The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1889-03-16
MY FRIEND Sparkling.
Troubled Conscience and a
Haunting Presence.

stones and monuments. There are three men
who habitually associate death Win DUST
ness-the doetor, the undertaken and the
tombstone maker have the inner ieehngs
and sentiments of the average man, yet my
occupation has led me TO regard the great
and solemn change chiefly from a business
point OF view. That men should die has
seemed to me as 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 boyhood. He
lived near me; my way to and from busi-
ness led past his house l 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 prepare
lions for long business tour. 1t was to
last three months. The day before my de-
parture had met Sparkling and had said to
HIM: 81 am going on another tour. Lest
we should not meet tomorrow, let us say
goodbye nown We separated with a
hearty hand shake and the friendliest of
farewells. ~ rs
1 was to take the evening train of the
in my pocket, my trunk packed, the |
parting with those at home was over, and |
the hack was taking me to the station. The
afternoon paper was in my hand | opened
it and the following paragraph caught my
eye: ,a. - ,.as. ~-' =:
"SuDDEN DEATH-As we go to press the
painful news reaches us OF the death of our
esteemed citizen, Ezra Sparkling, which oc-
Cured at his residence about three O'Clock
this afternoon. The occurrence will be as
startling as painful to his host OF friends
and acauaintances as the deceased has APP
parently been in the best of health. The cause
was probably heart disease Particulars are
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 it.
The hack had just turned into the street
on which was his house. l looked at my
watch; there was not one moment to spare
Shall tell the truth, that this certainly
gave me great relief, just thens l, OF all
men, should be with the afflicted family in
that dark hour and here was an excellent
excuse for the non-performance OF the sad
duty. / shrank, as all do, from the dis
agreeable task. e. -. ~#ea,4.- ~
The hack ent swiftly to the house; the
driver knew he had no time to lose. l saw
in the twilight that the blinds were closed;
two or three neighbors were on the front
steps. had glimpse of woman doing
something at the door. Putting Grape on
the knob" said to myself, and the scene
disappeared like some f1eeting picture con-
jured up by the memory. a..~.~. -
So my journey was commenced with a
heavy heart. looked about anxiously for
somebody at the station who could tell me
something more about my friends death
Nobody could. The two or three with whom
was able to exchange few words about
it before the express came and went knew
what did and no more. They had seen the
brief newspaper announcement, and tina
was ALL ,s<.ts-.asakN t,... u, =. ,A...t w. -
lay awake two hours that night after M.
berth in the sleeper was made up, thinking
of poor Sparkling, of his bereaved family
and what ought to do in the premises.
was an unusual occasion with me; nobody
not even a relative, had ever departed an
left the gap in my life that this man woul
leave. Naturally, began to condemn my
self for Fastening away as had done, ate
learning of Ezra's death. To be sure, m
plans were all previously made, and tn
three days. delay that would be necessar
in offering my consultations to the famil
and attending the funeral would be incol
yenient. That was all, merely little d
rangement of my plans, not even involvin
any business loss. / became angry an
dissatisfied with myself as these reflection
proceeded, and tried to excuse my condu
by the plea that the news had come apo
me so suddenly that / had no time for II
calm reflection necessary to a change
plan. My conscience was stern monte
and would not excuse me so easily. u
would never have acted thus toward you
no APOLOGIES.
l tossed about uneasily; proposed in r
I mind that would get off at Cleveland a
\ return home; resolved the next n
\ ment that would do nothing of t
kind, T. but would send long t
egrams to the widow, explaining
necessity of my absence and rendering !
sympathy; decided next that this would
an absurd thing to do-and at last feiS
sleep with nothing settled. When awe
Twas three hundred miles from home,
Cleveland was an hour behind me- tr
to put away all thoughts Of Sparkling
fix my mind on business.
1 It would not do. The man who attem
to fight battle with his conscience is
L ways in the wrong, always sure OF def
I Moreover, that kind of contest will
II clude every thing else from his mind til
4 is settled. When the train reached Gin
IL natl was conquered. Letting my bagg
II 90 on left the car, and in fever OF
u patience walked the station until l c.
take return train.
!. From the probabilities Of such occasio
q had settled it in my mind that Spar
would be buried on the afternoon OF
W third day from that Of his death I1m'
n bles were studied, conductors interroga
III and it was made certain that ought IN