The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-10-20
not noticing the change.

with a sob. Then bis heart gave .
great bound. and a cold, sicksnins
stupor fell upon him.
"Annie dear" he said, when, after
mighty effort, he regained some COM
mand over his suspense (she. poor
child, only thought he was sharing her
sorrow, which the sight of that loved
and long lost face had Awakened, you
must give me back my promise"
"What promiser
What 1 made you the day you rode
over to see the Melvilles."
81 don't remember you promising
anything that day. What was it9
'To remind you would be half break
ing it. Surely you cannot have for
gottenT
''Let me see. You read me How
Santa Claus came to Simpsons Bar
out of Bret Harte, and pretended that
it did not make you cry"
1Hdb NCs cllcT ultIlcr-
''In the morning you and pape were
talking about fishing, and | listened
1T was not in The morning or in the
evening that made you that promise,
Annie. It was in the twilight, when
you returned from your ride"
"Why, Frank! went straight up
to my room 1t was so late I hardly
had time to change my things. never
saw you from the time you mounted
me at II o'clock till when we met at
dinner. What are you dreaming about2
Oh, Frank darliDgl what is the mat
ter9 Are you ill2"
Again the cold, sickening stupor ran
through him, and he fell forward over
the table, speechless.
1, who tell this story, was a surgeon
in the navy, and spending short leave
of absence as visit or in the house
where the scenes have attempted to
describe took place. Annie's shrieks
called her father. who called me, and
between US we restored poor Frank to
consciousness. / did lot like the look
of this seizure, but said nothing. No
one consulted Inc. Still watched him
closely, and at breakfast when the
mail bag came in, and he read his cor
respondence, Noticed that he received
a second sho *.
That afternoon he called me into his
own room, and told me what had hap
pened to him, Almost as it is worded
here. He added evidence acquired
since morning) which proved beyond
the possibility of doubt that Annie was
miles away from the house when what
he took for her spoke to him in the
library. heard him out and made
the usual reLly. He had been dream
ing-his nerves were out of order.
They are now," he said; "but sup
pose anyone had asked you about day
before yesterday, what would you have
saidf
Had l been obliged to reply, i must
have admitted that a less nervous per
son, in the sense of being likely to
give way to the delusions, could hard
iy be found, but he did not wait for
an answer aud went on:
Gas for dreaming, that is-excuse
me, Doctor absurd. was wide
awake on Tuesday evening, and did
not go to bed for an hour, at least an
hour after my visitor left me on Thurs
day night. Now let US consider the
surroundings. / was warned of warn
ingI Warned in the kindest, gentlest
manner. Whyl If l had been un
prepared for the second manifestation,
it would have startled, shocked me.
Why was Ia hale, strong man, as you
and all the rest thought me-to be
guarded against shock9 Why was
to be turned from pursuits which you
and all the rest would have said yes
terday had made me so hale and so
strong, by supernatural III means2 Read
that"
He handed me a letter, the one he
had read at breakfast. 1t was from
the secretary of life insurance com
pany, thanking him for the preference
he had shown the society, by declining
his proposal.
''The week before last" he contin- |
ued, 81 was examined by their medical
ofioer-as q matter of forni, they said.
He measured me round the chest, and
tapped and stethoscoped me, and this
is the result"
Insurance companies have all sorts
of crotchets-"I began.
Doctor" he interrupted, quietly
taking off his coat and vest, and slip
ping the brace off his left shoulder,
''you know as well as l do what it
means. There is something wrong
wrong - here" placing his
hand on his heart). THAT is why !
was warned against surprise; that is
why my poor darling's dead mother
copjured me to avoid violent sports;
that is why the insurance company re-
jected me; that is why / confde in
you. Now tell me the truth"
placed my ear to his side, and took
three different soundings. Then told
him, as carelessly as / could, that i
bad no stethoscope with me, and he
was too agitated just then for fair
"I'll see IL / can't Dor
row some tools" said, land see you
t0-oorrow morning, when you will be
more composed"
"As you will. +" he replied; "but you
Ire mistaken about composure. Ishall
never be mere composed than / am at
his moment"
How cen you cay so, after your at
ack only a few hours agoF asked. =,
THAT is over. know all now
"Tushr' l sneered, trying to get /
'ut of my difficulty by appearing i'm ,
,atient. "You know absolutely moth.
Dg." !,
I