The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-11-10
A Visitor from the Other World.
A DEAD MAN VISITS LIVING FRIEND, KM-
BRACES AND rtf.Es TO HIN.

From the San Francisco Morning Call.
Our business is to tell story as it was
told to us by the gentleman who under.
went the experience, aud who. by the way
is plain, sensible business man, guiltless
of either practical or verbal joking, whose
only care is to Increase his store. and TO
faithfully discharge all the duties and OBJ
legations imposed upon him It's good ciii-
zen. There is not a particle of sentimen,
in his composition; and he disbelieves
the spiritualistic theories. So much for
the man now for his story.
On Saturday evening last he arrived at
his hotel, the American Exchange, late
for dinner, and SO had to take the meal at
a French restaurant. With his dinner lie
took about half bottle of claret. He ate
or drank nothing more during the evening.
1t is well to bear this fact 10 mind, as it
shows his system was in perfectly nor
NAL condition, and his brain clear at the
time OF the visitation.l Feeling very
much fatigued as the evening drew on,
on account of attention to business dur.
ing that day ami for several days preceding,
he came 10 HE conclusion that his great
need wsts sound aud undisturhed night 8
rest. 10 obtain this, he determined to
leave his room 10 the hotel for that night,
and occupy a furnished apartment in the
building where his store is situated
He changed his room to scape the In
evitable morning noises ut the hotel. and
thus be allowed to sleep late into Sunday
morning as he chose. As isnOt Conscious
OF any other motive for doing so, though
some spiritualist may say he was impress
ed to make the change. He reached his
room about eleven o'clock. lit the gas. and
set about preparing for he'd. He bad
Invested himself Of his day clothing, and
was standing in front Of "a large mirror,
buttoniug the neck band Of his night shirt
with bis face at the same time toward he
door ofhis room, leading to the haH way
His mind was dwelling on nothing particu
lar ut the time, and lie was bummiDg on
operate air. Suddenly he became con
scious OF a presence other than his own
and then was ciasped hhout the body 81,
tightly that the pressure was almost suffo-
eating.
He found himself face to face with
Frank--,who died about three months
ago, and with whom H., was on intimate
terms during his lifetime. There stood
his friend fronting him, looking straight at
him. The face was closely shaver, the
eyes bright. and the lips parted with a
half smile as in life. Even the clothes in
which he was dressed were the same as
worn by him OF. the day preceding his
death. Still holding him in his embrace
Frank spoke to his friend:
'Harry, You are good soul. You
have been kind to me-. aud good TO my
wife since ! left" lie spoke furthA
about some business matters, hut We do
not feel at liberty to repeat the words.
BY this time Harry had withdrawn from
Franks embrace. when the latter grasped
his hand, and said;
'Good-byP, Harry There is much hap
piness in store for you
Here he had partially recovered himself,
and was about to speak but before he
could frame the words. Frank was gone,
melt ed into thin air. The door did not
move on its hinges there were no foot
falls in the hallway outside; hut MS sud-
denly aa this strange visitor had come. h.
departed, and Harry was lett alone, filed
with establishment, hut, as lie declares,
without any feeling of fear. The result If
the Interview was such that for moment
he doubted if his freed were dead /; but he
had beer present at his funeral, ard drop
ped a handful Of earth OH the cofin-ld
that he was sure covered his mortal re-
mains. Then he thought some one had
played a practical joke to terrify him, but
there was no one besides himself in the
building, and all the doors were securely
locked and barred. In despair, at the
task of acc uniting for this strange affair,
he lit q cigar to aid him in his perplexiiy
and finally sought his couch, where he
slumbered peacefully for the rest OF the
night.
The ghost lit such l,ieh-pressure visi,t
tor can be called gho=tly) loft a nemento
of his visit behind him. Harry declares
that at the time he was being so tightly
embraced, his iiiuml, came in contact with
a button on Franks coat. and he ex-
perienced considerable pain. In the
morning, on awaking. he again felt the
pain, and, booking at his thumb. found the
skin. slightly air.;ded
This is the story as H. WAS told to ns.
Harry, as we sa,d beft.re. is a sensible
practical, uDromantlc, business mn. and
no believer in spirtualism. He has moth
ing to accomplish in deceiving his friends,
and as n joke it wonld be sorry enough to
be beneath contempt. 1t may be consid-
cred one of the marvels Of the latter days
not to be believed by many incapable
of solution by all.