Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-07-17

SuJOyt gu Vic OcSt Vi neal Ill d. tutS t1mt3
of my departure from home, I addressed
safe arrival at Omaha In two hours 1
received reply: Mother died at nine
last evening. Come home at once
''Died at nine! at the precise mo-
ment when she called to me in the
sleeping car of the overland express.
''For few moments my fear, or what
even more painful than the sorrow 1
felt for the loss of the best of mothers
Was it her spirit which had sought me
to cast farewell glance at her son?
''Of course left for Chicago on the
next train. On my arrival at home 1
learned that my mother was stricken
with an attack of apoplexy on the
morning of her last day on earth. To
ward evening she partially recovered.
All the family was gathered around her
bedside excepting my youngest sister,
Annie, and myself. At half past eight
she fell into trance-like condition,
from which she recovered as the clock
struck nine. She then looked at every
one present, kissed her husband and
children, and with the remark: L have
seen George and ANNIE expired.
Il have no comments to make on the
connection existing between the vision
in the railroad car and my 1amented
mothers trance. 1t is one of those
things which the human mind can not
comprehend; and the mystery will seem
still more profound to you when you
have heard the story of my sister, whose
experience was even more startling than
NINE"
: THE DAUGHTERS STORY
''Every word George has told you I
believe to be true" said Miss Annie
Smith, who was persuaded to supple
ment her brothers narrative. ,
cat the time of mothers death 1
was visiting friend in Northern lndi
ana On the 18th of October I received
letter from mother in which she in
formed me of many things of personal
interest, and added, in postscript, that
1 need be in no hurry to return as her
health had never been better. She
spoke cheerfully of domestic affairs,
told about several calls she had made
the day before, and teased me not
little about certain young man who,
as you know, will soon be my husband.
MY visit had been very pleasant.
and immediately after reading the let
ter l informed my friend that 1 could
spend another week with her.
"a local fire company was to give an
outdoor concert, the last of the season,
on the evening of the 18th. AS early as
seven o'clock large crowd was gathered
around the music stand, in the court
house park, and at half past seven my
friend suggested that we walk down to
| the park, listen to the music and take a
| dish of ice cream, which was to be
served in the wide corridor of the court
house.
| 1.-THE suggestion met the approval of
| every one In the house, and few min
utes laterwe had joined the throng at the
| courthouse. Several gentlemen known
to my friend asked permi ssion to join
| our party:and we were soon enjoying
ourselves to our hearts content.
| ''The music was really good, the band
which furnished it having won several
prizes at different contests. The mem
bers of the fire company. clad in brigh t
red shirts, gaudy belts and flaming he'll
NETS, went through their evolutions 20
the satisfaction of verybody. Enthusi-
asm grew loud on all sides and an invi-
tation to buy ice cream received a
hearty response.
| Among those who entered the court
| house was our party. We filled one side
of long table, and as the gentlemen
were very liberal in giving their orders
it looked as though we would occupy our
seats for some time.
1.-The conversation was general. The
gentleman sitting next to me, a lawyer
of some note, re3aSed some Of his ex-
periences in the ackwoods counties OF
Indiana, and drew funny pictuges of the
typical Hoosier and his peculiar ways
until laughter drOwnedothe remarks OF
the other speakers.
81 had a splendid time. The sur
roundings were so novel to one who had
never spent any length OF time III g
country community, and the cenversa
ton, which brought me face to face with
men who had lived among a class o.
people about whom I had read and
heard so much, Afforded me 'unbounded
amusement.
Judge M, the lawyer l. mon
toned few moments ago, was just teal
ing very funny story, and: as he haG
the faculty of making a ridicnlousoth hing
still more ludicrous by assuming the
: facial expressions of his heroes ant
} heroines 1 waite Ped his face intently.
''Suodenly my sight grew dim, nay
Surroundings seemed to change and
found myself in my mothers room a
home. 1 saw her lying on her bed
gasping for breath, the color of dealt
on her face, her eyes0 dimmed by
CLASSY vapor. I walked to the side o
the bed, took her hand and bent dow1
: to kiss her lips. She suffered me to d.
as l pleased, and uttered, iR' faip
whisper, the words: Goodbye. Annie
God bless YOU
I'm the same instant nv sight re
turned, 1 heard tie words spoken by m,
neighbor as plainly as before, saw TIT
dirty walls of the courthouse corridor
and uncensciously laughed as merrill.
as the rest o
. "The reaction set ifn. however, and a
the clock in the courthouse towe
struck niae, l fellOfrOm my chair in
swoon.
kind hands cared for me, and whel
1 recovered 1 was in my room at m,
friends house. I related my expert
ence. 1t was considered extraordinary
but ascribed to ordinary causes. Tn
!, excitement of the evening, tie cool at
!, sphere, the transition from the pur