nd I
turned into it, thinking that I would enjoy one more breath of the pine
forest, which was so new to me. It was so oppressively hot I sat down
on the pine straw, and fanned myself with my hat. How long I remained
there, I know not, for I fell asleep; and when I awoke, Mr. Dunbar rode
up and asked if I had lost my way. I answered that I had not, and as
soon as he galloped on, I walked back as rapidly as possible, somewhat
frightened at the loneliness of my position. Already clouds were
gathering, and I had been in the waiting-room, I think about an hour,
when the storm broke in its fury. I had seen the telegraph operator
sitting in his office, but he seemed asleep, with his head resting on
the table; and during the storm I sat on the floor, in one corner of
the waiting-room, and laid my head on a chair. At last, when the
tempest ended, I went to sleep. During that sleep, I dreamed of my old
home in Italy, of some of my dead, of my father--of gathering grapes
with one I dearly loved--and suddenly some noise made me spring to my
feet. I heard voices talking, and in my feverish dreamy state, there
seemed a resemblance to one I knew. Only half awake, I ran out on the
pavement. Whether I dreamed the whole, I cannot tell; but the
conversation seemed strangely distinct; and I can never forget the
words, be they real, or imaginary: "'There ain't no train till
daylight, 'cepting it be the through freight.'

"Then a different voice asked: 'When it that due?'"

"'Pretty soon I reckon, it's mighty nigh time now, but it don't stop
here; it goes on to the water tank, where it blows for the bridge.'"

'"How far is the bridge?'"

"'Only a short piece down the track, after you pass the tank.'"

"When I reached the street, I saw no one but the figure of an old man,
I think a negro, who was walking away. He limped and carried a bundle
on the end of a stick thrown over his shoulder. I was so startled and
impressed by the fancied sound of a voice once familiar to me, that I
walked on down the track, but could see no one. Soon the 'freight' came
along; I stood aside until it passed, then returned to the station, and
found the agent standing in the door. When he questioned me about my
movements; I deemed him impertinent; but having nothing to conceal,
stated the facts I have just recapitulated. You have been told that I
intentionally missed the train; that when seen at 10 P.M. in the pine
woods, I was stealing back to my mother's old