The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-11-21

Dul WHAT SOTC Oh creature is JnlS
ghostP' l asked. Does it follow all
the companyP
"'Oh, Santa Fe, mol! cried my
friend Rodriguez. 1T only follows
certain people who are to die. You
will see a double shadow of the same
shape and size as he walking beside
him by day and by night, and-and-a
few days before the bull fight comes
off the ghost stands before the arena
door with drawn sword, and accom-
panies the doomed man everywhere.
II turned the matter over in my
mind and came to the conclusion that
Rodriguez was getting silly, and that |
had better mention nothing of what he
had told me to any one.
1.-THE days passed. and Nunez was
still the gayest of US all; as happy and
gentle, as unselfsh and thoughtful for
others as usual. and more beloved than
ever. My fears and terrors for him had
almost ceased, when one day l hap
pened to 90 with Nunez to the arena
to watch him practice with bull. !
sat on the barrier and watched the per-
Torrance, applauding his agility, his
grace and general eGse of composure.
ITO my horror l saw On the sand OF
the arena the shadows together When
one moved the other moved. When
Num- waved a Mania, the double did
the same; when he turned gracefully
to one side of the bull, the double
shadow turned with the same grace and
ease
81 was so disturbed by this appari-
ton that decided to ask some of my
comrades whether they had seen the
strange double, fearing that having
brooded so much over the story of the
old bull fighter my brain might have
been affected.
go, yes, cried my comrades when
told them what had seen; the ghost
follows him wherever he goes, but that
is superstition, as we do not think
anything of it.
"'But old Rodriguez thinks great
deal of it, exclaimed, and fully be-
lieves that Nunez is doomed man. l
think some one ought to speak to
Nunez and warn him..
ut was three days before the fight
was to come off that went one evening
to Nhnez to take look at the bulls he
was to kill.
"When we came to the door of the
arena Nunez entered first, and | stood
looking at the moon for moment or
two. As turned distinctly saw a
white figure with drawn sword be-
tween me and him, which turned and
walked with him shoulder to shoulder.
1t was the double.
at accompanied him everywhere
in the arena, in the pens of the bulls.
in the keepers quarters-everywhere.
When we sat down to have glass of
wine with the keeper, the shadow sat
down beside Nunez; when. we left to
return to the school the double es-
corted us, shoulder to shoulder with
Nunez, tand these shadows were re-
flected by the moonlight on the ground.
II could bear it no longer. and
when, at the church door, the shadow
left as usual, l told Nunez of what |
had seen, and of the fears and dread !
had for him in the coming bull-hght,
and l besought him to give it up, at
whatever cost.
"He turned little pale as he listen
ed. Then he laughed merrily, and,
laying his hand on my shoulder, he
said:
"My dear fellow, thank you for the
warning. But | have no fear of the
ghost | shall not die before my time
ghost or no ghost; and if l am to die
will not shirk my duty will die il
! harness. But / do not believe your
superstition
, 1.-THE day for the bull-fght broke
clear and bright; not a cloud was to bt
) seen in the sky. As the hour ap
| preached for Nunez to go Rodriguez
and | started out for long walk.
: "I cannot 60 to see him killed,
r said the old man, and l felt very mucl
} of the same mind.
s CAS- we were leaving the house w
: met Nunez in his beautiful embroidered
4 dress, drinking courage Gas the bull
D fighters call the absinthe which is givel
a to them before they 60 into action
Y with his other comrades.
: "'Come and wish me luck, both O
: you,' Nunez said gayly to us, and w
complied with inward misgivings. Fo
: both of us wished most devoutly tina
= all was over and that he was bac
among us again safe. And he con
' tinued to me as we drank with all tn
n honors, give me that white pink i
your buttonhole, Alvarez; and if any
:. thing happens to me that ghost wi
!, give it back to YOU he added, laugh
S ing.
+ 1.-The whole company shuddered i
@ spite of themselves For though the
Il pretended not to believe in superstition
s his words sounded like tempting Prov
dence or Drawing the devil.
It Rodriguez and / went on our val
e and returned to the school about sever
s. The first thing that greeted our eye
was the body of Nunez being carrie
? into the church near the school deaf
9 The ghost had made good his warnin,
10 and the brave lad met his fate, cut Q
IS from life in the prime of manhoo,
His comrades, silent and pale, wei
? wrin OinO their hands in agony, %