Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-10-09
MY GHoSTLY COMPANION

Come at once Mt. Thomas Warning.
ton is dangerously 81 aud wishes to see
yon.
This was n telegraphic message which
] received n cold january morning
nbont six years ago Surprise YVES my
chief feeling at the moment, for Mr.
Thomas Warrington had never been
moro than a name TO me. although he
WAS my uncle. ! had never seen him,
and had never felt any particular desire
TO do 30. not from any dislike or grudgc
! bore the old man, but simply because
had forgotten all about him.
Certainly he was my uncle. my IA
theirs elder brother, but for years before
my fathers death there had been a feud
between them relating to a small estate
which my father claimed, and which
my ancle, though a rich man with much
property, also claimed. A court Of law
settled the matter after much delay aud
anger on either side. My uncle was able
TO pay for expert counsel, my father was
not, for, except this small estate which
caused the quarrel. be had nothing bat
the %precarious income Of an author. Ny
uncle fought hard, grasping old man
that he was. and won his case. But this
had all happesed so long ago, in the days
of my extreme youth. that / had ever
given a second thought, certainly never
serious one to the story. Hard words
had passed Between the brothers, | be-
lieve. very hard words, and my uncle
had sworn loudly and deeply that he de
tested the sight of my father, and hoped
never to set eyes on him or his again rs
long as he lived.
Perhaps You think it was unusual for
u young man Of no means never to give
second thought to an uncle who was
the possessor of money and lands, but it
really is q fact. and although my uncle
was rich and chillless, | knew that he
detested me and my connections, and
his estate was unentailed. myself was
very young barrister, with enough to
think about, and, up to the present, as
much as could do to get through my
examinations.
Salue friends of mine were talking the
other day about strange things which
had happened to them. and il set me
thinking about the only really strange
thing that ever happened to me, and |
record the circumstances, hoping that
some reader may be able to afford me an
explanation
Wen, to go back to the telegram. /
was certainly very much surprised, and
for a minute or two stood staring at the
slip Of pink paper in an absent minded
sort Of way Then it occurred to me
that was wasting time. The telegram
demanded my presence, and had no
time to waste. I looked at my Brad
shaw. found that ! had an hour before
the next train started, so ate my break
fast calmly, and packed = p%ortmanteau,
feeling glad for the first time since | had
become a full blown barrister that no
pressure Of work detained me in town.
soon found u corner seat in a smok.
ing carriage, and resigned myself to a
fairly long journey on this cold January
day. | had taken my place in very good
time, so amused myself by watching the
people hurrying 10 aud fro, aud was a
good deal attracted by a white haired
old gentleman who slowly passed back
ward and forward at short intervals be-
fore the carriage in which / sat. and
who. every time he passed, seemed to
ADAh az AAH Win 70 AhI away taItt-oNlA III
his eyes. was beginning 10 feel inter
ested in he Old fellow. when the train
started, and ! soon forgot all about him.
By bad luck the train which had
managed 10 catch was a terribly slow
one, which stopped at alinoat every sta
ton big and small. and ! was surprised
always TO see the sane white haired old
gentleman passing to and fro On the
platform every time we stopped. He
never passed without looking at me with
the same PARKWAY expression in his eyes
At the FIRST few stations / scarcely no
ticed him. but after q bit / began TO
wonder who he was and why be paraded
about ia that manner. and took a sort Of
lazy interest in him. plying the poor old
fellow for having to travel on such a
bleak day.
The journey was certainly n tedious
one, but found q gool deal TO occupy
my thoughts-my uncle. whom had
never SEEM tho Old quarrel the chances
Of his r~elenting in the matter Of my
fathers estate, for surely he wonld not
summon me from London for no other
purpose than that Knight make personal
inquiries as 70 his health.
The day wore on, and the short winter
afternoon began 10 close in. We had
passed most Of the larger and buster
towns, and were coming to villages and
small stations. All my fellow travellers
had left the carriage, being mostly bust
ness men they had reached their several
destinations in the larger towns, and !
sat alone Ina my corner. when the old
white haired gentleman, whom was be.
ginning 10 look upon as rather eccentric.
turned the handle Of the carriage door.
came In. aud sat down IN the corner op.
posite to me. He said not a word, but
gazed out at the landscape Ia a dreamy
manner, while took the opportunity to
examine his appearance more closely.
He wns tall, thin aud looked emaciated,
with clearly cut features Of a waxen
color. AMI wonderfully blue eyes lie
wore an Old fashioned, low crowned silk
htt and 3 i7ug, Flick coat wi'h a frI