The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-11-16
SAVED BY A DREAM.
ATHaicE REPEATED WARNING THAT
WAS LUCKILY HEEDED.


Reality Was = Perfect Reproduction Of
the vision Of the Brain.
Miss Mabel wilougbby. writing in
the Toronto Globe. relates this strange
story:
Many years ago my great-uncle, a
magistrate 0f niagara district, had oe-
casies5, ~ he often had, 70 make jour
No IN horseback through some OF the
more unsettled parts of western On
tario. As those were the pioneer days,
many parts Of Ontario now thickly set
tied and prosperous communities were
almost unbroken stretches Of forest, in
tersected by roads, passable only by
eqnestrians. The only places of public
accommodation were small tayerDs or
inns 10 be found at intervals Of many
miles along these trails OF roads My
nucle and his father -in-law. who ac-
ca1npanied him, carried large sums OF
money with which TO buy grain and
cattle from the settlers
Zone afternoon, toward nightfall, as
they were nearing the small inn where
they intended stopping for the night,
they beard the sound of horses hoofs
close behind them, and. turning in his
saddle, my uncle saw that the strangers
approaching him were dark yisaged
pair Of men whom he had noticed at
the dinner table with him at the last
hosiery. They. however, saiuted my
uncle and Mr.. H., his father-in-la in
a very civil manner and returned the
compliments of the hour.
1.-The party soon reached the inn,
and, TO uncle's surprise, the two stran-
gers trotted on past the only resting place
there was for miles But he concluded
that they were hunters or settlers liv-
ing further on, and so for the time
thought no more of il.
"Our two grain dealers took their
supper and shortly afterward retired
comfortably for the night Not long
after going to bed hlr. IL, feeling thirs-
", rose and went down to the barroom
for drink of water NO laughter here
He was local preacher and stanch ad-
herent TO the Methodist church,
"On entering the bar be was greatly
surprised to see stretched out on the
wooden benches the guests of the din
ner table and travelling companions OF
the early evening. However, he trou
bled very little about the matter, as be
thought that they had been overtaken
by night and turned back. On return
ing to the bedroom he found my uncle
dozing, and so made no mention of the
sv, . ka aud IN
few minutes fell asleep also.
''After short sleep uncle awoke ant
almost started out of bed, having had
most vivid and frightful dream, in
which be saw one OF those men adyanc
ing toward him with a dark lantern
turned upon his face and drawn knifC
in his hand But, finding the room per
fectly quiet, uncle persuaded himseI
that his dream was the result of som,
slight apprehension be had had concerI
ing the two men, and SO fell asle5
again, but only TO have the horrible vi
sion repeated
He began to feel that the dream. s.
vivid and persistent, might have IL
nature Of a presentiment, so put h.
hand under the pillow to see that hl
pistols which be carried were saf,
But as everything continued perfect
still he allowed himself 10 fail inc
light doze, which was again interrup
ed by the same dream. like a midngn
specter.
Snow thoroughly alarmed and feel
ing that bis dream was sent as a warn
ing, he reused the old gentleman by M
side and told him of it. Mr.. II. til,
told him of the men in the barroo.
This increasing their apprehension. L
two men decided TO watch by turns, J.
II. taking the first watch. Not five mi
utes had elapsed before footstep j.
outside their door caught the ear {
bO.h men.
''In q moment the door opened We
softly, and a man stealthily entered al,
crept toward the bed, while the two l.
the bed prepared for immediate defens
when thevillain had come close enouFi
10 be seen distinctly. kept perfect
quiet When within about two yards
the bed, the intending assassin, by th
manipulation of his lantern, which un
til this time had remained perfect,
dark, threw a clear light over the sup
posed sleepers and revealed to them ii
reality of the vision-the same MAJ
knife and lantern, with his murderoU
intention hideously written on his fixe,
countenance.
lone glance at his intended victims
and his expression changed to amaze
meat and fear aud he stood like on,
paralyzed as he met my uncle's stead,
and white face, who, with pistol pIe
sented, waited but another move on tn
part Of the villain to kill him ON the
spot But the man didn't move. Ali
was perfectly still, except for smoth
cred prayer from the old gentleman
Uncle was the first to speak. demand
ing what he wanted. No reply was
given. Uncle then, threateningly ad-
vancing his piece. ordered him to leave
the room at once on pain of death. In
obedience 10 this the robber, without
turning his face or changing his atti-
tude in any way. backed as steadily
from the room as he had entered it ana
was seen no more.