The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-04-04
An Old Soldiers Story.

When you ask me whether am SUI
perstitious, can answer candidly tha
am not.
positively repel from me all stories
of ghosts, dreams that "mean some
thing" awful warnings, and modern
spiritualism. They disgust me beyond
expression, and they appear to me fol
the most foolish nonsense. If you are
impressed in the same way by what
am about to tell you, | cannot fee
either surprised or angry; and can
only assure you that | relate what oc'
Cured in my presence, and under my
careful observations, without embel'
llshment, adding nothing and Omitting
nothing whatever.
l am an officer in the English army
and at present hold the rank of Major
When the facts l am about to narratt
occurred, | was merely lieutenant
and young fellow of not more thar
two and twenty; and was farther then
than even now from any leaning to the
marvellous, full Of life, health and
spirits.
We were quartered In India, with
sharp lighting ahead Of us, and not far
ahead, either, as we knew very well.
Meanwhile we did our best to pass the
time, and seized upon every Opportun-
ity for "fun," as school-boys do.
We all have our favorites in this
world, and there were two men in the
regiment who seemed worth more to
me than all the rest put together. One
of them was our chaplain, handsome
man Of forty, with loud, ringing
laugh, a face that told of a conscience
as clear as mans may be, and a friendly
manner that won the hardest heart.
He had fashion of speaking of the
wife and children at home that showed
how we'll he loved them, and he wore
her miniature about his neck, and had
shown 1t to me In fond, proud way,
soon after we first became friends.
Home was always In his thoughts, and
often on his tongue, and | liked him
the better for 1t.
Nv other friend was young, rich
lieutenant; a dreamy, sensitive young
fellow, whohad engaged himself on the
eve of his departure from England to a
beautiful girl whom / knew very well
and believed to be a flirt of the first
water. He had given me his confidence
entirely, and l, who had never had a
sweetheart, and believed that would
never care enough for any woman to
ask her to be my wife, somehow took a
great interest In his heart affairs, and,
fond as | was of him, could not have
smiled at his raptures over shallow
hearted Phoebe Dutton for my life.
We three-thc chaplain, young Her
bert and I-were breakfasting together
one morning, when my servant entered,
and, with an odd expression of face,
explained that there was queer-look-
ing Indian chap outside who asked ad-
mittanCe.
"I know something about him." he
said, land he's in league with the devil
II ever man was. That lad of his knows
more than he ought to-" he added. 1--WE
had peep at the show last night, and
frightened ourselves finely. Still, its
curious"
"It Is probably an Indian magician, "
said the chaplain.
eyes, sir" said the man, that's the
name for him, believe. Shall he come
inf"
"I.et him in," said L. Gwen see
him at all events"
The servant retired, ard in moment
more reappeared, ushering In a very
singular individual,
1t was an old man, with a bronzed
skin, long hooked nose, flashing black
ewes, and long white beard. He
stopped as he walked, and leaned on
long thick staff with one hand and with
the other upon the shoulders of beau
iful boy, of perhaps ten years Old As
he approached he made a low reverence
and addressed us in some words thai
were incomprehensible to me- The
chaplain, however, interpreted them
"The man declares himself to be
Magician" he said, "and he desired tC
know whether we have any wish tc
know what has happened in our owr
country since we left 1t. or course Il
Is all rubbish, but these exhibitions are
said 10 be curious. Shallwe let him d'
what he can, gentlemenf"
"By all means" said I. "We are too
old to be frightened, / fancy"
Herbert merely nodded, but lovers
are always little superstitious for thu
time being, and saw hope of hearinI
something about Phoebe Dutton In hi
big blue eyes.
Turning from Us, tho chaplain slgni
dsto the magician that be might pro