Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-06-08

heard II said, that spirits have no power
to speak until they are spoken to. Sum.
moning up resolution, therefore, and
making two or three attempts before no
could get his parched tongue In motion,
he addressed the unknown in tho most
solemn form Of adiuration that he could
recollect, and demanded to know what
was the motive Of his visit
No sooner had he finished than the old
man rose, took down his hat, the door
opened and he went out, looking back
upon Dolph Just rs he crossed the thres-
hold, as II expecting him to follow. Tho
He took the candle In his hand and the
Bible under his arm and obeycd the tacit
invitation. The candle emitted feeble,
uncertain ray; but still he could see tho
figure before him, slowly descend tho
stairs. Ho followed, trembling. When
Il had reached tho bottom of the stairs IL
turned through the hall toward the back
door of the mansion. Dolph held the
light over the balustrades, but In his
eagerness to catch n sight Of the un-
known he flared his feeble taper so sud
denly that 1t went out. Still therc was
sufficient light from the pale moon
beams that fell through narrow win
dow to give him an indistinct view Of
the figure near tho door. He followed,
therefore, down stairs and turned towards
the place, but when he got there the un-
known had disappeared. The door re-
mained fast barred and bolted; there was
no other mode of exit; yet the being,
whatever he might be, was gone. Hc
unfastened the door and looked out into
tho fields. 1t was n hazy. moonlight
night, SO that tho eve could distinguish
objects at some distance. He thought he
saw the unknown in n footpath that led
from the door. He was not mistaken;
but how had he got out Of the house? He
did not pause to think, but followed on.
Tho old man proceeded at measured
pace, without looking about him. his
footsteps sounding on the hard ground.
He passed through the orchard Of apple
trees that stood near the house, always
keeping the footpath. 1t led to well,
situated in a little hollow, which had
supplied the farm with water. Just at
this well Dolph lost sight of him. He
rubbed his eyes and looked again; but
nothing was to be seen of the unknown.
He reached the well, but nobody was
there. All the surrounding ground was
open and clear; there was no bush nor
hiding place. He looked down the well
and saw, at great depth, the reflection
of the sky in the still water. After re-
manning here for some time, without see
ing or hearing anything moro of his
mysterious conductor, he returned to tho
house full Of awe and wonder. He
bolted the door, groped his way back to
bed, and it was long before he could
compose himself to sleep.
His dreams were strange and troubled.
He thought he was following the old man
along the side Of a great river, until they
came to a vessel that was ON the point Of
sailing; and that his conductor led him on
the commander of the vessel, short,
swarthy man, with crisped black hair,
blind Of one eye and lame Of one leg: but
the rest of his dream was very confused.
Sometimes he was sailing; sometimes on
shore; now amidst storms and tcmpests,
and now wandering quietly in unknown
streets. The figure of the cid man was
strangely mingled up with the incidents
of the dream, and the whole distinctly
wound up by his finding himself on
board of the vessel again, returning home
with great bag of money!
When he woke tho gray, cool light of
dawn was streaking the horizon, and the
cocks passing the reveil from farm to
farm throughout the country. lie rose
more harassed and perplexcd than ever.
he had seen and dreamt, and began TO
| doubt whether his mind was not affected
| and whether all that was passing in his
| thoughts might not be mere feverish fan
tasy. In his present state OF mind he
| did not feel disposed to return immedi-
atcly TO the doctors and undergo the
cross questioning of the household. Ho
made n scanty breakfast, therefore, on
the remains of the last nights provisions,
| and then wandered out into the fields to
mediate on all that had befalled him.
| Lost in thought, he rambled about, grad
ually approaching the town, until tine
morning was far advanced, when he was
reused by hurry and hustle around
him. He found himself near the waters
edge in throng of people, hurrying to q
| pier, where there was vessel ready to
make sail He was unconsciously car
ried along by the impulse of the crowd,
and found that it was sloop, on the
point Of sailing up the Hudson to Al.
bany. There was much Nve taking and
kissing of old women and children, and
great activity in carrying on board bas
kets of bread and cakes and provisions OF
all kinds, Notwithstanding tho mighty
joints of meat that dangled over the
stern, for voyage to Albany was an eX
pedition of great moment in those days
me Joli.hai9et Gi tiio sioJp WIS 'ny nutly
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snee.
The appearance of the commander sud
denly caught Dolph's attention. He wa!
short and swarthy, with crisped blacl
hair; blind of ono eve and lame OF on,
leg-tho very commander that he ha,
seen in his dream! SURPRISED and aroused
he considered the scene moro attentivel,
and recalled still further traces of hi
dream; the appearance of the vessel. o
tho river. and of n variety of other oh