Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-06-22
Dreams Wife Is Drowning
VISION AND TRAGEDY OF AN
EvENTFUL LIFE.
Do dreams ever come true?

Listen TO this tale or Traveller,
Herman Beckwith, wholesale tobac-
conist from Virginia. He told 1t to a
couple of Denver friends the other
night
1T was a strange dream" Mr.. Beck
with began, though l suppose all
dreams are more or less strange. /
had been quite i'll of typhoid fever
and was slowly recovering my
strength and one night | dreamed
such a dream!
In my vision saw my wife far
from me on board a ship. Beside her
in a steamer chair sat man of ex-
cellent build square shouldered, dark
of complexion and handsome, except
that his smile that seemed so captivat-
ing to her was to me Out a sheer that
his big. black mustache indifferently
masked.
IL saw that dark strangers eyes
CLEAN as he bent toward her-my wife
the woman who had sworn to love,
honor and obey me, and l also noted
with grinding teeth that this same
wife of mine returned his gaze with
an ardor that was hardly less than his.
DAY after day | watched them as
the hot, semi-tropic sun beat down
upon the deck awnings which shell
tered them.
Such a dream! 1t affects me even
now. One night saw them meet by
moonlight. They sequestered them
selves far forward. Most of the pas
sengers had gone to their staterooms
and they were practically alone. I
saw him take her in his arms and
oh, l seemed pinioned by some
mighty force-and, though l raved and
struggled madly to break away and
go and throttle this wrecker of my
life, could do nothing.
We'll, suddenly the whole scene
changed l saw the ship. the same
ship, in the midst of a, ffightful storm.
The vessel was first away up in the
air and then all but sHlsfA efged in the
deep gulf beyond the high hilltop of
water over which 1t plunged. I saw
the boats lowered and crowded by
frantic people and Immediately sunk
and the writing sea all busy with
the despairing, drowning victims.
"All the boats were swamped, one
after another, and the terror-stricken
passengers leaped overheard and
grasped with futile frenzy floating
spars and other wreckage Al length
the ship was left with only two cling
ing to the rigging. They were clasped
in each others arms and as the YES
sci plunged down for the last time
they went with 1t, still closely cling
ing together"
And what next?" queried one of
his auditors.
Three months later | went to New
York to await the arrival of my wife
from the Bermudas," Mr.. Beckwith
continued She had not been In the
best of health and so | sent her there
AT the first opportunity l arranged
to meet her at New York and I sent
her draft for all the money she
needed. l had mentioned a certain
steamer for her to take and | knew
when that vessel would bring her to
New York.
We'll, | was there on time and I
went at once to the company's Offices
and asked II that steamer was not
due to arrive the next day The two
clerks who heard me looked at each
other and then one said to me: You
haven't heard? That steamer went
down off Hatteras two days ago. Only
three souls were saved.
Il was stricken dumb for a moment.
then | gasped: My wife-Mrs. Beck
with
I'm sorry to have to tell you. but
no women were saved said the clerk
Were there two-a woman and a
man-clinging to the rigging at the
last? I inquired.
Why, yes; so | understand"
Mr. Beckwith stopped again and
there was moment of silence. his
auditors refraining from speech in |
Difference to the feelings of the mar
rator.
81 dropped into a chair" he re-
sumed at length. land gave up to dis
tracing thoughts. OF course I knew
without any telling. even before the
official spoke. that my wife was dead
Now, with my conviction made alb
solute certainty, considered ner fate
in all it's bearings and concluded that
1t was best that she should go down
with the ship better for her and for !
me, as, of course. there could be no
reconciliation, nor even federation on
my part. and better for the children.
who would now never suffer the grief
of seeing their parents estranged and
living apart. Yes it was best that she
should be buried deep in the great
waters. was convinced"
And so your dream did come true
literally" said one OF the hearers
after pause.
NO not at all" answered Mr.. Beck
with, beginning to smile
why, how's that? You dreamed
it and afterward you awakened and
found the facts corroborated your vi
sion"
mo, that's the odd part of it.