Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-07-12
BOB BANKHEAD's TRYST, OR WAS 1T A
DREAMY
From the somerville Falcon.


sketch, but the utiatlorned narration
OF an actual eccurance, that trans
pred about the beginning of the
late war. The original narrator
still lives, and is widely and favora
bly, known both in West Tennessee
and North Mississippi. Jack g. is
now about sixty-five years old, and
though gray and weather beaten, is
still hale and fiorid, standing on
his legs rs firmly as a man of fifty.
Farmer and gin wright by occupa.
ton, his life has been one OF con-
stant out door labor and so his sew
enth decade finds him strong ol
body and firm in mind. Born and
bred I'm Tennessee and long u resi-
dent OF North Mississippi he bears
In speech, in manners and in dispo-
sition the marks OF the rougher free
dom of a better, but now long de-
parted era. He has seen much OF
man in the bad, and yet more of
man in the rough, has had his fail
ings that brought only regret, has
had misfortunes that brought deep
sorrow, has had hard toll always,
that brought not wealth, and yet
none OF these trials have shaken the
leal fealty he has ever borne his
own family circle, nor filled his
stout old heart with bitterness to-
ward his fellowman. He still per-
sues his avocations closely; still
takes keen interest in the little af-
fairs or his neiyhborhood world,
commenting with queer, dry
shrewdne.s on what transpires
about him, or occasionally aroused
from the even tenor OF his way by
some instance of unusual baseness,
he "spenCIs his opinion" in English
(?) decidedly more fOrcible than
elegant Great men as well as small
il any such there be in these times,
must have their faults. But how
ever all this may be, there was
something in his manner aud APP
pearance that impressed the follow
ing narrative on my memory, a GER
tain undefinable something that be-
lied the dirisiVe satire at times
breaking out, that persuaded me
that the narrator himself firmly be-
lieved its tvery particular. How
clearly yet recall the scene sur
as he told 1t. The still
evening sinking in rosy soflness
aduwn the distant West, that peculiar
long drawn that marks
the close Of the midsummer days,
while the old man leaned against
the grave yard fence resting from
protracted walk, enjoying his. to-
bacco and prepared for Il long chat.
We had been jesting over the latest
ghost story and from that
began to discuss phantoms and su.
perstitiOns generally, even then,
Just upon the favOrite arena Of that
but Elusive folk who
need but be seen to create wide eyed
''TaIking of the
quoth he. reminds
me OF a singular little Occurance in
my own experience that l have
never fully told TO any one but my
wife, now long dead, such an occar- |
snce that although at the time fear
'ully real, even then, as now batfied |
analysis or indeed an |
adequate description. II belongs |
o that peculiar kind of experience,
hat, in my opinion, befalls certain |
under peculiar circum-
tances and even then rarely more |
han once in lifetime, an expert |
'nce though certainly real yet so |
yague in some respects, SO Gniveral- |
v heard with incredulity, that few
lare narrate 1t. Now ! hold that
he subtility Of nature far exceeds
he powers of the human intellect
md that amid the great chaff bank
1t superstitions there certainly is
GOLDEN grain OF truth in which kind
mother Nature makes an appeal
id honaillen lest he forget the spir-
tual in his being and the great
hereafter that lies before us all. In
he summer OF 1860 while lived in
North Mount Pleasant, Mississippi,
was engaged by DIR. Mckinney to
Construct for him gin, running
ear and cotton press on his planta-
ion in Walnut Bend, Arkansas.
'hc old man lived then in German
own Tennessee, at any rate he died
here sometime about the close OF
he war. | in turn, contracted with
ne Robert Bankhead to accompany
ne as an assistant. Now, Robin, as
We called him, was the best Of
oOti fellows, II fine Hiechanic and
II excellent cOnpaniorI, genial in
is ways aud conViYial withal, and
hereby hangs tale! Easily he ac-
ceded to my proposals but most
refused to 90 along when
did. In vain | urged him to ac-
Dnpany me then, all | could ex
Drt from him was that he would
ome TO me in due time.
"Oh go along" he would say "I'll
e there i'm time"
"Yes in tlmew / repeated petu-
entity.
"Well, then in eternity" he ex-
laimed derisively "if that suits you
eiter, IN be there dead or alive"
With such assurance l must need !
Dntent myself and 80 took my de
arturo through the country to my
ppoinled field 0f labor. | began
iOrk without delay and though tie
lyed and annoyed by Bank heads
bsence through the aid OF young
and the slaves on the
lace made good speed in my un-
The days slipped by, AZ
ne days must, whether they play
r ply and the second week began s
} wane and with il my task ne,ired
) completion. had ceased Ia ex-
ect Bank head, or indeed to think
him at all, and no longer had
Decial need Tor his services. Ii WIS
ne night oi the event | have aIlud-
g to. How. clearly recali 1t still .
yer the lapse Oi t1enty.Odd event [
II years. The day had been one OF
evere toll, lifting the heavy press |
mbers to their places and the night I
osed in still and warm, breeze [
~ night oi the low land, sultry,
amp and dark, utterly given over {
, the ceaseless crying of the katy |
ids and weird and evil voices OF /
le night. my bed hai been spread
own la the hall Hnd the doors lay
'ide open to relieve painting na-
ire. But for the darkness i could
ave seen from where / lay the i
lrubbery in the yard, the long open
lalk through it and the gate at the |
g,Dosite end. had laid down very ,
'eary, too tired indeed to sleep ut
nee, but with mind satisfied In the !
OF my work and the pleas !