The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-06-02
my GHOSTLY COMPANION

ION ~ dangerously Ill ana Wishes 10 sec
you"
This was a telegraphic message which
j received one cold January morning
about six years ago Surprise was my
chief feeling at the moment, for Mr.
Thomas Warrington had never been
more than name to me, although he
was my uncle. had never seen him
and had never felt any particular desire
to do 50, not from any dislike Or grudge
. bore the old man, but simply because
had forgotten all about him
Certainly he was my uncle, my fa-
theirs elder brother, but for years before
my fathers death there had been feud
between them relating to small estate
which my father claimed, and which
my uncle, though rich man with much
property, also claimed, Account OF law
settled the matter utter much delay and
anger on either side. My uncle was able
to pay for expert counsel, my father was
mot, for, except this small estate which
caused the quarrel, he had nothing but
the precarious income Of I'M author. My
uncle fought hard grasping old man
that hewas. and won his case But this
had all happened 80 long ago, in the days
OF my extreme youth, that ! had never
given second thought, certainly never
serious one to the story, Hard words
had passed between the brothers, | be
heve, very hard words, and my uncle
had sworn loudly and deeply that he de-
poated the sight Of my father, and hoped
aever to set eyes on him or his again as
long as he lived.
Perhaps you think 1t was unusual for
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 fact, and although my uncle
was rich and childless ! knew that he
Aetested me and my connections, and
his estate was unentaied myself was
o very young barrster, with enough to
think about, and, up to the present, as
much as could do to get through my
examinations
Some friends of mine were talking the
other day about strange things which
had happened to them, and it 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,
Well, to go back to the telegram |
was certainly very much surprised, and
for 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. looked at my Brad
shaw, found that | had an hour before
the next train started, so ate my break
fast calmly, and packed portmanteau,
feeling glad for the first time since had
become full blown barrister that no
pressure Of work detained me in town.
soon found corner seat in 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 hnrrying to and fro, and was a
good deal attracted by 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 tt
look at me with II fur away expression in
his eyes was beginning to feel inter.
ested in the old fellow, when the train
started, and soon forgot all about him,
By bad luck the train which | had
managed TO catch was u terribly slow
one, which stopped at almost every sta
tion big and small, and was surprised
always to see the same white haired ole
gentleman passing to and fro on the
platform every time we stopped Ht
never passed without looking at me witt
the same faraway expression in his eyes
At the first few stations | scarcely no
ticed him, but after bit | began t.
wonder who he was and why he paradet
about in that manner, and took sort o.
lazy interest in him, pitying the poor olt
fellow for having to travel on such {
bleak day.
The journey was certainly tediou
one, but found good deal to occup.
my thoughts-my uncle, whom ha'
never seem the old quarrel; the chance
Of his relenting in the matter Of IN.
fathers estate, for surely he would no
summon me from London for no othe
purpose than that might make persona
inquiries as to his health.
The day wore on, and the short winte
afternoon began to close in We ha'
passed most Of the larger and busie
towns, and were coming to villages an
small stations All my fellow traveller
had left the carriage, being mostly bust