Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-06-04
LOOKING UNDER. THE BED.

We were large family Of boys and
girls, now all married and scattered at
various distances from the early home
and aged parents, with the exception OF
two-a bachelor brother and Q widowed
sister. l was the eldest girl and had
married and settled not 10 miles from
home. But as ! was something OF an
invalid, and the journey between my
place Of residence and my old home
was broken by more than one change OF
railroad and a disagreeable wait OF over
two hours at . little wayside station, l
did not often take advantage OF the
nearness Of my people.
One night in the fall OF 1886, 1awoke
from an unpleasant dream about my
father and next morning at breakfast
astonished my husband by declaring
that ! was going home to see my pa
rents. My husband made no objection
to this move on my part, except regret
ting that he could not accompany me.
I was driven to the station and in due
time arrived in the town Of Middleton,
the little place where l was born.
It was a typical New England town,
with its pretty, quaint, box-like houses
with their green-painted blinds, the mar
row village streets well shaded with
noble elms and naples, the latter now
looking like enormous bouquets In their
gaudy autumnal coloring.
found my father quite well and In
the best Of spirits but several other
members Of the family had, like myself,
been taken with desire to visit the old
folks, for l found that nearly all my
brothers and sisters, with their respec-
tive families, were there before me, SO
that the old place looked quite like
former days.
While mother and Sister Kate were
evidently very much pleased with the
idea Of having kind Of an unexpected
family gathering, could see that they
were not little perplexed as to how
they were going to provide sleeping
quarters for SO many. My advent did
not help in the least, as / was enough Of
an invalid to be very poor sleeper and
a bad night was the forerunner of a 49,
hours headache, a headache that had
so far baffled medical skill. Where to
put me, therefore, in order that | might
be quiet enough to obtain sufficient
sleep not to spoil my visit, was the ques-
ton which troubled my mother and
Kate. However, my bachelor brother
was the one who settled the matter by
saying that l could have his room, and
that he could "bunk," as he termed it,
elsewhere.
Nat was the postmaster-had held
the position through several adj
ministrations-and was person Of
note in the place. His room was an ex-
tension built on to the side wing Of the
house and as remote as possible, in or
der that his comings and goings should
not disturb mother, who was a light
sleeper
Mother and Kate were alike relieved
by this arrangement, and l rejoiced in
having a room where no household noise
could possibly disturb my slumbers.
We were jolly crowd when we got
together. l had forgotten my bad
dream and was, in my quiet way, as
merry as the rest. The fun and frolic
continued until quite late. 1t was al
most midnight when Sister Kate es-
corted me to my room, and, after seeing
that everything was provided for my
comfort retired, leaving me 10 my own
devices to pass the time until l fell
asleep.
After Kate left me l looked about the
apartment. 1t was to me the only
strange room in the house where | was
born. | also felt lonely, as | was moi
accustomed to room alone, and coming
from the brghtly-lighted sitting-room
into the DINNER one may have brought
abouta strange feeling which oppressed
me, though | was not nervous atall.
The room itself was not attractive. II
was an oblong apartment, not very
high, with a door leading into the
grounds, as well as the one connecting
with the house, and these doors were al
least Is feet apart. The furniture was
not remarkable, except that it was de
cidedly old-fashioned. The bedsteat
was high four-poster. 1t stood witt
its side close to the outer wall of thu
room, and at the foot of it was an iror
safe. 1t was comfortable bed, though
however uninviting its position, and
felt weary enough to sleep even in {
strange place, so retired after paying
due attention to the fastenings of thu
outer door, which | found of massive
make and in good order, and, strange t.
say, ! fell asleep as soon as my hea(
touched the pillow and slept soundly
for some time
How long the duration of that sleeI
was / never knew. | awoke with {
start from the self-same dream which
had the preceding night, and amid wha
appeared to be babel of voices, one o
which l heard say distinctly;
"Not now until the 18TH"
There had been something strang'
about the dream Of the preceding night
While it left the impression of undue
unpleasantness and knew that it con
cerned my father, l could not recall
single incident Of it. But now coul(
remember that there was in it some ref
erence to the 9Th, and that was all
although I had evidently dreamed /