Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-26
MY FRIEND SPARKLING.
A Troubled Conscience and a
Haunting Presence.

l. am manufacturer Of and dealer in grave
stones and monuments. There are three men
who habltually associate death with bust
ness-the doctor, the undertaken and the
tombstone maker. have the finer feelings
and sentiments Of the average man, yet nv
occupation has led me to regard the great
and solemn change chiefly from business
point Of view. That men should die has
seemed to me IS a matter Of course and as
n necessary means for the support of my
self and family. Still, death may produce
a great shock in me, as was the case with
that of my friend Sparkling.
We had been friends from boyheod He
lived near me; my way 10 ana from bust
ness led past his house. | met him almost
daily. Mutual assistance over some of the
hard places of life, similarity of tastes,
and frequent interchange Of thought and
opinion had endeared each of US to the
other.
For a week had been busy with prepara-
tons for long business tour. 1t was to
last three months. The day before my de-
parture l had met Sparkling and mad said to
HIM: Il am going on another tour. Lest
we should not meet tomorrow, let us say
goodbye now" We separated with a
Hearty hand-shake and the friendliest Of
farewells.
l was to take the evening train of the
next day Ny ticket for New Orleans was
IN my pocket, my trunk packed, the
parting with those at home was over, and
the hack was taking Inc to the station. The
afternoon paper was in my hand; / opened
1t and the following paragraph caught my
eye:
Sudden DEATH-As we go 10 press the
painful news reaches us of the death OF our
esteemed citizen, Ezra Sparlirg which oc-
curred at his residence about three o'clock
this afternoon. The occurrence VIII be as
startling painful 10 his host OF friends
and aeGuaintances, As the deceased has ap-
parently been IN the best OF health. The cause
was probably heart disease. Particulars arc
necessarily deferred till our next ISSUE
The paper dropped from my hand; the
shock made me faint for a moment. Spar
ling dead / could not comprehend r.
The hack had just turned into the street
on which was his house. ! looked at my
watch; there was not one moment to spare.
Shall l tell the truth, that this certainly
gave ne great relief just then. l, of all
men, should be with the afflicted family in
that dark hour: and here was an excellent
excuse for the nCn-performance Of the sad
duty. | shranK, as all do, from the dis
agreeable task.
The hack went swiftly to the house: the
driver knew he had no me to lose l saw
in the twilight that the blinds were closed;
two or three neigbbors were on the front
steps. l had glimpse Of a woman doing
something at the door. d" Putting Grape on
the knob, =" ! sad TO myself, and the scene
disappeared like some Ieeting picture con-
jGIed up by the memory.
So nv Journey was commenced with q
heavy heart. l looked about anxiously for
somebody At the station who could tell me
something more about my friend death.
Nobody could. The two or three with whom
was able TO exchange few words about
1t before the express came and went knew
what | did and no more. They had seen the
brief newspaper announcement. and that
twas all.
lay awake two hours that night after nv /
berth in the sleeper was made up, thinking /
Of poor Sparling, of his bereayed family, /
had what ought TO do in the premises. Il /
was an unusual occasion with me; nobody, /
not even a relative, had ever departed and (
left the gap in lay hfe that this man would 1
leave. Naturally, began 10 condemn my
self for Fastening away as had done after
learning Of Ezra's death. To be sure, my
plans Were all previously made, and the
three days delay that would be necessary
In offering my consultations to the family
and attending the funeral would be incon-
yenlent. That was all merely little de-
ranGeuent OF my plans, not even involving
any business loss. | became angry and
dissatisfied with myself as these reflections
proceeded, and tried 10 eNsuSe nv conduct |
by the plea that the news had come upon |
ne so suddenly that ] had no time for the
GAIN reflection necessary TO 9 change of 1
plan. Ny conscience was a stern monitor,
and would not excuse me SO easily. He
would never have acted thus toward YOU"
was its comment upon my apologies.
l tossed about uneasily; proposed in nv
mlnd that would set of IT Cleveland and
return home; resolved the next no
nent that l would DO nothing Of the
kind. but would send s long tel
egraln to the widow, explaining the
necessity Of my absence and rendering nv
decided next that this would be
IN absurd thing TO do-and at last fell 70
sleep with nothing settled. When l awoke
was three hundred miles from homo. and
was an hour behind me. tried
to put away all thoughts of Sparkling, and
Tx my mind ON business.
Ii would net do. The man who attempts
10 fight battle with his conscience is al
ways IN the wrong, always sure Of defeat
Moreover; that kind Of a contest viii ex-
clude every thing else from his mind till il
S settled When the train reached Cincin-
1atl was conquered. Letting my baggage
go on lett the car, and in q fever of I'M
patience walked the station until / could !
AXE a return trag