The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-03-17
Selerf Storv.
A Strange Experience.
AS Related by the One Who Passed
Through 1t.
CHAPTER L.


Nv name-is not Norval, nor have |
ever in any way been associated with the
Champion hils-but my name is Oscar
Hockersmith. You will at once perceive
tha. there is nothing in such name. but
il any man has ever passed through an
experience similar to the one which am
Y Ding to relate he would do me a great
kindness by at once communicating with
me.
One day arrived at Cregmore. little
old town on the upper Arkansas River
After taking breakfast at hotel the pro.
prietor OF the house came to me and
said that as / had no baggage l would
be compelled to pay in advance.
"Baggage, indeed!" I exclaimed.
"Have my trunk sent up, II you please"
'.you brought no baggage, sir"
"Then it has not arrived. 1t will soon
he here. for am sure it arrived, having
seen it delivered to wagouer at the de.
pot. have no money with me. hope
that you appreciate ny position, sir."
He doubtfully shook his head and
walked away. This annoyed me not a
little, and / wonder ed if the fellow who
had my trunk bad run away with it. l
had no check, and ] knew that l might
have trouble in recovering my property.
Just as turned to 90 out an old gentle.
man whom suddenly encountered threw
up his hands and exclaimed:
s.W bat is the matter ?"
"On, sr, il | did not know that my
son Norvsl was dead | would think in
you he had returned, He was killed in
the army"
He regarded me closely, and ir quiz
eter tone continued:
81 have never before seen such re-
semblance. Same eyes, nose mouth
everything. Will you please do an old
man favor?'
Ireplied that would favor him in sny
possible way.
"Then come with me to my house. /
want my wife To see YOU"
/ told him of the perplexiug situation
in which was placed.
"Here, Mr.. Buneh!' he exclaimed.
calling the proprietor. doesn't he look
exactly like my son Norval2"
Exactly, only he is much older"
eyes, but you must remember that il
is more than twenty wears since Norval
went into the army Poor bow" turning
TO me. "Poor boy, he was killed ct An.
,ietam. want you to 60 home with me.
l will stand good for your hill"
II feel under many obligations to you,
old gentleman, for l am really in an en-
barrassing position + fear that fellow
has stolen my trunk, but if YOU will 60
with ME to the town officer | will after
wards go with you"
He agreed and we called upon the
town maj shaI. who, after listening to nv
statement, looked at mo suspiciously and
said:
"You didn't come in on the train"
"But, sir, know that did. ! deliv
cred my trunk to tall negro who walk
ed with limp, and who, if l remember
correctly, had an impedlment in his
speech. The trunk-snd would know
it among thousands alarge one, ,cov-
cred with black leather"
"Look here" said the officer, "you
came up on boat, for saw you when
you got off; besides, you could not have
come by rail, for as there are several
washoots above and below here, there
has not been train in for two days"
This statement was insulting, vet
struggled to conceal my resentment. OF.
icials, in small towns, are generally mar
row-minded, dogma,ic men, and / cared
not to dispute him further than to reaf-
firm that came on the morning train
Then, turning 10 the old gentleman, ,whc sa
name | had learned was Metford, an
nounced my readiness to accompany
hiu He had been so absorbed in the
contemplation of the resemblance be-
tween his son and myself, that he bad
paid but little attention to the disparity
Of statements concerning the manner Of
my arrival.