Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-03-23

imagined | had thrust into my waist
coat pocket. Here was "a test at all
events; if there was a real paper bear.
ing signs Of its ghostly origin, then |
was still sane, and the apparition |
had witnessed was not delusion of the
rain.
In the corner of my waistcoat pocket
was crumpled piece Of flimsy paper
] unfolded it, and found it Bank of
En- gland note for hundred pounds.
From that hour | was an altered man
| paid my gambling debt; confessed all
my embarrassments to my friends, who
lifted me out OF the mire; never
touched n card or a die studied for the
staff college; passed good examlna-
ton went to Sandhurst, came out with
high honors, and, having little intiu-
ence at headquarters, got an appoint
ment as commissioner, to watch the
operations of the American war of Sc
cession. on Gen. IS staff
1t was at the close of q bloody but de-
cisive battle, or series OF battles, which
resulted in the retreat of the army Of
the south, that | visited the field -hospi-
tails at the rear of the federal army, in
search of friend who had been
wounded daring the day The doctors
and attendants were all too busy to pay
attention to my wants, and | walked
down the long rows of hastily impro-
vised couches, trying to recognize my
| friend.
Scraps of paper, on which the names
of the patients had been speedily
| scrawled, were Pinned to the coverings,
and started as read ON one civilian
Heathcote'-my own name. The man
appeared to be sinking from exhaus-
ton, but he bri ghtened up when he
heard the tones of friendly voice.
knelt down beaide him. and asked
if could do anything for him.
He NOTED his head. '' You're Eng.
lish ?' he whispered.
Yes, | am"
$50 am |. If YOU should be in the
neighborhood of Bedford, and should
be able to hear of an old man Of the
name of Heathcote, a retired draper,
will you tell him his son died in a cred
table way? | was disgrace to him,
sir. when | was alive but when | am
dead perhaps he will think kindly of
me again. I'll tell you my story, sir. l
was a rogue-I was, sir. | was an un.
DuG WAS Il COlltCtOl vi ldStS,
too; and entered into a conspiracy to
deiraud the government. 1T came out;
but had warning in time. | slammed
dead, and got away in one of my own
coftins with all the swag. They wasn't
very keen fter me but Just at the last
moment | thought they'd have me. A
| detective followed me right to Woking;
but | squared him with hundred
pound note, and got clear away to
America by the Southampton packet.
1t never prospered me, that money;
and got.lower and lower, till listed
as soldier, and here | am! I'm get
ting tired, sir. Don't forget Bedford
Heathcote. retired draper
| passed on in wonder and astonsh-
ment; and, if | must confess. a little
disappointed and disenchanted | was
no special care, then, of an overruling
Providence, as | had fondly deemed
myself. My wonderful warning and
deliverance was a mere affair of: chance
and accident. AS | passed the mans
couch again he lay on 1t stiff, and stark,
and dead.
On my return to England, | made in
auiry Of the officials of the revenue de.
partment, and found that there really
had been Il fraud of the kind in ques-
tcn; that the collector implicated in
it had died suddenly-by suicide, it was
Thought. AS to the defalcations, the
defaulter's sureties had paid part
one of them, his father, having been
| sold up in consequence and the rest
had beer paid over again by the parish
oner5 he had defrauded.
SO | found out the old man at Bed
ford. He was living with a daughter in
affect poverty, and | repaid to him
the hundred pounds with compound
interest TO him | seemed Il celestia!
visitant.
The cold meat train is now a thing of
the past, | believe. A luggage tam
carries belated officers back 10 camp :;
but, to this day, | confess that always
prefer to pass Woking in brosd day
light, and that | carefully look inside
the carriage before enter it, for | de
sire no more loans from the dead.