The Forrest City times., 1891-05-29
WALKED WITH A GHOST.

Nature has endowed mo 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. I found myself disgusted with the world. my stomach out of order and my nerves agitated through overindulgenco dur ing the day in tobacco.
 Everything had gone wrong with me since had left my suburban home in the morning. l had lost case Tn court, loquacious but desirable client had kept me late at the office and had eaten nothing since breakfast, save n chicken sandwich at l o'clock It was 9:3o. and as tho train roared through the tunnel l could not resist the temp tation to quiet the pangs of hunger by another cigar-the tenth l had smoked since breakfast.
 Furthermore. the weather was wretched. A cold rain battered by a sharp, penetrating wind beat against the windows and promised me u dreary walk when l should set out for home from Il lonely station up the road.
 In the dim light of smoking lamp l glanced over an evening newspaper Death, disaster, crime and misery were recorded in the headlines that met my eyes. A weird mysterious epi- demic was moving down it's victims by the thousands. l shuddered as I read the death record for the day.
 Was my best friend, Jack McFar- land still alive. I wondered. as l ap- preached the end of my journey. He was my next-door neighbor and had been dangerously ill for week with pneumonia As Jim had been always rather reckless in his habits feared that he could not withstand the treach- erous inroads of the dread disease that had seized him.
 It was in this dismal frame of mind that left the train. l stood upon the platform a moment trying to raise my umbrella in spite of the wind The cold rain beat upon my face and I wondered what evil spirit had ever impelled me leave the metropolis In vain looked about me for cab. Tho storm had driven our dclicate 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 l should have reached somo hours be- fore.
 had not gone far whom a familiar voice exclaimed;
 Good evening. old man. Won't you share your umbrella with mesn
 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 glenmed with m unnatural fro. and the smile upon his lips sent strange thrill through my heart. A soft hat rested on tho back of his hair prema- turely gray. hung damp about his ears. His beard showed fortnight's growth md added to his unkcmpt 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 felt chill go through mo that the storm could not have caused.
 'I'm coming in out of the wet-cau't you seep" he answered with grim humor.
 But thought you were sick. :" re- turned. They told me you were down with pneumonia :"
 His ghas,ly face lost it's peculiar smile.
 NHs.xr 4sll st txxt ..tI l have been very ill--but I'm all right now
 We strode on in silence for time. The wind whistled angrily through the trees, the rain pclsed 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. .'lou will have a relapse
 X wild, unearthly laugh echoed through the night.
 "A relapse.n he caed No. no; the days of miracles are past
 He must have fever l thought His words were those of man suffer ing from delirium. 1 cast u glance at his 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-covored walk.
 .sTell me. Jim l began earnestly, "when did you leave your house?'
 An expression of bewilderment crossed his face.
 Il don't know" he answered. .There is no time in eternity"
 He is surely mad. said my mind, and l hurried onward at rapid gait I must get home at once. It was evi- dent that ho had escaped the vigilance of his nurse and had wandered forth in tho storm and darkness, not knowing where he went.
 Don't walk so fast" he said n mo- ment later. Il may not see you soon again. l love you. old man. We have always been good friends and wanted to say farewell before went-before went--I went-wcll, don't know just where. but I'll send you word some day" Then he went toward me until his ghastly face almost touched mine. But don't tell them. old man. that you saw me. They won't believe it. They will say that you are mad. Do you understand"
 Yes" l answered soothingly, though l knew that had lied to my friend.