The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-07-04
WALKED WITH A GHOST.

Nature has endowed me with cheer
full disposition, a good digestion and q
nervous system not easily disturbed.
Nevertheless, as / leaned back in my
seat In the smoking car Of a late train
!; out of Now York some weeks ago,
found myself disguised with the world.
my stomach out OF order and my nerves
agitated through overindulgence dur
ing the day in tobacco.
=, Everything had gone wrong with me
since had left my suburban home in
tho morning. / had lost n case In
court, IA loquacious but desirable client
had.kept me late at the Office, and had
eaten nothing sincc breakfast save a
chicken sandwich ut o'clock. twas
$50, and rs tlie train roared through
the tunnel / coG;1 Tot resist the temp
: tation to quiet the pangs Of hunger by
another cigar--the tenth had smoked
since breakfast.
Furthermore, the weather was
wrctched. A cold rain. battered by
sharp, penetrating wind beat against
the windows und promised ME il dreary
walk when ] should set ont for home
from a1oncly station up the road
In the dim'li-ht Of smoking lamp
/ glanced over I'm evening newspaper.
Death, disaster, crime and misery
were recorded In the headlines that met
my eyes. A weird, mysterious cpl
dcmic was moving down.its victims by
the thousands shuddercd as ] read
the death record for the day.
Was my best friend, Jack McFar-
land. still alive, wondered, as l APP
preached the end OF my journey. He
was my ncXt-dsor neighbor and had
been dangerously i'll for week with
pneumonia. As Jim had been always
rather reckless in his habits feared
that he could not withstand the trcach-
erous inroads of the dread disease that
had seized him.
II was in this dismal frame of mind
that ] left the train. ! stood upon the
platform a moment trying to.raise my
umbrella in spite of the wind. The
cold rain beat upon my face and /
wondered what evil spirit had ever
impelled me leave the metropolis.
In vain looked about me for cab.
The storm had driven our delicate
provincial hackmen to the shelter of
their homes.
There was nothing TO do but to
trudge onward for mile through mud
and moisture. toward the hearthstone
should have reached some hours be-
fore.
. had not gone far when q familiar
voice exclaimed:
r'.Good evening, old man. Won's yce
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 a strange
thrill through my heart. A soft hat
rested on the back OF his hair, prema-
tbrely gray, hung damp about his ears
His beard showed a fortnight'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?" / asked
hoarsely as he slipped an arm through
mine, and felt chill go through me
that the storm could not have caused
I'm coming in out OF the wet-can't
you sep" he answered with grim
humor,
But I 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,
and the chill that his presence begot
still seemed to freeze my blood.
"You should not be out on such a
night as this" l ventured at length.
You will have relapse"
A wild, unearthly laugh echoed
through the night
"A rclapse!' he cried. mo, no;
tho days OF miracles are past"
He must have fever. l thought.
His words were those OF a man suffer-
ing from delirium. cast glance at
his face. His eyes were strangely
bright, but there was no flush upon his
checks. His step was firm, though !
noticed that his feet made no sound as
they struck the rain-covered walk.
.-llsEell mo, jim began earnestly,
when did you leave your housep"
An expression of bewildermont
crossed his face. US
Il don't know" he answered.:
.T..ere is no time in eternity"
He is surely mad. said my mind, and
hurried onward at rapid gait
must get home ut once. 1t was evil
dent that he hal escaped the vigilance
OF his nurse and had wandered forth in
tho storm and darkness, not knowing
where he went
y Don't wax SO fast. !" he said mo-
ment later II may not sec you soon
rgain. love you. old man. We have
nlways been good friends and wanted
10 say farewell before went--before
went---I went--well. don't know just
whore. but Ill send you word some
Iay." Then he went toward me until
lis ghastly face aliaost touched mine.