Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-07-31
MY GH0STLY COMPANION

ton is dangerously III and wishes to scs
you"
This was telegraphic message which
/ received one cold January morning
about six years ago. Surprise was my
chief feeling at tho moment, for Mr.
Thomas Warrington had never been
more. than name to me. although h1
was my uncle. had never seen him
aud had mover felt any particular DESIRE
W do 30. not from any dislike or grudgs
bore the old man, bat simply because !
had forgotten all about him
Certainly he was my uncle, my n
Tiers elder brother. hut fof years before
my fathers death there had been feud
between them relating 10 small oftats
which my father claimed. aud which
my uncle, though u rich man with much
property, also claimed. a court OF law
settled the matter after much delay aud
anger on either side Ny uncle was able
10 pay for expert counsel, my father was
not, Tor, except thi. small estate which
caused tho quarrel, he hal nothing but
the precarious income 81 an author Ny
uncle fought hard. graspng old man
that he wa.. aud won ha cnso. but tia
had all happened sol long ago, in tho days
OF my extrume youth. that ! had never
given second thought. certainly mover
serious one to the story. Hard words
had passed between thu brothers, be-
lieyc. very hard words, and my unels
had sworn loudly and deeply That he do
tested the sight u my father, and hoped
never 10 yet eyes on hin or his again ~
long ns hu lived
Perhaps you think II was unusual for
young man Of no means mover 10 give
q second thought 10 an uncle who was
the possessor u money and lands, but II
really Is fact, aud although my uncle
wns rich and childlcss. ! knew that D,
detosted mo and my connections, and
his estate was unentallcd | myself was
very young harristcr, with enough TO
think about, and, up TO tho present. ~
much ~ could do to got through my
examinations
Some friends Of mine were talking tho
other day about strange things which
had happened 10 them, and II vet IN,
thinking about the only really strange
thing that ever happened To me. and
record tho circumstance, hoping that
some reader may 10 ablo 10 afford mo an
explanation.
Well, 10 20 back TO tho telegram.
was certainly very much surprised. and
FOR minute or two stood staring at tho
clip Of pink paper In an absent minded
sort Of way. Then It occurred to mo
that was wasting time The telegram
demanded my presence, aud | had no
tine TO waste. looked at my Brad.
shaw, found that had an hour before
the next train started, 20 ate my break.
fast calmly, and packed portmanicau,
feeling glad for the first time since had
become n full blown barristor that no
pressure Of work detained inc In town
soon found a corner seat IN a Hnok.
Ing carriage, and resigned myself To u
fairly long journey on this cold January
day. had taken my place IN very good
time, 40 Amused myself by watching tho
people hurrying % aud fro, aud was q
good deal attracted by white haired
old gentleman who slowly passed back
ward and forward at short intervals bc-
foro tho carriage IN which sl,t, and
who, every time he passed, seemed TO
look at INC with a far away expression IN
his eyea, wins beginning 10 tcel inter.
ested In the old fellow. when tho train
started, and soon forgot all about him.
by bad luck tho train which | hnd
managed 10 catch was terribly slow
one. which stopped nj almost every sta.
ton big and small, and was surprised
always 10 seo tho Same white haired old
gentleman passing TO aud fro on tho
platform every time We stopped lie
never passed without looking at mo with
the same tunway expression in his eyes
At tho first few stations | scarcely no
ticcd him, but after bit | began 10
wonder who he was and why he paradcd
about In that manner. and took a sort o.
lazy interest In him, plying tho poor old
fellow for having 10 travel ON such a
bleak day.
The journey was certainly tedious
one, but found good deal TO occupy
my thoughts-my uncle. whom / had
never seem the old quarrel. tho chances
Of his rclenting IN the matter OF my
fathers estate, for surely he would not
summon me iron London for no otlar
purpose than that lmight mako personal
inquiries a. 10 his health.
The day wore on, and tho short winter
afternoon began 10 close in We had
passed most OF the larger and buster
towns, aud were coming TO villages and
small stations An my fellow travellers
had left tho carriage, being mostly bust.
neas men they had reached their several
destinations Ia the larger towns, and
sat alone In my coraer, when the old
white haired gentleman, whom was ta,-
ginning TO look upon a. rather eccentric.
turned tho handle OF the carriage door,
came IN, and sat down In the corner op.
posite To me Tie said mol word. hut
ga1ed out at the landseape In a dreamy
manner while | took tho opportunity Ia
examine his appearance moro closely
hc was tall thin aud looked emaciated.
with clsarly cut features Of waxen
color and wonderfully blue eyes. lie
wore an old fashioned, low crowned silk
hat aud u long, thick coat with a fur
collar The expression OF his tace TO-
minded me Of some one, but could not
remember Of whom did not notice all
this nj once, tor did not like to stare
too long at the old gentleman, but /
need not have troubled myself. for ho
never turned his eyes from the window
Tho evening drew on. tho daylight
faded and the lamps were lighted. aud
still he kept his eyes fixed and gazed out
" the window into the darkness, while