The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-04
YOUNG MAN SAW STEpMOTHER
Disappeared Like a Spectre when He Arose
From His Bed al DayhTeak.
THE STEpMOTHERSS CURIOUS DREAM
Saw Strange House and Noticed Her Stepson
Asleep She Had Nevsr Been in Il While
Awake bul Described Interior PERFECTLY

, In company recently the subject OF
psychology was discussed. Every one with
a careless courage vouchsafed an opinion,
some condemning as utterly absurd the
stories of ghosts that crawl from graves
and OF the midnight emissaries from an
other world who, unleashed for u brief
space. appear in caliginous localities for
the sole purpose of frightening weak
minded mortals into fits.
'If these ghosts, 4" said one Of the party,
"are simply struggling beggars, why don't
they ask for what they wantS II they de-
sire to disburden their minds, why don't
they visit some one with strong nerves in
stead of those with agile heelsf"
OF course the conversation was seasoned
with narratives of spectral appearances
or of occurrences akin to them, and two
of these latter / purpose to lay before the
reader. The first came from man on
whose veracity feel bound to rely.
Il was at college at the time" said the
person indicated, land i had notified my
mother that would be home for vacation
at q certain time. / say my mother,
though she was in reality my stepmother,
yet nevertheless as much to me as though
had been her own. When / reached a
certain village on the railroad on my way
home, remembered that IL was the near
est station to the residence of my late IA
theirs brother, whom had not seen since
Twas child, and, knowing that / had
near at hand number Of cousins OF whom
had often heard, determined to stop
and pay my relatives visit. 1 hired
vehicle and reached my uncle's house just
at nfehtfall / received most hearty
welcome and was delighted with the host
of young people who called me cousin.
spent many happy days there. There were
hosts OF relatives around on whom had
to call, and there were places Of interest
which had to see and there was fine fish
ing and don't know how many delightful
occupations day after day to occupy my
time. I was SO happy among my cousins
that forgot all about home, and put of
from day to day writing TO my mother,
until n whole month passed away.
"Now, / may say that my stepmother
had never seen my uncle's dwelling,
though she had met my uncle and some
OF his family more than once. The house
was an old fashioned one, with many pc
culiarities in its structure. AT one corner
was a sort Of round tower and In this
tower was the bedroom which / occupied.
It was the Oldest part Of the building, and
the window was I'm deep recess. for the
wall was fully three feet thick. The bod
i slept in was in keeping with the room,
being what was known as tent bedstead,
with chintz curtains, gathered up at each
of the four posts.
.One morning awoke suddenly. Day
was Just beginning to break. On opening
my eyes beheld my stepmother standing
by my bedside and looking down at me.
"'Oh, Harry she said, why don't you
come homer
II arose, and the vision vanished like q
wreath of smoke. After breakfast that
morning told my aunt what had happen
ed, and she said
at is very strange. I think you had
better go home at once. 1t IL just possible
that something has happened
''I loved my stepmother and my two lit
tie half sisters, and so 1 determined to
start for home Immediately. 1 was driven
to tho station, caught train and reached
homo that night After the usual greet
ings and questionipgs were over my moth
or said:
"'You know, Harry, had very curl
Gus dream this morning. l thought that
was in a house with double staircase
and that after ascending 10 turned To the
left and found myself in room which
was circular. IL had window in deep
recess and tent bedstead with chintz
hanyings. Looking around, l saw you
lying in bed, aud just then you awaked
and / said to you, "Oh, Harry, why don't
Won come homer" Then awoko, and it
was just daylight
You may imagine that l listened TO
this recital cf my mothers dream with
much interest, and when she had finished
I sat for a moment dumb. Then told
her what l had seen just about tho time
when she had tho dream.
Some discussion followed, and ono of
tho company, clergyman, related the
following
''My father was "a man of uncommonly
strong nerves. He had suffered severely
from n fall from his horse, and the acct
dent had threatened at one time 10 disable
him for life. but he struggled on and 10y
interchangeable industry put himself on
GOOD business footing and likewise recov'
cred his health. Just 40 this time his Ia
Cher died, and tho farm where hc had lived
FOR over ~ years went into the possession
az my fathers Youngest sister aud her
husband. both of whom had managed II
under tho old mans supervision for some
wars It wns well stocked. Farming Inn
moments of overy kind were on hand and
the crops wero most promising. There
was nuthing I'm the world To prevent the
coupIc from prospecting. But the husband
took 10 drink. and in two years time thS
farm was sold q the last stick. ana my
father had II, take care Of his sister and
ber children Within few months my
brother. "A young man of great PROMISE
WAS taken with chill after bathing ON
Verv hot dny and died from the effects
ks.. caue tie failure of "a man for whom