Il lonesome spot, being in
Il dip. with wild plum trees growing
thicklv on each side of the road.
Then the dream changed and she saw
her husband come riding up. She knew
that the men were hiding to waylay him,
and she tried to motion or shoot To warn
him. Her voice would not come. and
she hadn't the strength 10 lift her hand.
As her husband crossed the creek the
two men sprang out and fired at him,and
she saw him fall to the ground and the
frightened horse dash.away. The scream
she uttered banished sleep in an instant.
and as she found herself wide awake II
of the dogs uttered Il long-irawn howl. Ii
was only three quarters of an hour since
the woman had got into bed. The dream
had been 50 vivid and the impression 80
strong that she at once dressed herself,
determined to investigate AT least the
point from which it started. Leaving her
child asleep in bed and taking the revol-
yer in hand. she softly left the house and
proceeded to the stables. She reached
them 10 hear the low voices of men in
conversation, and as she put her eye to Il
crevice she saw that Jack had Il compan-
ion. They were cleaning and loading
their firearms by the light of a candle,
and the stranger was marked on the
cheek as the woman had dreamed. Ii
was well she had the heart of Il brave
man. Had she BETRAYED herself by any
act of womanly weakness, her death
would have followed. She retreated as
quietly a. she had come, and when again
in the house, she tried 10 think what
should be done. If her husband left
Ellsworth at say seven O'Clock, he would
be home by two in the morning-by
three at the latest. She need not make
any new move for TIVE or thee hours
yet.
Fortunately for the woman the little
boy was in robust health and a sound
sleeper. She equipped herself for a night
walk, and then turned out the light and
sat in the darkness. Both dogs came and
law at her feet, but at intervals were ner-
vous and uneasy. There wonderful pow