Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-04
WALKED WITH A GHOST.
The Adscititious Experience eff Jim Mac
Farland as Related by Friend.
CHICAGO Herald.

CntcdgO HeTusd.
Nature has endowed me with cheer
full disposition, a good digestion, and a
nervous system not easily disturbed.
Nevertheless as l leaned back in my
seat in the smoking car of late train
out of New York some weeks ago, |
found myself disguised with the world,
my stomach out of order, and my
nerves agitated through over-indul-
gence during the day in tobacco.
1t was raining when | alighted and
there was nothing TO do but to trudge
onward forward for mile through mud
and moisture toward the hearthStone l
should have reached some hours before.
I had not gone far when familiar
voice exclaimed:
Good evening, old man. Won't you
share your umbrella with me?"
| peered into the darkness and there
before me was the face Of Jim MacFar-
land, pale, thin, shadowy, like vision
from the unknown world. His eyes
cleaned with an unnatural fire, and the
smile upon his lips sent strange
thrill through my heart. A soft
hat rested on the back Of his head,
and his hair, prematurely gray, hung
damn about his ears. His beard showed
a fornight'S growth and added TO his
unkempt appearance. He was attired
in long cape-coat, and his thin hands
were encaSed in gloves size too large
for them.
"What are you doing here?" l asked
hoarsely, as he slipped an arm through
mine. and l felt chill go through me
that the storm could not have caused.
81 am coming in out of the wet-can't
you see?" he answered with grim humor.
but l thought you were sick" re
turned. "They told me you were down
with pneumonia"
His CHASTITY face lost its peculiar
smile.
"They told you the truth, old man.
have been very ill-but I'm all right
now"
We strobe on in silence for time.
The wind whistled angrily through the
trees, the rain pelted us without mercy,
andth chill that his presence begOt
still seemed to freeze my blood.
"You should not be out on such
night as this" ventured at length.
You will have a relapse"
A wild, unearthly laugh echoed
through the night.
"a relapSer' he cried. "No, no; the
Tvs of miracles are past"
He must have a fever, l thought.
His words were those of man suffer
ing from delirium. cast glance at
mis- face. His eyes were strangely
bright, but there was no flush upon his
cheeks His step was firm, though L
noticed that his feet made no sound as
they struck the rain-covered walk.
Tell me, JIM" l began. earnestly
when did you leave your house,"
Repression of bewilderment crossed
his face.
Il don't know" he answered. There
is no time in eternity"
He is surely mad, said my mind, ana
l hurried onward at rapid gait. l
must get him home at once. 1t was
evident that he had escaped the vigil
ance of his nurse and had wandered
forth in the storm and darkness, not
knowing where he went.
Don't walk so fast" he said mo-
nent later. II may not see you soon
again. l love you, old man. We have
always been good friends and l wanted
to say farewell before l went-oefore L
VENT went-well, l don't know just
where, but I'll send you word some
day" Then he bent toward me until
his CHASTITY face almost touched mine.
But don't tell them, old man, that yon
saw me. They won't believe it. They
will say that you are mad. DO you
understands"
Yes" l answered SoOthingly,
though | knew that l had lied to my
friend.
You see, :" he confined, 81 am little
new to this kind of thing, but I'll get
used 10 it after time. Do l look
queer?" he asked, peering into my face
with his burning eyes.
Not at ALL" l answered, anxious TO
keep him quiet. "A little pale, per-
haps, but you'll soon be your old self
again"
Yes, they say We are apt to be rather
white AZ first, but l don't mind that.
However. you are mistaken, Old man; l
can never be my Old self again. In fact,
| don't want to be. When | get accus-