The Penn's Grove record., 1884-08-23

ruined. But still he wrote cheerfully.
He went to New York, and thence he
wrote that he had secured a large claim
In one of the richest mining regions
and was gong out with a party OF
miners to seek for gold.
So some five years passed. l had
married and settled down into a steady
man. Sometimes when / read Johns
letters l thought of the college days,
and wondered if he still believed in
ghosts.
One evening l sat in the parlor with
my wife. The fire burned redly in the
CRATE, but there was no other light in
the room. We were fond of sitting in
the half. twilight made by the glowing
Goals, and had not lighted the lamp.
Suddenly 1 thought of John Haynes.
We had been talking Of some recent
events in the political world, and the
subject had no more connection with
John than night resembled day. But
all at once l thought of him, and 1t
seemed as If he was near me. You
have often felt that some one was near
you. and looked up to meet his glance.
Such a feeling came over me then.
"How strangel" l said to my wife.
''Here we are talking of politics, and
like a fash l thought Of John; l have
often told you about him. 1t seemed
that he were here l do not recollect
of Fever having experienced such a SEN
sati0n before.n
Katie looked at me wonderingly.
'tIt is strange" she said. "Such a
feeling came over me. 1t seemed as If
there was some II else in the ROOM"
| looked around. There was no n
to be seen. The fire burned DINNER
now, and the room was full of shifting,
tremulous shadows.
81 feel the presence Of some one"
Katie said, nesting closer to me. 1--WE
don't seem to be alone as before"
She had explained my feeling exact
ly. Had John Haynes been sitting
opposite us ! should not have felt the
influence of his presence more forcibly
then | did then. There was a rattle of
Goals IN the great and the sparks flew
upward, redly, for a minute; then the
%momentary brightness died away, leav-
ing the room darker than before.
"Ned!'
We heard a voice call my name, dis
tinctly and slow. / turned to Katie,
~quest1oningly.
81 did not speak," she answered, in
reply to my unspoken question. at
sounded from the corner, there"
She turned and pointed to a corner
by the door. L looked that way, but
saw nothing.
"NedE"
Again that voice, but this time L
caught its sound plainly. 1t was the
familiar sound of John Haynes-the
same low, mellow tones l should have
known among a thousand.
sit is Johnl' l cried. HE has come
back from California! John, old boy.
where are your You can't play off any
OF your tricks on me. Come out, and
give me a shake of your hand"
There was a rustic of the wind in
that shadowy corner, though l could
have sworn that every door and window
was closed. Then like a shadow grow
ing out of a shadow, 1 saw a form, a
vague, vapory form.
1t grew more distinct, and defined
itself more plainly against the back
ground of the shadow, and l knew be-
fore l looked al the CHASTITY face that I
should see the features of John HAYNES.
[ looked up and saw them.
The thing lifted its hands and placed
them on its heart. And then we heard
it say, clearly and distinctly:
81 have come to you from the dead.
have kept my PROMISE
Then the shadowy hands were lifted
aud We saw that they were dabbled
with blood. And about the region of
the heart were fiecks of crimson, as if
the life-bloOd had spurted out IN sudden
Jets. Then the form faded away and
in a moment was gone. Nothing but
shadows remained.
| turned to Katie. Her face was
very white. She clung to me, trembling
and weak.
sit was a ghostl" she whispered.
1T was not anything imaginary. Your
friend must be dead!"
Three months after that l received a
letter from a friend Of John Haynes.
lie wrote that the miners camp had
been attacked suddenly one evening by
a party Of Indians, and my friend had
been shot through the heart and killed
instantly.
That is all / have to tell. What we
saw l leave for You to judge. But that
the spirit of John Haynes came back to
me from the borderlands of Death l
cannot doubt.