The Red Cloud chief., 1878-10-24
A STRANGE STORY or A LIGHT.

No one ever though, of doubling
Father Marshal's word. and when h"
told nv this story, n chilly nigh, last
September. W believed IL, and We still
believe it. without pretending Ia under.
stand IL. This is the story
When was a boy, began the old
gentleman, and was learning my trad.
in Bclvidcrc. y. j.. | lived with old Ma
jor d. Bclvidcre was a queer liz.
tie country village then, with very few
good houses in il, and IA" Major lived
in the best one. IL was IA large, square
frame house, with "A hall extending thro'
the center, and two great harnhkc
rooms on each side. over thcs'cond
floor was AN immense attic, the size oi
the house
This attic. or garrrt. was my sleeping
room. The bed was placed close against
the old.iashioncd chimney, which WAS
in the center Of the spacious chamber,
and Sam, tn" other apprrutic" shared
it with me-.
One n.ght we went Ia bed rather ear
lier than usual. and sam being very
tired (hc was a year or two younger
than -, Was ~ fast asleep. was
thinking of my mother and of home,
and a f., ling Of homesicknrss made me
wakeful; but after awhil. | too fell into
sound sleep.
Towards midnight | had an unplcas-
ant dream, and was So thoroughly
aroused that il seemed ~ though !
should never go Ia s.tcp again. | lay
there with closed eyes, listening 10 the
heavy breathing Of my companion,
when something | don't know what
prompted me to open my eyes and look
mp. did SO, and there, directly above
nv breast, at "A distance Of about An
arms length, | saw "A candle burning
with a dim. blue light burning steadi-
" and clearly, but very family
The candle was in a tall bronze can
dlc-stick. unlike any ! had ever seen
used by the family. The bottom was
uare and on each side were pieces OF
brass as bright rs il they had jus, been
polished. Near the top Of the bronze
column were two angels with bras
wings, andbetwe'n them was a shining
shield.
Now, perhaps you will wonder how
can describe it so infinitely, But Won
der took the place of fear, and ! gazcd
with curious eyes until the image wa
impressed faithfully upon my memory.
had never seen a candlestick anywhere
that bore the slightest resemblance u
this n
At last il occurred 10 me that ] NIGH
bring this mysterious light nearer Il
Inc by reaching up my hand, for il wa
only a little way from me; and did so
But lust rs I was about to grasp IL. i
rose slowly and steadily, as if drawn
sby unseen fingers, an arm'slength near
or the roof. l withdrew my hand, anc
watched the phantom candle for som
time longer, and then determined Il
pursue my Investigations.
knew that by sitting up in bed an'
reaching up my hand ] could touch TIT
, strange thing, II there was anything u
: touch, and Immediately did so, but a
before, the effect was futile. Again, |
receeded slowly an arms length high
er. this time almost reaching the beams
! fell back On my pillow discourage
and provoked, and a little bit-no, no
frightened, but nervous.
This occurred on Tuesday night, an
all the week ] was very restless an
troubled, SO much so that the boys an
men in the shop ridiculed me. and ash
ed me if | hadn't broken away from III
mothers apron-strings yet. couldn'
summon courage 10 tell them what wa
the mater, for had been rather supeI
y s%titiously reared, and regarded TIL
strange light as a warning. and ! coul
not bear TO hear the notion ridiculec