Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-01-17


The conversation had been brisk and
lively, the most prominent Aldershot
topics had been discussed, and there
had occurred one OF those mOmen.ary
intervals of silence which are not un-
common during dinner, when the com.
pany was startled by the loud exclama-
ton of one of its members.
"Great God, man, are you ill? what
on earth is the matterPn
The speaker was a young Beamish.
He was addressing his vis-a.vis, DR..
Anderson, towards whom all eyes were
at once turned.
There was II white, scared look on
the surgeons face, and he was staring
ut the window with his eyes half out OF
their sockets. 1t was evident that be
had received u shock of some kind.
"No-nothing,' he answered, with
an effort; "but-ah! did you see that
wOmauPH
"See woman-whereP" asked the
other wOnderingly.
81 saw her all right, Anderson" cX.
claimed Norris frem the top of the
table; "rather pallid-lookipg and
dressed in sort OF bridal dress that
seemed slightly stained she certainly
looked in at us as She walked past the
window"
"What unmitigated nonsense!" cried
Beamish energetically. You're both
mad-thO window is at least thirty feet
from tho ground and there is no balcony
outside, but merely narrow ledge,
along which ii would be impossible for
any one except ghost to walk"
"By JOve! | never thought of that, "
said Norris, starting up lmpulsively,
He ran to the window and began push
ing aside the curtains. "But you saw
her, too, Anderson" he continued in
an amazed tone, "and somehow the
features seemed familiar
yes" replied the surgeon; 81 cer-
tainly saw woman dressed in white
pass quite close by to the window and
glance in for an instant. But it was
The strange, wolul expression in the
eyes as they met mine that startled and
disturbed me. fancied | recognized
III her some one knew; yet for the life
OF mo | cant call TO mind who she
| is.n
The doctor, who had quite recovered
his compOsure, spoke in n clear, col
lected voice. He, too, now arose from
his seat and approached The window.
Then there cnsued a scene Of consider
able excitement, in which surprise and
curiosity We're largely blended. The
dInncr.table was quickly deserted, the
window thrown open and all the ser
watts summoned. The premises were
examined and all kinds of hooks and
corners invaded and ransacked for the
discovery of the intruder, the moro
especially as Beamish suggested some
body might be attempting to play off a
practical joke on them. The search,
howe or, proved fruitless. There was
no tace OF the mysterious female who
had .,iven so rude q shock TO one Of the
par : and ruilied the serenity of all.
o. course, almost with one accord,
they secuted the notion that tho appa-
rition could possibly have an immater-
ial personality. Who ever heard of a
spectre in a mess.room ? The idea was
prepOsterous-absurd; and then, how
idle and objGctless seemed a visitation
whose purpose no one could recognized
They were either the victims of hoax,
or, as was more likely, Of spectral OF
optical illusion. So far tho officers.
The question, however, might fairly be
asked, which of the following contin.
genCies was the more improhable-thC
appearance Of disembodied spirit,
given that disembodicd spirits exist
or that two individuals, of totally differ.
ent types, in the perfect possession Of
their senses, sitting far apart, should,
amid the distraction of dinner, brilliant
lights and gay conversation, conjurt
up, exactly ut the same moment, an
illusion, which IN face, figure and dress
should be absolutely identical More.
over, as will be shown q little later, tht
vision was not so entirely without pur.
pose as at first sight they judged it tc
be.
To resume. The commotion grad
ally subsidized and the officers again
took their seats, but their cheorfulnesS
seemed to vanish and tho talk tagged
if Il stray remark were passed it led Il
nothing.
81 wonder if the apparition portends
misfortune to either of you two said
Bcamish, derisively glancing towards
Norris and Anderson.
Neither answered.
Presently Wilson addressed his host
You have to visit the guards to-
night. When dOyou start ?"
After midnight" answered Nor
ris briefly.
"pll 90 round with you."
But the other wouldn't hear of it.
However, nothing untoward happened
and early next morning the other two
friends left for Ireland.
A month later, his leave having ex.
pired, Norris rejoined his regiment.
On arriving, one of the first persons
he encountered was the surgeon, with
whom of course he entered into conver.
sation.
After little he said rather abruptly.
"Ab, Anderson, how about the ap.
paration ? Did you unrayel the mys.
terry OF its appearance ?"
81 thought you knew; surely you
have heard all about it P" replied his
companion, with an air of surprise.
mot word, not a syllable" said
the other. "To tell the truth, the
matter has troubled me but little; still,
I'm glad it admits Of n rational expla.
nation"
ga rational explanation ! echoed the
doctor, with queer smile. He drew
FROM his pocket large gold locket, and
having opened it handed it to his