Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-26

to the wall. The lamp was burning dimly.
! was awake enough to realize that fact.
Then feeling of indescribable horror
settled on me. The perspiratlon started
from every pore, yet | was cold as death.
My nails sunk into tie palm of my hands.
my teeth ground against each other, and
My lips grew tight across my gums. My
breath stopped, my brain seemed to con-
geal and my heart beat with heavy irreg-
ular thumps. was fast going unto I'M
consciousness. A knowledge that was
not alone came over me. Teddy, it is |,
Billy, said voice | recognized as my
brother s, though weak and husky. A
few moments silence followed. | would
have given the wealth of the world to
have anwsered, but could not move a
muscle In reply. Come on, Billy. 1t is
midnight. Remember who is waiting.
We do not want him. We have kept our
word and come back My heart froze, and
l was going mad, now, with fright and
grief. The second voice was that Of James
Reid. Yes, we have kept our word
Then the presences seemed to leave my
bedside and go towards the door which |
had shut before going to bed. Just as |
managed to turn my head, [ saw my
brother, pale and thin, dressed in pure
white. glide out of the door and disappear.
On his cheek was small spot of blood.
Nightmare, do you call it? After events
proved that my brother and his friend had
indeed come back to me in fulfllment of
their promise. In a few minutes re-
gained possession of my senses and looked
around. The door was open. I had not
dreamed that much tried to disbelieve
what | knew to be the truth. Ny brother
and his friend were dead. All that night
l studied the matter over. Would tell
mother? No, it was better to ward of
the blow as long as possible. What would
happen when the sad news reached her
She would certainly die Father, too,
would sink under the burden. Thoughts,
each blacker than the other, crowded on
my mind until I shrieked with mental
agony. 1t cannot be imagined what
suffered until nearly daylight and | again
fell asleep. When [ awoke it was late in
the morning. sadly dressed myself and
horrors. At the foot of the stairs | met
father.
Good morning, Ted; your brother
feelings, and burst forth: 30, father,
bear up like man. Brothers dead"
"What?"
Listen. Last night his ghost came to
my bedside
at did, did it? You blanketv blank
idiot Last night your brother and red
headed Jim Reid got back from Mexico.
They read in the papers that our friend
Maj Moriarity was a candidate for the
Legislature, and like gentlemen they came
home to rally the boys. They went to
your room last night, but you we're toe
sound asleep to awaken. Ii Jim Reid is a
ghost he is the first ghost [ ever saw that
wanted to sing 'Finnegan's Wake at
in the morning. Now they're both up
stairs tired out with ha1diwork among the
voters all night. Don't you"
Abruptly leaving my father | went to
the sideboard and took big drink OF
brandy or should have dropped to the
floor, and then left the house.
[ don't know what caused it. 1t may
have been the brandy, but | think it was
relaxation Of feeling. Anyway | walked
to the polls to cast my first vote and was
challenged by a republican. He and my.
self Immediately engaged in Delsarte cal
isthenics until he abjured me. ''Let up;
I've got enough" This new phase Of my
| cnafdCter gave Tue MOfldrlty DOOm SuCG
strength that the gallant major was elect.
ed by a safe majority, and as he publicly
declared "all On account of Billy Flynn s
ghoss and that 'theofstical brother, Teddy
Flynn
As might be expected, my disgraceful
conduct, so unexpected in a man of my
previous habits, was published far and
wide, and in due time | received notice
from the Society of Brahamism that my
resignation would be accepted. Following
this came a note from Miss Schneider,
| stating that our tastes were SO dissimilar a
closer union of souls would be impossible
In the midst of all this trouble | got sym
pathy from none save Major Moriarity s
pretty daughter, Norah. God bless her,
whose kindness so consoled me that for
got Brahma, Buddha, Schneider and the
whole business; everything: in fact, but
Norah, and so necessary did this consol.
atory sympathy become that I adopted the
major as my father-in-law And for this
to my dying day, will | be grateful tc
my brothers ghost.-Memphis Appeal
AyalaIancha