The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1898-09-23
SAVED BY A DREAM.
A THRICE REPEATED WARNING THAT
WAS LUCKILY HEEDED.

MISS MABEL NllOughby, writing IN
the Toronto Globe, relates this strange
story:
Many years ago my great-uncle, a
magistrate of Niagara district, had &C.
casiOn, as he often had, TO make jour
ney ON horse back 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
equestrians. The only places of public
accommodation were small taverns or
inns TO be found at intervals Of many
miles along these trails or roads Ny
uncle and his father-in law, who &C
cOmpanied him, carried large sums of
money with which TO buy grain and
cattle from the settlers.
Zone afternoon, toward nightfaIl, as
they WERE nearing the small inn where
they intended stopping for the night,
they heard the sound of horses hoofs
close behind them, and, turning in his
saddle, my uncle saw that the strangers
approaching him were a dark visaged
pair of men whom he had noticed at
the dinner table with him at the last
hostelry. They, however, saluted my
uncle and Mr.. H., his father-i law, in
very civil manner and returned the
compliments of the hour.
''Ths 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 farther ON, and so for the time
thought no more of it.
"Our two grain dealers took their
supper and shortly afterward retired
comfortably for the night. Not long
after going to bed Mr.. H., feeling thirs-
ty, rose and went down to the ba1room
for drink of water. (No laughter here
He was local preacher and stanch ad-
herent to the Methodist church,
'On entering the bar he 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 he
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
uncanny pair in the barroom, and in a
few minutes fell asleep also.
''After a short sleep uncle awoke and
almost started out of bed, having had
most vivid and frightful dream, in
which he saw one of those men advanc-
ing toward him with a dark lantern
turned upon his face and drawn knife
in his hand. But, finding the room per-
fectly quiet, uncle persuaded himself
that his dream was the result of some
slight apprehension he had had concern
ing the two men, and so fell asleep
again, but only to have the horrible vi
sion repeated.
''He began to feel that the dream, so
vivid and persistent, might have the
nature Of a presentiment, so put his
hand under the pillow to see that his
pistols which he carried were safe.
But as everything continued perfectly
still he allowed himself to fall into a
ed by the same dream, like a midnight
specter.
''Now thoroughly alarmed and feel
ing that his dream was sent as a warn
ing, ,he reused the old gentleman by his
side and told him of it. Mr. H then
told him of the men IN the barrOom.
This increasing their apprehension, the
To toh 1,x,f Nv.
H. taking the first watch. Not five min
utes had elapsed before a footstep just
outside their door caught the ear of
both men.
In moment the door opened very
softly, and man stealthily entered and
crept toward the bed, while the two IN
the bed prepared for Immediate defense
when the villain had come close enough
to be seen distinctly. kept perfectly
quiet. When within about two yards of
the bed, the intending assassin, by the
manipulation of his lantern, which un
til this time had remained perfectly
dark, threw a clear light over the sup
posed sleepers and revealed TO them the
reality of the visiOn-the same man,
knife and lantern, with his murdeTOus
intention hideously written on his fixed
COuntenanCe.
lone glance at his intended victims
and his expression changed to amaze
ment and fear and he stood like one
paralyzed as he met my uncle's steady
and white face, who, with pistol pre-
sented, waited but another move on the
part of the villain TO kill him on the
spot. But the man didn't move. All
was perfectly still, except for a smoth