The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-02-24


 looked at me inten,ly. He passed his hand over his face lightly. and then sad :: Frank. do not kno~ what ais me. have seen my old California mining com rade, Toe Ma;iock. who WAS killed in ! snowslide ;wenty-SIx years ago, three tunes during the las, thirty months. have heard his voice several times. and his step frequently. l sometimes think my mind IS giving way. or that my age IS telling on me. But have never drank hard; never indulgcd n any exeesses. My health is perfect: my memory is bright: l sleep soundly though lightly. will tell you what have seen and heard. and wan, you to tell me frankly wha, you think of my case. think Ii IS warning to prepare for the great clean up."
 He drew his chair around. and. lean ing his arpas on its back. he rested his head on them as though he was weary. In low. almos, sad tone. he related : Two years ago las; June Jeff Seattle. on Puget sound to visit \ mining camp he,.ed to build on the head-wa,eIs of the Wend,ehee river The trail from Seattle leads through the Sneguaiiiuie pass Tn Cascade mountains. l oamped that night on ihe bank of the Snoq; al line river I; the roni where the trall leads across the narrow stream was on the est or soaih bank. remember bathing in c,ear cold water after picke;- ing fay horse. spread ny blankets. and. aiier my supper, went to sleep. When a@aSc ,; ;Mas daylight. but ihe sun was net up. was lighting ! aie. preparatory te cooking my breakfast. when ! heard a voice that l instantly re- eosni1ed b be ths, of my long dead enmrade. calling clearly. but no, loudly. Inn oh, iim.. Greatly agitaied sprAng 10 my feet and looked cenfusedly around me. saw nothing. Agaln l heard the voice cry. oh. Inn" turned and looked across the rVcr. On the other bank mighty iir tree lay prone on the earth. This tree was about three feet III diameter. Behind II. clad in red shirt. and with q wide-brimmcd ha, on his head. stood Joe Ma,look. 1 could see his figure from the waist up. His arms were lying folded on the tree, and he was leaning forward resting on them. He was smiling pleasantly al me. Was Tnt more than twenty five sare.s isoH I'm. l -2w him as plainly As see Neu. noiieed that one of tho large black but tons on his shir, ifont was broken. .AHG FraaS he added. ta a !o&er tone. - ze gid net 'aek :. a.y ollef i Il |, s..l a:! ,he nafrias hc Was Slao;hefe4 h fHe saaze. li.s faoe N5ss as ,sesh ..a.. l., hatr .lz h3aT k as w hea he wt- s.uag -ss ke .e hgl. lie cd s.si aas9 cf. z.-- I.y .e4aes. o,. sl.e .as ,s3 -eaiisa se - .ne spfarz lEEn the sHestt s4a weaea a=re>s. As l apHfoaehez she other aans. the ti.tGIc LTew d,mmei s5.,i y..tgt5sss=s -.-.t- .!4en eaifle close [ tae tree i;-sea> gone l. did not d.saP?ear suddenly b4i gradually faded atay. When | was but faint outline l eo4.G see that Il was smiiin. sadly. Il scemet to me. searched thoroughly. bui could md no foot track. The long. soft moss growing on the tree where Il had rested its arms was unbroken. rccrossed the stream. ate my breakfast. and rode on my journey
 Clark was silent for few minutes, and then resumed. m musins, puzzled tone: ''l have heard Ioe's voice several times since hrs, saw him. His foot steps hear frequently. Lave nevcr.cN cepting one time. heard either the foot steps or the voice when l am on the plains or in the unclad foothills. Joe loved the mountains when he was alive. and now his spirit apparently refuses to 1 dwell elsewhere. Tho morning l heard hlm walk up to my campfire and seat himself by my side. Unul met you to- day the sicalthy footsteps had followed me steadily l have noticed that the ' ,ssS.@ sharply. During damp. stormy weather never hear inc footsteps. or the yairc. ! During the brish, weather l always eN- peri 10 hear he foot'als. and on those rare days, when the ar seems to he alive and the aged feel young ana aci.te, cN- pcot to hear the voice, and, n eyAe. se ;he phan;e;a. iu.er-H2'fn-. m} [ es... ! tsl,ctl "Bae5 aoi tais arseca a-e enec annoy s8s eAf fss' ! ,fa, .lcst me greatly. 5..s s1p- '.ses aleasas IS l5rn paa.. ..ti'.
 lo.ss 4ase;.;. he te.
 Cl..fs rci5A.s ea5a p.ps. and te silently .or a teA nl .aiea. sae 'o s,e4k. seen :. s.} 4.teu'soa. ls.s5-e.s hs hand. shook Il negatively. ard sad :. Ites.se cont Watt uIl,.. have Hasshea- ! aen, w.thoa; any preparatory words. he related;
 las; Aprl. while walking through the foresi on a path beaten into the deep snow. distinctly heard voice that did no, recognize calling loudly and clearly. Jun Jim. Jim" halted and listened. The signing of the pines, the groaning and sharp protests made as living trees rubbed against one another, ,L 4 l. 4. fi-~ .1i. snow water, were all heard. l was sure Fl heard the voice, and was abou; 10 re- trace my steps to learn who called me. when, far of to my nght on the side of steep hill. l again heard the voice call ing. Hold on though, heard ihe swish of Norwegian snow shoes as they slid over the snow. Thought ! heard, l did hear the swish cutting sharply and distinctly through tte forest sounds. sad 10 myself II IS Jack. He had concluded 10 luln me l had asked an