The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-26

OuCerS. lucy Wtie Ouiy bhuic. 1h0
countenance of the passenger was
was"
"Well, Paul. who was itT she de-
manded, with a shudder.
He took her hands in his, they were
as cold as ice. Her cheek was like ice,
also.
"Shall I go on, Kate, with the story Of
this absurd horrorT he asked.
"Of course. You shall not bear its
memory alone"
"The face was that of John William
son."
"Why, Paul. he died week ago." said
Mrs. Dedrick in husky voice.
II know it, Kate, and that is what
frightened me. Still, he was there, and
his features were as natural as in life; so
natural, in fact, that when he was close
to me l called out, forgetting that had
been to his funeral, Hello! Jack, you're
late tonight and he just turned his
head and gave me a look I'll never for
GET" and Dedrick, at this, buried his
face in his hands and shook as with fan
ague.
"Poor Paul." said his wife e,putting her
arm around his neck. Holding it there,
he cOntinued:
"When the horses reached me, I found
that they we're only shadows, for through
them saw the fence and trees on the
other side of the street. The Car was full,
the faces of the passengers were revealed.
Some OF. them I knew. There was Emma
Carter"
"Deadw said Mrs. Dedrick, in whis-
per.
"And Jessie Longp
''In her grave month";" declared Mrs.
Dedrick, clinging more closely to her
husband.
"And Fred Acton aud Charley Slaugh-
ter, and Nellie Parsons and Mary Court
ney, and old man Freeley, and Mrs.
Jennings and"
He said no more. His wife's hand was
over his mouth.
"Hushl" she said, "that is enough.
You have seen only the dead, Paul.
Something terrible is to happen to us.
This is a warning"
She began to sob. He tried to soothe
her.
eve don't believe in that sort of
omens, my dear. 1t is my brain that is
out of order; that hasn't recovered. You
said to yourself, you know. Let us not
be fooIish;" and he kissed her. "Will you
hear the restf" he asked.
eyes, yes. I want to know what you
know" she answered.
"The car went by 80 slowly" he contin.
ned, that l recognized these and othel
acquaintances. Their eyes were closed
as if asleep. The pallor of the dead was
upon their countenances, and everything
was so still around me that l heard the
beating of my heart; the ticking of my
watch"
"But your watch was not with you,
dear; it is being repaired" said Mrs.
Dedrick with staccato exclamation,
half sob and half laugh.
"That is so." said Dedrick. "That shows
what imagination will do. But / heard
it all the same. Well, the car glided
past. l put out my hand 10 touch it.
There was nothing tangible, nothing but
the air full of light, nothing but body
of ce-cold air into which the hand was
plunged. Three doors below US the car
stopped. You know VINO lives there
old man Wynkoop. Somebody, or rather
something, came down the steps and
entered the car. 1t moved on and disap-
peared in the distance"
Mrs Dedrick put her hand on her hus-
bands shoulder.
"Did you know it, dear?
"Know wharf,
"That old Mr.. Wynkoop dropped
dead, at midnight, Of apoplexy" ex.
claimed his wife.
"No! How should I know it? So the
old gentleman is dead, eh2 This makes
my phantom worse and worse. 1t could
not have been my imagination, it could
not have been my brain only, that made
death ride on street car instead of on a
white horse Or in a chariot. There must
have been something back of it al, some
thing real at the time or to come. But
let that pass. There was comic side Of
the apparition."
every good" said Mrs. d., IT would
like to laugh if possible" and her feat
ures lost their gloomy look.
"There were spirits who missed the ca
five or six of them. They were late
and went skimming over the ground lik
shadows, holding up their skirts, bu
never moving an arm or leg. They sho
by me, one at the time, in a noiseles
race after the vanishing car. All wer,
strangers-women of course"
Husband, this is too serious for jest
ing"
| He paid no attention to her protest
but continued:
"That was the end. I was cold; m,
beard was wet with the fog; my eyes say
dimly, as if from oNerstraining; my brail
was on fire; and my limbs were heavy, a
if with age. came here-home-to you
Have had warning that my owl
death is nearw
Tn an instant she enwrapped him il
her arms.
"Not if can help it, my life, my hus
band. All! how hot you are-your head
your handsl Are you sick, Paulw
Sick9 His teeth were chattering like