, 1876-06-04
MY FRIEND GEORGE.

MY FRIEND GEORGE.
Written for TIE Tribune
am not, nor ever was, what you may call
superstitious man. The darkest night, or most
outlandish ghost-story, could not frighten me,
even when a young child. I may also affirm,
und with perfect safety, that fear was feeling
not akin to me- T feared nothing on top Of
earth or under It.; SO, when relate to you the
following incident, l beg OF you, reader, do not
declare that it WIS simply the frenzfcd imagna-
tion Of d timid man.
Two years ago, a friend Of mine, young man,
became greatly interested in Spiritaulislu. It
was in vain TINT I argued with him,-he was
completely fascinated with it. have seen him
sit for hours, far into the night, with his hands
on pine table, perfectly mottonless, and here
the raps fairly thunder on 1t. I was somewhat
astonished ut these demonstrations, to be sure,
but my usual cool-hcadedness would let
me ascribe them to no other cause thnn elec-
tricity, or, rather, animal magnetism. tfsvery
easy to make a table rap, and have often done
so for the especial delectatlon OF my friends,
and must say suspected George Of playing
the same trick as myself but, one evening, be
merely put his hands on thetable for moment,
then took them off, and the raps thundered just
the same when his hands were not on.
lmust say George was a very magnetic man.
could always tell, even in crowded house,
whether be were present or not, BY singular
sensation, as of charge FROM some battery. l
often mentioned it to him, hut he would only
laugh, and say he knew il; that he was 'sme-
jum," and held power over me that he could
wicld as he wished.
He finally succeeded IN getting nc to attend a
number Of scances that were being held In
public hall, in tho hope that I would be con-
verted to his way of thinking; and, though l
sought to believe in 1t with all my heart still, to
his great chagrin, each visit left me more skcpti-
cal than before.
"Why, man alive, Frank!n he said to me,
one evening, "bow eau you doubt a super
natural agency when you see those spirit-forns
ny!' l rctortel testify. "In I'LL things but this,
my dear friend, you are sensible. Let the mat-
ter rest. know they are not spirits, but bond
tidc tesl-and-hlood, hired for the occasion. I
cannot see for the Mc OF inc, how you can get
gulled so easily"
His brow clouded over, and could see he was
getting angry} Us he usually did when be argued
shut you will some time be convinced. tell
you, Frank, the spIrit~world is Just rs act
I'VE IL QuE HI Ll1s- GHlllLS &1IE IfOuQu
us constantly. And, another thing, believe
the spirit can leave the flesh oven while on earth,
without volition orwi!1 Of any kind. tell you,
Frank, there will come time when things that
now are considered as u1ifecles will be ascribed
to their righttul cause, the spirit influence"
His eyes shoue Intensely as he concluded.
"Pshaw!'' I said. "You will go crlzy Il
you keep on in this confo,1ndcd ioollshncss
Why, tell y,o.t,, ! would not, nor could not,
believe in it Ii lived i thousand years; and,
for my part, think, unless you want to be-
come q lunatic, you had better give up these
llonsens1cal seances and Investigations and
tend to business !"
He started up angrily, and, without saving
another word, lett my room. George had
fearful tcmpar,-one Of the worst / ever did
usually rather tractablc with me, and, when
week went by without his dropping in either at
my Office or lodging-roon,, began to get angry
myself, "Docs the fellow think must pick my
words with hint" thought. But, after anoth-
er week had elapsed, and no George, began to
think something was up, ond went over to his
boarding-hoase, where found q note for me,
and was told that Afr. b had gone away l
opened the note hastily, aud read tile following
Friend Frnnk, you may think am offended at
yon; but, much as have Cause am not. l have
met gentleman, DR.. K, who s studying up this
ME OF lady friend Of his who has often seen mir
aculous manifestations, and has the came idea Of
the spirit leaving the body rs /; in fact shs has
aware Of it. au1, therefore, going East with him
to sec the lady and viii probably make many inter-
eeting Investigations.
hear she has been flirting great deal lately, and
that, yon know will never do. We are to BE- mar
ried the last OF August, anl don't quite like her
receiving company from other gentlemen, as her
Take good care OF yourself. and see Barbour
i5s is9qs t real oss sssat Tell h GnoaoE w 4 consider
That was all. No address or postscript Of any
kind. I concluded, and very naturally, that he
did rot wish ME to write to him, fearing would
scold him: SO pockctcd his little missive, aud
heard no more from George for some time.
Then he wrote mc he had made b grand discoy-
cry; that Madame D. was i wonder; and
that he was more infatuated than ever with his
pet study.
cd, and shall remain there for sonte time"
I knew well enough what took him there. He
WAS very jealous Of his little bctrothed, who
was remarkably pretty, and one Of the most un.
principlcl 1irts that ever drew the breath OF
y HIT ses Su ffS asas s~a1s n s
before IT was too late, and made tracks for
New York. George, however, WAS more
fortunate, at least he thought so,-and fell
dead in love with her, proposed, was accepted,
himself the happicst Of 1nortals until he heard
Of her flirting, nlll then all bis terrible, passion
ate nature tlamed up. I have often seen him
look like 4 mailman when reading her Cousins,
letters, whom George had requested him to write
him OF Efie's conduct.
Five days after receiving his last letter, as
sat in my office, looking over an accountrbook,
heard some one cxclalm, right back Of me, in
distinctly, then quite plainly, Frank! Frank!"
looked up in surprise, for had not heard the
door open, neither had heard footsteps. The
sun was shining In ut the west windows, and
lit the room up brightly; and right near the
door stood mans figure. Turning his face to
me, saw it was George.
His sudden appearance, without any warning
whatever, took me rather aback; but, thinking
he had stolen into the room 50 as to surprise
me, said, "When did you get back, Georgct"
lie made no reply, and noticed that he was
ghastly pale. In bis right hand he held q re-
Volvvr, while his eyes glared meaninglessly tnto
mine. :" The man Is certainly crazy! ~ thought,
but said aloud, "For Heavens sake, George,
what is It'll You are not going to shoot me, are
youln
Still no reply. He continued glaring at me,
and, as came forward, said slowly, and In a
most unearthly tone ever listened to, 81 have
killed Effe, Frank shot her in the woods
near the village" Before I could make any e1-
clanation whatever at this awful statement, he