Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-09-27
A STRANGE STORY
Frank LeSlie'S.

Frank LeSlie's.
That many of you will laugh at il
probability L do not doubt. Howeve
we laugh most at that which we do nC
understand and cannot explain.
was not as boy particularly differ
ent from other boys of my age. Pei
haps | was more fond of books and read
ing than the average, but that inherit
ed from both parents, and l am afrai
that l was not at all particular abOu
the quality, either-dime novels, Scott
ancient history or SmOllett- eyerythin,
that came i'll my way.
one thing was a great source o
trouble to me as 1 grew older, and ha
remained great mystery until this day
Is was this: | was often aWOke out OF
sound sleep by somebody speaking m,
name. At first it frightened me, an(
later l would spring out of bed, and
striking light, search everywhere, bu
nothing could be seen. Then l trieC
locking my door, but it made no differ
ence; the voice" or "voiceS," whateye
they might be, were still there.
l told my father, but he only laughed
and advised me to see a doctor
And now the "vOices," if anything
came more frequent, until they came
to be an Oid story, and | was 10 years
of age when the events | am about tt
tell you of took place.
We lived in the college town of c.
and, being well-to-do people, moved in
the best society of the place; for, you
know that, no matter how small a
place may be, it has its grades of socie,
ty, and there is always ''the best"
Father had been a professor, but i'll
health obliged him to give up teaching;
and with fair income, in a cOngenial
neighborhOod, his last days seemed to
be pleasant ones. 1t was great source
of grief to him that his only son
would not enter college. But on this
point | was obstinate, and finding that [
was so opposed to college life, he =
bless his heart!-f finally gave in, and l
entered the counting room of whole
sale house in the city.
And sister NeIlie-she was not a
beauty as we Judge of beauty; but she
was bright, lively and happy-like sun
shine wherever she went. Every face
frightened when she came near; old
and young had only words of praise for
"MiSs Nellie"
She was great favorite with the col
lege boys, and many quarrel did they
have on her account. Yet she showed
no preference for any. When l joked
her about them, she would laugh, and,
putting her arms about my neck, say:
"YOu dear old brother, you are worth
more than the whole lot!''
Nellie, darling sister Nellie, how l
loved herl And she-well, nobody had
such a brother, and no lover found IA
vor in her eyes when "brother WHIP was
around.
1t was in 1861. Fort Sumter had been
fired upon and taken, South Carolina
had decided to leave the Union, and war
was declared. Everybody was full of
excitement, and [ among the rest. l
begged my father to let me enlist, for,
not being of age, L could not without
his consent; but he refused, though his
eyes flashed as he read the papers, and
in his impatience IOnged to be young
again. He could not give his only son.
l remember so well when he placed
his hand on my shoulder, and, pointing
through the open door where my moth
er sat reading, shook his head and left
me.
But those dayS-who of us can ever
forget them? The spring and summer
passed by, and those who had said that
the war would be over in few months
began to lose confidence in their own
and as winter came on they, |
with the rest of us, accepted the sad fact |
that it was to be long, hard struggle
Both sides were brave and determined.
Nellie was very enthusiastic and very
patriotic; she sympathized with me in
my desire to fight for my country; and
yet, after one of those long talks to
cheer me up, she would -woman-like-
spoil it all by putting her arms about
ne, and exclaiming, "No, no, brother
Will; we can't let you 60"
How busy she was in those days! do
ng everything for the comfort of those
who were fighting, and cheering those
Who were left behind. Many were the
blessings that were called down upon
Ter for her words of comfort and her 9TH
II acts of more substantial nature.
One day in December l was sitting in
ny office at work, or, rather, | should
lave been at work; but a feeling of I'M
.asineSs possessed me without any ap-
,arent cause, and | laid down my pen
md was looking out of the window,
the people pass and thinking
# nothing in particular. 1 did not know
What was the matter with me; l only
elt uneasy. Suddenly heard a ''vOice"
t my side speak as those "voices" nev-
r had before: "WillieI Willier'
sprang from my seat so thoroughly
frightened that the other clerks noticed
t, and fearing L was going to faint, ;
anne to my assistance.
"Did any of them speak to me?
No. s
Did they hear any one call my name? I
No.
1t was nearly 6 o'clock, and knowing
hat | could do no more work that day,
put on my hat and coat and went
ONE. | cannot tell you how l felt;
Iish words could express it; but rs | {
cared home | knew something had
| went in. Everything seem
d us usual Father sat in his library, and {
odded as passed by, and mother kiss '
d me us she always did when came I
ONE at night.
"Where's Nellie?" | asked.
''She went down to Mrs. Browns, at |
he further end of town, this afternoon. {
'ou know her husband is in the hospit-
at Washington, and she is going to {
i'm. So Nellie went to see if she could I
e of help. Still, she has been gone a
)ng while, and it is time she was back.
Six o'clock and dark, yet no Nellie.
iaS getting more worried than wanted ,
D own, even to myself, and, jumping S
nto the sleigh, drove to Mrs. Browns,
D find that Nellie had left there long
efore dark. Then, one after another, {
i I I