Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-23
THE MYSTERIOUS MESSENGER.


From the St Louis Globe democrat.
That was Q str Ange story told by an ex-Con-
gresham the other day. and the circumstances
under which il was related were somewhat
peculiar. The story was told as tie literal
truth, and there can be no reason for doubling
its authors veracity than there is for denying
that he 10 one Of the brightest and most honor
able men in public life. He is yet q young
man, but his hair is as white as silvered with
age. How il came to be white is q part OF the
story.
1t was few evenings ago that the ex-
Congressman sat with . couple Of newspaper
correspondents and government official in the
iatter's room in Q big hotel in this city. They
were discussing politics and the ex-Congress-
man was talking when he was interrupted by
knock at the door. In response to an invita-
ton the door was opened and q messenger boy
stood at the entrance. In his hand was an
envelope with a heavy black border. 1t was
such as those used to inclose q death message
or to indicate deep mourning. The boy paused
for moment. evidently specializing in his
mind as to the proper person to receive the
letter.
Finally he rendered IL to the ex-Congress-
man, who was nearest the door, That indi-
vidual turned pale and trembled. but extended
his hand as IL to take the message. He hest
tated an instant and his hand dropped nerve
less. second time he essayed 70 take the
message from the boy and again he failed. II
was only after the third effort that he was ap-
parently able to reach il, and by that time the
government official for whom il was intended
had come to the door. read the address and
took the message from the trembling hand that
had received il.
'Ah," said he, after opening and reading It.
its only note from an ofice-seeker. Why
il should be in mourning don't know. As the
ofnce-seeker Is woman presume it is merely
feminine freak"
Everybody had noticed the strange demeanor
OF the ex-Congressman, and observing that an
explanation was expected, he finally said:
Il think the use of black-bordcred envelopes
ought to be prohibited by law. The very sight
of one unnerves me. When 1 tell you why
you may doubt the truth Of the tale, but 1T is
true, nevertheless. Ten years ago was max
ing political canvass in my district. At the
close of a speech one afternoon / received a
telegram from home stating that nv boy. the
idol of my life, was dying, and that il l wished
to see him alive l must come at once. went
Immediately to the hotel, took my satchel and
started for the depot. There was no passenger
train due for some hours. but freight was
pulling out, and jumped aboard 1t was late
when reached the little town on the river
where could take boat for nome. hurried to
the wharf and found that the steamboat would
not pass until after midnight, and that would
thus be delayed many hours. / was undecided
whether to wait for the steamboat or hire
boat and leave at once. While stood on the
wharf hesitating messenger boy suddenly ap-
peared before me. Before ! could say any
thing he thrust into my hand q white envelope
with heavy black border. A strange feeling
came over me. and it was only by the greatest
effort that was able to open the letter. The
apprehension I felt in the few moments was
awful, for l knew that it must contain dread
news. When finally 1 looked at the letter there
appeared in strange hand the single sentences
You must come quick"
"There was no signature and nothing to indi-
cate the origin of the letter. and when turned
as completely as If swallowed by the earth.
knew that the message referred to my boy, al
though was entirely ignorant of its source.
knew that must hurry If would see him
alive. The message decided me, and at once
sought boatman and securing his services
started down the river. / reached home some
hours ahead of the steamboat upon which
had originally intended to come. / rushed to
the house and was ushered into the presence of
my dying boy. As I approached the bedside
he recognized me with a smile, and then said
"'Papa, I've been waiting for YOU
"Those were his last words, and in a moment
he was dead then knew that the message
had received had come from him, and that he
had been waiting for me. None of my family
or friends had seen the message, nor did they
know anything about It. Aterward made the
most searching inquiries at the town where
waited for the boat, but nobody had seen the
messenger or even heard of him. Not the
slightest trace Of him was to be found and
was led to the inevitable conclusion that the
messenger had never appeared to any one but
me, and that alone had seen the message
"You can understand now why black Dor
dored envelope always fills me with the great
est dread and apprehension and why II was
that l turned pale and trembled when the mes
senger boy who just appeared in the door ten
dered me the ominous looking message in
tended for you.
You will observe that nv hair is white. al
though am yet young man. Before that
eventful night my hair was as black as a ravens
wing.
after I received the black-bordered letter
from the mysterious messenger, who came to
me at the boat landing that night, feeling
came over me such as never knew before nor
have known since. The awful agony of that
trip down the river will remain fresh in nv
memory until death ends all. When reached
home and stood at the bedside of my boy nv
hair was white snow. It has darkened
some in the years that have since passed. but it
will never be black again."
-->O>-
DurSSUAN CfNNgDUrurun~y