The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-09-26

The prospect of passing the night alone
was too much for her; and, on the pre-,
text of not feeling well, the house1nald
was requested to share her mistress
room. But in spite of this, she could
not sleep. The distance OF MI. Bar,
stead's room from her wi preciuded
the possibility Of her hearing anything
that might occur there; but twice dur
ing the night she covered moist and
trembling beneath the bed clothes. as
she fancied she heard strange noises
coming from the direction ofthe haunt
ed chamber.
When Miss Annersleigh said Good
morning" to her guest at breakfast she
started with surprise at the change the
night had wrought in him. He was
pale, and haggard and wan, and, to her
expectant eyes, presented just the ap-.
pearance that tradition and fancy would
attribute to one after holding commun-
ion with a shade of the departed.
"He must have enjoyed hisself with
that bottle last night" a the mental
comment OF the old servitor on noticing
the same symptoms.
Mr.. Barstead was in no hurry to re-
veal the secrets of the dead chamber,
but the sickly expressive smile with
which he acknowledged the salutation OF
his hostess conveyed all it was intended
to.
Miss Annersleigh pretended to be in
terested in the platitudal comments on
the weather, past and prospective, in
which the ghost-seer INDUCED while oc-
cupied over his first cup of coffee, but
her impotence and curiosity at length
asserted themselves. Leaning over the
table she peered into the face Of her
guest and whispered, Did it Gomez"
Mr.. Barstead hesitated a minute, as
a man does who is called upon to make
o statement that he feels no one will
believe. s.
REALLY 1 fear I an causing you I'M
necessary agitation over a simple, not
to say silly, matter" he answered.
Miss Annersleigh stoutly asserted
that she was not in the slightest degree
agitated or upset, but confessed to an
amount of curiosity.
"Well, them" he resumed, sup to
this morning 1 was quite prepared to
believe that all ] had experienced was
the effect of a disordered imagination;
but there are certain facts which We
cannot get cver," and he paused con
templatlvely, while he played with a
piece of paper in his side pocket. "But
I'll tell you what occurred, I dropped
off to sleep very quickly,"sai lie, again
~hesitating, Us If to allow his listener
time to express her admiration for his
GOODNESS. 81 had been asleep about
two hours, when 1 was awakened by q
consciousness that some Il was stand
ing over me. I glanced toward the
foot of the bed, and there stood the fig
ure 1 had seen on the previous night.
| saw it so distinctly that I was able TO
distinguish several features I failed to
notice on the first occasion. The fig
ure was tall, had q bald patch on its
head. and q small scar beneath the
chin"
Good heavens!" exclaimed Miss An
nersleigh, excitedly.
perhaps it would be better if you
refrained from giving me any clue as to
the Identification of the person." inter
rupted MI. Barstead, ~suavely. "If
there is anything in it, I can then be
satisfied that this apparition is not the
result of any previous knowledge on nv
part of the person you suppose it to
be-"
Miss Annersleigh saw the logic ofthe
suggestion, and promised to abstain
from further Interruptions. Mr.. Bar
stead continued:
After a moment or two the figure
beckoned to me. and made a sign, as if
desiring me to write. l got out of bed,
procured writing material. and sat at
the table, The figure approached me
slowly and .noiselessly. I recollect
placing the pen upon the paper, rs if
about to begin to write, but nothing
more. The next thing Of which L was
conscious was suddenly awaking, feel
ing perfectly chilled. [ was sitting at
the table holding the pen and my light
had gone out, I got into bed, certain
that I was suffering from nightmare, and
after an effort fell off to sleep. On rising
this morning l Immediately looked at
the paper. You may imagine my as.
constituent TT finding it written upon
in a hand I did not recognize"
As he spoke he produced the paper,
at which he had been nervously pulling
all the time. 1t was a sheet of note pa
per, and scrawled upon it in a peculiar
handwriting, which Miss Annersleigh
Immediately recognized as that of the
deceased clergyman, was the follow
ing
"Will this satisfy you? Accept the
medium. Let him fill my place. He
is worthy of your friendship. Will
communicate again.
AMOS"
"What loes it mean?" asked Miss
Annersleigh, in a tone that betokencd
great excitement and agitation, cit is
his own handwriting; I should know it
among a thousand. And oh, Mr.. Bar
stead, it does satisfy me! But you
must excuse mel feel Tilt is too
much" and Miss Annersleigh left the
room abruptly, while Mr.. Barstead
looked on iii puzzled bewilderment.
When the door had closed upon the old
lady her guest skipped across the room,
rubbing his hands, and his countenance
lit up with an expression Of delight
that contrasted strangely with his pre-
vious depression.
aTrumps at last!" he chuckled.
sTrumps at last!"
Half an hour later Miss Annersleigh
returned, somewhat MOI composed, and
while finishing her interrupted repast.
she contided to Mr.. Barstead the cause
of her emotion. "Poor MI. Hartley was
a spiritualist, she said, land we used TO
discuss the subject; but 1 was always
sceptical till now. It is evident that
you are o medium.
Mr.. Barstead owned that it was all
very strange, but that if it were agree
able to his hostess, he would be- most
happy to stay a day or two for the pur-
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