The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-09-20

imposition of feigned identity was for "a
moment entertained.
Meanwhile, weeks passed away, apd
then month. The brigantine, which
should have accomplished her voyage in
four or five days at the utmost, was never
heard OF from the day of her departure
from the island, and confirmation y
became "strong as proofs Of Holy
Writ"
Tomlyn, feeling himself growing more
and more unfit for further service, resigned
his commission and returned to England,
where ne subsequently died of IL low lever,
some two years alter the event have
been relating
The mysterious incident became known
AS indeed how could it be otherwise p
to the people Ct the town, who communi-
Gated 1t freely to their friends abroad :;
and In spite of the deprecatlng efforts of
the officers of the regiment, who did all in
their power to suppress all reference to the
SUBJECT, 1t became a topic of worldwide
speculation and wonder Harley's
promise at parting with Tomlyn, his APP
pearance to him on the very night after.
and the loss OF the vessel with all on board,
left no loop hole of escape from natural
conclusion and so it was quoted for years
as one of those inexplicable occurrences
where COMMUNICATIONS from the dead
must be held to be worthy of belief
Time sped on It's devouring course. The
regiment had long been relieved at Hamil-
ton, and had served with distinction in the
Crimea, and also in India, whence it was
once ordered home to await its inevitable
duty OF tapping its drum in some other
cline, to that sun which, in the words of
the great Webster, never rises or sets
without music. | was now in America,
and on my way to the West, a day pas
senger on one of those palalial steamers
which ply the lordly Hudson, A fellow
passenger, in casually directing my atten-
ton to the beauty of a particular point of
scenery which "a sudden turn III the river
disclosed, betrayed a voice which struck
me rs being familiar | am near sighted,
and depend for recognition OF my friends
far more on my ears than my eyes in
deed, a voice | have once heard is never
wholly forgotten. My excited attention
was, therefore, directed more closely to
the features OF my unexpected companion,
whom had now approached quite nearly
for the sake of continuing L conversation
which accident had begun. "God bless
meW | exclaimed, in genuine astonish-
ment, is this Captain Wilton ?n | was
both right and wrong | found my old
friend Charles NOW Colonel) Wilton at
my side; for, since we had met lang
syne,' successive promotions had placed
him at the head of bis regiment, the One
Hundred and Eighth. He had obtained
liberal leave of absence after his severe
and continued active service, and was re-
cruitng his health, which had suffered
much, especially in India, by travelling
In this country. AS our respective families
had been near neighbors at home, and our
personal feelings were always of the
warmest, the joy of our meetng-so far
from home, too-may well be imagined.
Among the many themes of talk for which
" the deep cavern of memory" began to
be ransacked as the time for part NJ ap-
proached-and this was not till we had
spent three merry days together-I allud-
ed inquiringly to the story OF Tomlvn at
Bermuda. A burst of laughter-not
wholly unmlxed, as 1t seemed to ne, with
tinge OF pity-was, ut first, my friends
only reply. As soon as be recovered
gravity onough~or continuity, Tie uTeuu
mystery was unravelled in few words ::
" Tomlyn was stupid fellow and a bore
Harley was overheard in bis leave taking
by young LEstrange, as merry lad as
ever breathed, and who, among many
amusing talents, possesses that Of mimicry
In a high degree. He conceived and
carried out, unknown to any one Of us at
the time, the apparition Of Harley, who
and this coincidence was the most wonder
inl ever knew-proved, after all, to have
been indeed lost at sea, with all on board
When Tomlyn's health continued to suffer
under the malady which his mental torture
had superinduced, IEstrange repent
ance, for he was truly distressed rs the
lasting effects of the freak became appa.
rent-confessed the whole truth and sought
forgiveness with as true a heart as ever
pleded. But Tomlyn was deaf to every.
thing in the way of explanation. His
mind had been filled with the ghost of
Harley, and no exorcist could be fond.
The rest you know. We were concerned
for some time on L'Estrange's account,
fearing his thoughtless pracucal Joke Gn
direct violation OF the rules of the service)
might reach the ear of the General com
handing on the station, who would, no
doubt, have feltit to be his duty to exercise
his authority. But the affair was left to
die a natural death, and lay comfortably
entombed TIL your COMPOUNDED curiosity
has now exhumed it,"