Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-26
A STRANGE STORY.

That many OF you Will laugh ct It's
probability | do not doubt. However,
we laugh most at that which we do not
understand and cannot explain.
l was not as boy particularly different
from other boys of my age. Perhaps /
was more fond of books and reading than
the average, but that l inherited from
both parents, and am afraid that ! was
not at all particular about the quality,
either-dime novels, Scott, ancient history
or Smolett-everything that came in my
way.
One thing was a great source Of trouble
TO mo as / grew older, and has remained
great mystery until this day. it was
this: | was often awoke out of a sound
sleep by somebody speaking my name.
At first it frightened me, and later l
would spring out Of bed, and, striking a
light, search everywhere, but nothing
could be seen Then l tried locking my
door, but il made no difference; the
voice" or "voices," whatever they might
be, were still there.
1 told my father, but he only laughed,
and advised NE to see 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 TODD people. moved in
the best society of the place; for, you
know that, no matter how small a placemay
be. it has its grades Of society, and there
is always the best" Father had been
professor. but fll health obliged him to
give up teaching; and with fair income,
In 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 80 opposed to a college life, he-bless
bis heart!-finally gave in, and | entered
the counting room Of a wholesale house in
the city.
and sister Nellie-she was not
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 a quarrel did they
have on her account. Yet she showed no
preference for any. When l joked her
about them, she would laugh, and, put
ting her arms about my neck. say: "You
dear old brother, you are worth more
than the whole lotp'
Nellie, darling sister Nellie, how I
loved herl And sbe-well, nobody ever
had such @ brother, and no lover found
favor 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 excite
ment and among the rest. begged my
father TO let me enlist, for, not being of
nge, | could not without his consent; but
he refused, though his eyes flashed as he
read tho papers, and in his impatience
ionged to be young again. He could not
give his only son.
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 davs-who of us can ever
forget theml The spring and summer
passed by, and those who had said that
the war would be over In 3 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 1t was TO De q long, hard struggle.
Both sides were brave and determined.
Nellie WIS 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 lke-spoil it ell
by putting her arms about me, and ex-
claiming. No, no. brother Will; we can't
let you 60"
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 more substantial nature.
One day In December was sitting in
my Office at work, or, rather I should
have been at work: but feeling of IN
easiness possessed me without any aD-
parent cause, and had laid down my pen
ard was looking out OF the window,
watching the people pass and thinking OF
nothing in particular. l did not know
what was the matter with me: only felt
uneasy. Suddenly | heard voice" at
my side speak as those voices" never
had before: "Williel WilIier'
Isprung from my seat so thoroughly
frightened that the other clerks noticed
1t, and fearing was going to faint, came
to my assistance.
Did any of them speak to mel
No.
Did they hear any ono ca Il my nares
No
1t was nearly o'clock, and knowing
that could do 40 more work that dav, /
put on my hat and coat and went home.
cannot tell you how felt, wish words
could express it, but as neared home /
knew something had happened l went
in. Everything seemed as usual. Father
sat in his library, and nodded as passed
by, and mother kissed ne as she always
did when l came home At night.
Where's NellieI" / asked
'-She went down TO Mrs Browns, q.
the further end of tie town, this after
noon. You know her husband is in the
hospital at Washington, and she is going
TO him So Nellie went to see il sho
could be of help. Still. she has been gone
q long while, and it is time she was back
Six o'clock and dark. yet no Nellie.
was getting more worried than l wanted
TO own, even 10 myself. and. jumping
into the sleigh, drove TO Mrs. Browns,
TO IND That Nellie had left there long De-
fore dark Then. one after smother,
visited al the pisces knew she would be
likely TO call at. but at every one ] me:
the same reply: "She has not been here,
BY this time the rest of the family
were as frightenedas |. and summoning
assistance. we began to scour tie country
on the outskirts of the town. Being near
. large city. the roads were frequented
BY hard characters. and we feared--whst