The Portland daily press., 1895-05-02
WAS II A MURDER )?

Wnen aWoke out OF q troubled Sleep
was surprised to find my wife standing
by the bedside gazing intently and some
what anxiously at me.
"What is the matter?'' I asked, sitting
up in bed,
ut is time" she answered in strange
manner, "for some one to ask what is the
matter, and no one has better right
than yourself to answer
She gave nod and a look which clearly
indicated that some explanation was ex-
pected from me.
"Don't you remember wandering out of
the house during the night" my wife
asked.
''No.''
l had no recollection of it, not the
slightest, but was not astonished, for I
had always been a somnambulist, and once
when young I nearly broke my neck by
falling down stairs while under the i'm
preston that was in wood gathering
wild flowers.
1t seems that my wife was awakened at
8 in the morning by the noise caused by
the banging of the garden gate. She dis
covered that was not in bed; that the
hall door was open, and that I had evi
IDENTIFY just left the precincts of the house
by the gate. Before she had time to give
an alarm 1 had returned to the gate, which
l had carefully opened and then closed.
held in my hand something that looked
like small bludgeon. 1t was one of those
old horse pistols which in days of yore so
often adorned ancient walls and served as
reminder that the grandfather had either
fought against the French ON the Spanish
Main or had at least taken part in the en-
terprises of Nelson.
Having closed the gate, / carefully shut
the hall door, locking it and fastening the
chain. / assembled to top room and care
fully replaced the pistol in case, put it
on shelf in cupboard, which 1 locked,
and descending to my room put the key
in drawer.
My wife was she witness of every action,
but, as my eyes were open, she was doubt
full whether l was asleep, awake or half
asleep. Having, as with the gate, the door
and the pistol case, seen that the bedroom
door was carefully secured, quietly turned
out the gas, which I had lit, and got into
bed. When I awoke, it was to ask "What
is the matter?" and to find that I, myself,
was as completely ignorant of my SOM
nambulistic adventure as if I had never
been born.
The incident troubled me- To unlock
cupboards and take rusty pistols out of
forgotten cases, and then to wander out
into the darkness of the night like ghost,
was distinct and an alarming develop
ment of my sleep walking propensity.
I, Il l. g.
that I was dead asleep at the time But
her inoredulity has long since disappeared,
and with it all the gayness of spirit with
which it was expressed and accompanied.
The next day I sauntered in our old
churchyard. There was only one man ]
disliked in all the country round, and that
was the gravedigger. AS a rule, have a
fair opinion of gravediggers, just as have
of tax collectors, because, in quiet sort
of way, they discharge disagreeable but
necessary work. But ours was horrible
gravedigger. He squinted, and nature had
not quite finished his nose. He sneered at
you as you passed, and if he saw that you
were watching him digging he would
chuckle, as much as to say, "Aye, aye, my
good man, your turn will soon come!''
He got drunk. 1t was reported that he
was in the habit of beating his wife-a
poor, pathetic object, who, at busy sea-
son, brought his dinner to the churchyard,
where it would be eaten by the side of an
open grave.
Old Grubb had no friends, and few ac-
quaintances even, in the barroom of the
Rose and Crown. He was Stunned by
man and beast, and in his presence ]
found myself.
1 yentured to address him with all the
respect I could command.
"a new grave, Grubbs'' asked. "Who
is dead now?"
"Who do you think?' was the gruff re-,
sponse.
Il cannot guess, for I did not know any
one was ILL., -
Didn't yeP suppose ye didn't, and l
suppose ye did not care. Yet they told
me this morning there would be stir in
the village about it. Bah! She'll be
quietly laid here before this time tomor-
row and as soon forgotten as the rest OF
'em." Saying which, he gave sweep OF
his arm to indicate that he meant all the
occupants of our dilapidated but pictur-
esque Metropolis.
Our gravedigger was tired and thirsty.
He had not quite finished the grave, but
he declared that he would work no more
that day. He got ont of the grave by
means Of ladder, which he pulled up and
reared against the church between a but
tress and the wall.
Without saying anything further he as
cended the ladder and hid his spade in a
hole in the wall. When he came down,
he eyed Inc and said:
II forgot that you were looking, but
you won't tell any of them, will ye?'
What have to tell?'
Where I have hidden the spade. Il
you do, it will be stolen. They stole many
one till I discovered that hole under the
roof. It's safe there
He removed the ladder and flung 1t
among the long grass Then he put on
his jacket and lit his pipe.
We soon reached the parting of the way.
The village pnblic house and my home
were in opposite directions.
"You forgot, Grubb. to tell me whose
grave it is"
Did 1? No, I did not Well, that
grave, sir, is for my wife -
I shuddered, and with chuckle he
passed on toward the Rose and Crown.
Once he looked round to see what effect