The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-10-07
Aunt Prickett's Dream.
By Helen Forrest Graves.

IIdlH IndC very morning, ana Jnore was
the cars all smashed up, and the peo-
pie lynn all round, just exactly as l
had seen EN- in my dream, for help
hadn't come till our train reached 'em!
There-what do you think of that?"
1T was very singular combination
of circumstances, certainly"
"And that amt the only queer dream
had as has come true. There was my
sister Malina, that married Deacon
Ritter. l dreamed one night | saw her
a-countin' gold pieces into earthern
crock, countin' up to 400, and it was
so real like that next day l went up
to the deacon's and told my dream"
WELL" says Malina, 'if that amt
queer! The deacon's just got let
ter from his Cousins lawyers that he's
heir to $500 out O. the old mans es-
| tate!"
She nodded the quilted silk hood at
me with an air of triumph that could
not well controvert
But what set me to thinkin' on
these old time stories was a dream
had last night, bout this very same
niece I'm goin' to see. and it's wor-
ried me all day long"
Indeed, and what was it,"
well, I'll tell you. You see l was
kind O. wakeful, thinkin' about the
journey today, and it was most mid
night afore l got to sleep. And it
seems as if hadn't fairly closed my
eyes when l was in the little back par
lor at Wharton, and Helen-thats my
niece, Helen Powers-lyin' on a sofa
asleep. And there was a tall, slim,
genteel-lookin' man stealin' up side
ways, with dagger, kind O. shinin' in
the firelight-for it was dusk in my
dream, just as it is now-and he
seemed to strike it right square into
her heart, and l sittin' by like log,
not able to move either hand or foot.
But, for all that, it didn't kill her
only seemed to paralyze her, like! And
| was doin' my best to scream out,
when | walked up, all of a tremble,
with the dawn just beginnin' to peep
in the eastern sky"
Mrs. Prickett had begun to cry soft
ly.
my dear madam" | reasoned with
her, soothingly," do not allow the fan
tastes of dream to disturb you thus.
Probably you had eaten something that
disagreed with you, Or"
Yes, yes, that's just what Prickett
used to say, but for all that I'm NOR
ally certain that something's goin' to
happen to Helen. And-law sakes
alive, how it snows!"
We had stopped at a little wayside
inn, and my companions attention was
for the first time in some little period
attracted to the outer world of storm,
and pitchy darkness.
"You don s'pose we'll be showed up,
sir?" she questioned, as, the mails
having been delivered, we rolled on
once again.
Hardly, madam. We must be with
in one of two miles Of Wharton now"
Il shall be glad when we get there"
she said, with a little shudder. 81
can't nowadays get that slim Teller
with the sinister mouth and the long,
black hair strikin at poor Helens
heart, out O. my mind! If the dream
hadn't been so vivid, | wouldn't ha'
thought so much Of it. Won't you have
a seedcake, sir?"
She was diving down into the hos
pitable depths of her big travelling bag.
Thanks, not any"
Got far to go arter you reach Whar-
TONI"
about mile"
Friends to meet your
81 think So"
''It's dretful night"
And once more we subsidized into ST.
lence, until the suburban lights of the
overgrown village of Wharton reused
my companion once more into the talk
alive mood
The stage had scarcely stopped be-
fore a clear voice, sweet and musical as
a bell, challenged Mrs. Prickett.
"Aunty, darling, l knew you would
come! Prince is here waiting with the
close carryall | came down myself to
make sure of you'll
Aou ic ooi eAn you io WoH, 1eleH!
questioned Aunt Prickett, gazing eager
ly into one of the prettiest faces l
had ever seen-a pure oval. with pink
cheeks, brilliant hazel eyes, and deep
crimson lips, perhaps a trif1e too full
for the exact regulation limit of beau
ty.
''Well, never was better in my life.
What possesses you to ask such a ques-
ton. YOU dear. fussy old auntv7"