Year: 1869

the loot OF the CevenneS Mountains


France. The day was charming. Man


of the inhabitants were traversing tn


highways, enjoying the agreeablenes


Of the weather. Among the numbe


there was tall young man, apparentl


not more than twenty years of age. I


his right hand he carried cane, and hi


left small carpet-bug. His gait wa


quick, and from his expression he al


peared to be bent upon some importan


errand. In this manner he went along
/ occasionally glancing around to view
the sNrrounding objects. He had hard
fly gone more than quarter Of a mil


when he came to a small street, which


was In the suburbs of the town. II,


turned and proceeded up this. Present


~, after walking but short distance


he arrived at an inn. Here he hesitat


ed; and after viewing the exterior, he


muttered to himself the following


words:


ut is very singular that this is the


first inn l have seen throughout my


route. However I will put up here"


SO saying he entered the building


and having registered his name, he was
shown to room. After ordering his
dinner, he went into his apartment to
rest himself. His order was Immediate
~ responded to; and after eating he
prepared to retire, intending to partake
of long and hearty sleep, so that early
the next morning he might visit the
various merchants Of the town. He ac-
cordingly went to bed, and was soon
wrapt in slumber. While thus Sleep
ing he had dream that made the
strongest impression on him. We will
give it as from the lips of the dreamer:


II thought that I had arrived at the
same town, but in the middle of the
evening, which was really the case
that had put up at the same inn, and
gone Immediately, as an unacquainted
stranger would do, in order to see what
ever was worthy of observation in the
place. walked down the main street
into another street apparently leading
into the country. l had gone no great
distance when l came to church,
which l stopped to examine. After
my curiosity, 1 advanced to
a by.path which Lranched off from the
main street. Obeying an impulse which
could neither account for nor control.
struck into this path, though it was
rough, and unfrequented, and
reached miserable cottage,
in front Of which was garden covered
with weeds. had no great difficulty
n getting into the garden, for the hedge
lad several wide gaps in it. Iapproach-
Il an old we'll that stood solitary and !
gloomy in distant corner; and look
ng down into it, beheld, without any
of mistake, corpse which
lad been stabbed in several places. l
the deep wounds and wide |
,ashes. There were six"


At this moment he awoke with his
lair on end, trembling in every limb,
nd cold drops of perspiration bedewing
lis forehead-awoke to find himself
in bed, his carpet bay lying
lear him, and the morning sun beam
ng through his curtain. What differ
nee! He sprang from his bed, dressed
himself, and, as it was yet early,
ought an appetite for breakfast by "a
morning walk. He went accordingly
nto the street, and strolled along. The
arther he went, the stronger became
he confused recollection of the objects
hat had presented themselves to his
Jew.


ut is very strange" said he to him.
elf; II have never been in this place
'efore, and l could swear that I've seen
his house, and the next, and that other
II the left"


On he went, till he came to a corner
# street crossing the one down which
'e had come. Before long he arrived
t the church with the architectural.
eatures that had attracted his notice in
he dream; and then the high road,
long which he had pursued his way,
oming at length to the same by-path
hat had presented itself to his imagin-
tion few hours before-there was no
of doubt or mistake. Every
rec and every turn was familiar to him.
lie hurried forward. no longer doutting
hat the next moment would bring him
the cottage and this was really the
ase. In all its exterior appearances it
orresponded with what he had seen in
lis dream. Who, then, could wonder
hat he determined to ascertain whether
ne coincidence would hold good in
very point? He entered the garden
nd went directly to the spot where he
ad seen the well; but here the resem.
lance failed; there was none. He
ooked in every direction, examined the
Whole garden. and even went round the
ottage, which seemed to be inhabited:
'ut nowhere could he find any signs of
we'll. He then hastened back to the
nm in state of excitement hard to de-
cribe. He could not make up his mind
o allow such extraordinary coincidence
o pass unnoticed. But how was he to
,btajn clue to the awful mvsterv