Milford chronicle., 1888-09-07
A STRANGE STORY.

probability / do not doubt. However,
we laugh most at that which we do not
understand and cannot explain.
was not as boy particularly different
from other boys of my nge. Perhaps /
was more fond Of books and reading than
the average, but that 1 inherited from
both parents, and am afraid that was
not at all particular about the quality,
either-dime novtks, Scott, ancient history
or SmOllett-everything that came in my
way.
One thing was great source of trouble
to mo as grew older, and has remained a
great mystery until this day. It was
this; l was often awolxe out Of a sound
sleep by somebody speaking my name.
At first it frightened me, and later /
would spring out of bed, and. striking a
light, search everywhere, but nothing
could be seen. Then tried locking my
door but 1t made no difference; the
be, were stin there.
told my father, but he only laughed
and advised me to see a doctor.
And now the voices, if anything be-
came more frequent, until they came to
be an old story, and was 10 years of age
when the events l am about to 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 place may
be, 1t has its grades Of society, and there
is always "the best" Father had been a
professor, but III health obliged him to
give up teaching; and with fair income,
in a congenial neighborhood, his last DAYS
seemed to be pleasant ones. It 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 a college life, he--bless
his heart!-fnally gave in, and I entered
the counting room Of a wholesale house in
the city.
And sister Nellie-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 q great favorite with the col
lege boys, and many a quarrel did they
have on her account. Yet she showed no
preference for any. When I joked her
about them, she would laugh, and, put
ting her arms about my neck, say; "1ou
than the whole lott"
Nellie, darling sister Nellie, how
loved her! And she-well, nobody ever
had such brother, and no lover found
favor in her eyes when brother WHIP
was around.
It was in 1861. Fort Sumter had been
fred upon and taken, South Carolina had
decided to leave the Union, and war was
declared. Everybody was full Of excite
ment and I among the rest. / begged my
father to let me enlist. for, not being Of
age, could not without his consent; but
he refused, though his eyes flashed as he
read the papers, and in his impatience
longed to be young again. He could not
give his only son.
1 remember so well when he placed his
hand on my shoulder, and, pointing
through the open door where my mother
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 pre-
dictions, and as winter came on they,
with the rest Of us, accepted the sad fact
that it was to be q 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 hke-spon It oil
by putting her arms about me, and ex-
claiming, "No, no, brother Will; we can't
let you go"
How busy she was in those daysl doing
everything for the comfort of those who
were fighting, and cheering those who
were left behind Many were the bless
ings that were called down upon her for
her words of comfort and her other acts
Of a more substantial nature.
One day in December / was sitting In
my office at work, or, rather, should
have been at work. but feeling of un-
easiness possessed me without any ap-
parent cause, and l had laid down my pen
and was looking out of the window,
watching the people pass and thinking Of
nothing in particular did not know
what was the matterwith me; only felt
uneasy Suddenly l heard q voice at
nv side speak as those voices" never
had before: %Williel Willien
l sprang from my seat 50 thoroughly
/ frightened that the other clerks noticed
it, and fearing was going to faint, came
1 to my assistance.
Did any Of them speak to met
No.
Did they hear any one call my name2
No.
It wss nearly o'clock, and knowing
/ that l could do no more work that day,
/ put on my hat and coat and went home
/ / cannot tell you how felt, wish words
could express it, but as / neared hoEe
! knew something had happened. / went
! Ia, 81 al 10
sat In his library, and nodded as passed
by, and mother kissed me as she always
| did when 1 came home at night.
where's Nellie" asked
''She went down to Mrs Browns, al
I the further end Of the town, this after
noon You know her husband is in tho
hospital at Washington, and she is going
! to him. So Nellie went to see if she
could be Of help. Still, she has been gone
long while, and 1t is time she was back
Six o'clock and dark, yet no Nellie.
was getting more worried than wanted
TO own, even 20 myself, and jumping
I into the sleigh, drove to Mrs. Browns
to find that Nellie had left there long be-
fore dark Then, one after another,
visited all the placesI knew she would be
! likely to call at; but at every one / met
the same reply; "She has not been here,
By this time the rest of the family
were as frightened as I, and summoning
assistance, we began to scour the country
on the outskirts Of the town Being near
large city, the roads were frequented
by hard characters, and we feared-what
we feared we did not dare to speak aloud.
We searched for hours, but without
any trace or clew, and most Of the party
mad decided to wait until daylight before
continuing the search. ], too, had turned
back, when one of those voices, now Sc
familiar, spoke my name. waited.
"Turn to the left By the big oak you
will find Nellie" You maynot believe it.
No matter. had no thought Of hesitat-
ing-my faith was sure-and turning my
horse, / fairly flew over the snow. Il
was only a short way, and was at the
oak. / sprang out Of the sleigh and
] n a.. ~.