Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-11-20

and the fearful night | should spend on
account Of a promise given in the flesh to
be kept in life or In death,
For six months after his arrival in
Mexico William wrote home every week
with regularity, until we knew almost 20
the minute when the letter carrier would
bring us a letter from the absentee. Two
days before the great event Of my life
letter was due, but did not come and the
household was greatly worried. Neither
did it come the next day. Father, mother
and myself were in great suspense. The
night Of the second day retired early and
having slept none the night before, soon
sank into deep Slumber.
Il had been asleep, | should Judge,
about two hours, when | suddenly knew
that was partly awake and with my face
to the wall. The lamp was burning dimy.
| was awake enough 70 realize that fact,
Then feeling of iudeScribable horror
settled on me, The perSpirauon started
from every pore, yet | was cold rs death.
My nails sunk into the palm of my hands.
my teeth ground against each other, ana
My lips grew tight across my gums. My
breath stopped, my brain seemed to con.
geal and my heart beat with heavy irreg-
ular tbumpS. was fast going unto un-
consciousness. A knowledge t,at ! was
not alone came over me. Teddy, 1t is !,
Billy, said voice recognized as my
brothers, though weak and husky, \
few moments silence followed, would
have given the wealth of the world to
have anwsered, but could not Move u
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 iroza and
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 so 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 a 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 fulhlment of
their promise. In a few minutes | re-
gained possession of my senses and looked
around The door was open. | had not
dreamed that much tried to disheleve
what knew to he the truth. My brother
aud his friend were dead. All that night
| studied the matter over Would tell
mother? No. it was better to ward oft
! the blow as long as possible. What would
| happen when the sad news reached herP
She would certainly die Father, too,
would sink under the burden, Thoughts,
each blacker than the other, crowded ON
my mind until | 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
left the room that was to me a chamber of
horrors At the foot of the stairs | met
father,
Good morning, Ted; your brother
This was too much for my wretched
| feelings, and burst forth: 80, 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
| Mai Moriarlty was candidate for the
| Legislature, and like gentlemen they came
home to rally the boys, They went TO
your room last night but you were too
sound asleep to awaken. If Jim Reid is a
ghost he is the first ghost ever saw That
wanted to sing 'Finnegan's Wake Mt 4
in the morning. Now they're both up
stairs tired out with hard work among the
voters all night. Don't you
Abruptly leaving my father | went to
the sideboard and took a big rink 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 tie 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;
| | We got enough This new phase Of my
charactec gave the Moriarity boom such
strength that the gallant major was elect
ed by safe majority, and as he publicly
| declared "all on account Of Billy Flynn s
ghos, and that rheoGstical brother, Teddy
| Flynn"
As might be expected my disgraceiul
conduct, so unexpected in man OF my
/ previous habits, was published far and
wide, ana 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 80 dissimiIar 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 consoed me that for
got Brahma, Buddha, Schneider and tie
whole business; everything. in fact but
| Norah, and so necessary did this consol.
atory sympathy become that ] adopted tho
mGjor as my father-in.law. And for this
to my dying day, will ! be grateful tc
my brothers ghost. Memphis Appeal
/ Ayalalanche.